Psalms 106:20
Thus they changed their glory into the similitude of an ox that eateth grass.
Psalms 106:20
This verse continues the psalmist’s catalogue of Israel’s missteps: they “changed the glory of God into an image” of ox that eats grass. The transition from the visible sign of God’s glory to an animal figure marks a spiritual regression—the people replace the supreme, transcendent glory of Yahweh with a replicable, mundane form. The ox, a symbol of strength and fertility in ancient Near Eastern culture, becomes a supposed vessel of divine presence. The phrase “the glory” refers to the honor and radiance associated with God’s self-revelation, especially the spectacular acts by which he saved Israel. By transforming this glory into a living idol made of metal, the people demonstrate not merely ignorance but a willful distortion of what God is truly like. In the broader psalm, these lines function as a litany of failures that demand repentance and divine mercy.
This verse intensifies the theme of corrupted revelation. It’s a critique of making God “knowable” on human terms—reducing the infinite God to a finite object of adoration. It highlights the tension between the desire for tangible security and the call to trust a God who cannot be fully contained. Theologically, it underscores the biblical stance against syncretism: devotion to Yahweh must be undivided and rightly ordered, not borrowed from or blended with foreign religious symbols. The verse also foreshadows prophetic warnings against idolatry and the call to reframe worship around the immutable, moral character of God rather than manipulated images.
Where might we gravitate toward “glory turned to image” in modern life? Perhaps a charismatic worship style reduced to aesthetic experience, or a need to control God through ritual and formula. The takeaway: beware of worship that satisfies the eye but not the heart—where forms replace living faith. Practical steps: evaluate your devotional life for genuine obedience, not just emotional highs or impressive rituals. Practice practices that form the heart—confession, acts of justice, and relational faithfulness. When tempted to worship a “glory” that fits your preferences, pause and ask: does this draw me nearer to God or simply to my own comforts? Cultivate humility that accepts mystery and a God whose ways rarely fit neatly into human expectations.
Cross-References: Exodus 32:4-6; Hosea 13:2; Isaiah 44:9-20; Romans 1:23; Colossians 1:15