Psalm 135:15-18 (ESV)
The idols of the nations are silver and gold, the work of human hands. They have mouths, but do not speak; they have eyes, but do not see; they have ears, but do not hear, nor is there any breath in their mouths. Those who make them become like them, so do all who trust in them.
“In a matter of decades, Dubai has grown into an amazing tourist destination. The amount of money and effort invested into making Dubai such an exceptional place is certainly astounding. Imagine a cross between Disneyworld, Monaco, and Las Vegas. Now imagine that combination times ten, and you have Dubai. It’s all of the superlatives in the world in one glittery, sparkling, one-of-a-kind place. The tallest hotel. The tallest building. The only man-made archipelago of islands. Some of the largest malls in the world. Indoor skiing. A seven-star hotel.”
The is a description of Dubai that is common online in terms of this truly amazing city as a tourist destination and one of the highest concentrations of wealth on the planet…and it fits perfectly into the message of Psalm 135:15-18. As amazing as Dubai is, it is largely just a testament to man’s idolatry and sin nature, as well as his God-given ability to create and beautify (allegedly). Dubai is a city that is envied by both countries and individuals but it’s beauty and worth are fleeting in the economy of God. And while it looks to be the culmination of all the world deems as a success, underneath the glitz and glam lies a soul that is dead and a promise that can’t be kept. It has a mouth that cannot speak. Eyes that cannot see. Ears that do not hear. Nor is there any true life in its breath. In effect, it is a white-washed tomb (Mth. 23:27-28).
Spurgeon commented that, “The eyes of idols have frequently been very costly; diamonds have been used for that purpose; but of what avail is the expense, since they see nothing? If they cannot even see us, how can they know our wants, appreciate our sacrifices, or spy out for us the means of help? What a wretched thing, that a man who can see should bow down before an image which is blind!” You may not be living in Dubai, literally, but do you have other idols in your life that reflect its alluring yet empty promises? Perhaps it’s the tall building of wealth, prestige, and power. Maybe it’s the mega-mall of possessions, vacations, and lifestyle. Or it could be the hotel with rooms full of sexual adventure and/or empty pursuits. As you look at your passions and pursuits, do you see a Dubai of your own building?
On the subject of idols, the Reverend G. Campbell Morgan once noted that, “To put anything of our own creation, whether wealth, or fame, or power, in the place of God, is to begin a process of degradation, the end of which is destructive of everything of high possibility in life.” Idolatry is as much of a problem today as it was in the ancient past, and while we may not have tall statues of gold to bow down to, we certainly have other kinds that while not being as obvious to the naked eye, are certainly as dangerous to the soul. Though man is greater than the idol he makes, the creation and honoring of idols makes a man or a woman lower. Idolatry never exalts man…and always brings him low. Every Christian must be diligent to see any construction in his or her life that smells of man’s Dubai rather than having the sweet aroma of God’s love, approval, and promise.
