A few years ago, I learned a new term. I think I’ve mentioned it in our psalms talks before. The word is “henotheism.” Henotheism is a form of polytheism. It refers to a family or tribe worshiping a particular god while not disbelieving in the existence of other gods. It usually contains the idea of believing in multiple gods, but believing one god is supreme or sovereign over the rest.
Some scholars suggest the Jews were initially henotheistic and progressively became monotheistic. The monotheism was entrenched following the captivity in Babylon and the restoration.
On the one hand, there is simply no doubt many of the Jews throughout Israel’s history were individually henotheistic. They thought of YHWH the same way many of the neighboring nations thought of their own gods. Sure, there is Ra, Baal, Marduk, Ashtoreth, Molech, and on the list goes. But YHWH is the most powerful and sovereign over them all. He is the Most High, El Elyon.
There is no doubt YHWH made use of this belief (accommodatively, I believe) to demonstrate His own sovereignty. In Exodus 12:12, God says He will execute judgment on the “gods (elohim) of Egypt.” In Numbers 33:4, Moses recounts that is precisely what YHWH did, executing judgment on their gods (elohim). In Deuteronomy 4:7, God asks Israel to consider the other nations and their relationship with their gods (elohim) and how it compares to Israel’s relationship with Him.
However, let us not take this to mean the YHWH-ordained religion for the Jews at any time was henotheism any more than we should think the YHWH-ordained approach to worship was through statuary and idolatry even though most Israelites worshiped Him that way for most of Israel’s history. Psalm 86 drives this home.
In Psalm 86:8, the psalmist says, “There is none like you among the gods, O Lord, nor are there any works like yours” (ESV). That sounds henotheistic. It sounds like “YHWH, there are lots of gods out there, but You are higher, stronger, and better than all the rest.” However, vs. 10 explains why this is so. Not because all the other gods are weaker, but because “You alone are God (elohim).” There is none like YHWH among the gods for one simple reason: none of the other gods are real.
Of course, some will say this psalm must have been written after the exile because Israel’s monotheism wasn’t settled until after the exile. But that is a bit like evolutionists telling us a fossil is a million years old because it is found in million-year-old rock, but when asked how they know the rock is a million years old they tell us because it contains a million-year-old fossil. Maybe Israel’s monotheism wasn’t settled until after the exile, unless, of course, this psalm was actually written by David as the ancient heading declares.
No matter how you cut it, we shouldn’t be surprised if many Israelites themselves misunderstood the nature of YHWH. But this psalm nails down the official, YHWH-ordained understanding. YHWH alone is God and there is none like Him among the gods because none of those other “gods” are actually gods.
The LORD our God is one. Praise the Lord!
Tomorrow’s reading is Psalm 86.
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PATHS:
Discuss Today’s Meditation with Your Family
How does Psalm 86 prompt or improve your trust in God?
Read the Bible 