Hong Kong has idols everywhere...more than I've seen anywhere in China. You can smell the incense outside of bakeries, noodle stands, money exchange shops, throughout the hallways of apartment buildings (including mine)...you'll even occasionally see loads of incense burning on a crowded street. People here really want the gods' attention!
My first night in Hong Kong, I stayed in Mong Kok, at a hostel whose lobby was lit up with a bright red lamp burning before an idol (like so many places are). The only difference with the place I'm staying in right now is that, it's not just dedicated to one god. There are many idols here...the place is packed!
David was surrounded by nations who worshiped false gods. To me, Psalm 138:1 has a sense of gloating, as if David wanted to say, "I will sing to You before the other gods...to magnify You, because You're awesome, and to irritate them, because they're dumb...(and, incidentally, I hope to destroy them all)."
So, even in a building full of idols...I'll sing.
Addendum: I wanted to share some historical notes/reflections. I imagine that when David wrote Psalm 138, he was probably in the Tabernacle, which he had built to minister to the Lord's presence, especially through song. The Lord said in Amos 9:11-12 that this tabernacle (which no longer exists) would eventually be the key to bringing many nations under His kingship. What I get out of these verses is that, the more that God's people minister to His presence through song, the more nations we will see come to Christ.
My first night in Hong Kong, I stayed in Mong Kok, at a hostel whose lobby was lit up with a bright red lamp burning before an idol (like so many places are). The only difference with the place I'm staying in right now is that, it's not just dedicated to one god. There are many idols here...the place is packed!
David was surrounded by nations who worshiped false gods. To me, Psalm 138:1 has a sense of gloating, as if David wanted to say, "I will sing to You before the other gods...to magnify You, because You're awesome, and to irritate them, because they're dumb...(and, incidentally, I hope to destroy them all)."
So, even in a building full of idols...I'll sing.
Addendum: I wanted to share some historical notes/reflections. I imagine that when David wrote Psalm 138, he was probably in the Tabernacle, which he had built to minister to the Lord's presence, especially through song. The Lord said in Amos 9:11-12 that this tabernacle (which no longer exists) would eventually be the key to bringing many nations under His kingship. What I get out of these verses is that, the more that God's people minister to His presence through song, the more nations we will see come to Christ.
11 “In that day
“I will restore David’s fallen shelter —
I will repair its broken walls
and restore its ruins —
and will rebuild it as it used to be,
12 so that they may possess the remnant of Edom
and all the nations that bear my name,”
declares the Lord, who will do these things.
I will repair its broken walls
and restore its ruins —
and will rebuild it as it used to be,
12 so that they may possess the remnant of Edom
and all the nations that bear my name,”
declares the Lord, who will do these things.
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