Psalms 106:20
“Thus they changed their glory into the similitude of an ox that eateth grass.”
Context:Psalms 106:20 is part of Psalm 106, which is a psalm of praise and thanksgiving that recounts the history of the Israelites and their repeated failures and God’s steadfast love and faithfulness towards them.
In order to understand the meaning of this verse, it is essential to provide some context. The preceding verses in Psalm 106 recount the Israelites’ journey through the wilderness after their deliverance from Egypt. Despite witnessing numerous miracles and experiencing God’s faithfulness firsthand, they often rebelled against God and indulged in idolatry.
In verse 19, the psalmist refers to the Israelites’ sin of making a golden calf at Mount Sinai, which was a significant incident recorded in the book of Exodus (Exodus 32:1-6). The people grew impatient while Moses was on Mount Sinai receiving the Ten Commandments from God, and they asked Aaron, Moses’ brother, to make them a god to worship. Aaron acquiesced to their demands and crafted a golden calf, which they then worshipped.
With this background in mind, let’s examine verse 20: “Thus they changed their glory into the similitude of an ox that eateth grass.” This verse speaks of the Israelites exchanging the glory of God for an idol in the form of a golden calf. The phrase “changed their glory” refers to their abandonment of the true and living God, who had revealed His glory to them through His deliverance from Egypt and His presence with them in the wilderness.
The reference to an “ox that eateth grass” is symbolic. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, the bull or ox was sometimes associated with divine strength and power. However, this verse highlights the irony and foolishness of the Israelites’ action. They exchanged the glory and power of the true God, who led them out of Egypt, for an image that was as mundane as an ox that simply grazes on grass.
By creating and worshipping the golden calf, the Israelites demonstrated a lack of trust in God and His faithfulness. Instead of relying on the one true God who had displayed His power and love to them, they turned to an idol made of gold, a lifeless and powerless representation of a deity.
This verse serves as a reminder of the consequences of idolatry and the dangers of exchanging the glory of God for worldly or man-made substitutes. It teaches us the importance of remaining faithful to God and not allowing anything or anyone to take His rightful place in our lives.
