Eyes That See Not, Feet That Cannot Walk
Apparently, this incident took place in a Catholic church in Canada. I wouldn’t be surprised if there were a few fellow Maltese among those present!
When I first watched the video, my mind immediately turned to the words of the prophet Jeremiah (10:5):
Like a scarecrow in a melon patch,their idols cannot speak;
they must be carried
because they cannot walk.
Do not fear them;
they can do no harm
nor can they do any good.
The prophet Isaiah (41:7) expressed a similar thought:
The craftsman encourages the goldsmith,
and he who smooths with the hammer
spurs on him who strikes the anvil.
He says of the welding, “It is good.”
He nails down the idol so it will not topple.
And the Psalmist (115:3–8) pours out the same scorn upon lifeless idols:
he does whatever pleases him.
But their idols are silver and gold,
made by the hands of men.
They have mouths, but cannot speak,
eyes, but they cannot see;
they have ears, but cannot hear,
noses, but they cannot smell;
they have hands, but cannot feel,
feet, but they cannot walk;
nor can they utter a sound with their throats.
Those who make them will be like them,
and so will all who trust in them.
Of course, the Bible is speaking of pagan idols, not Christian statues. Yet one cannot help noticing how closely the description fits. Christian statues too must be nailed down and carried from place to place; they too have eyes that see not and feet that cannot walk.
The prophets’ message remains as relevant as ever. God’s people are called to worship Him not through man-made representations, but “in spirit and truth” — just as our Lord Jesus taught. It is high time that we take seriously the warning of the Second Commandment (Exodus 20:4–5), which forbids God’s people from bowing down before or serving images. Let us, then, turn from human traditions and renew our devotion to the living God—who alone hears, sees, and saves.