(Psalm 24:1) If the entire world belongs to the Lord, how do we reconcile this with the existence of other deities in different religious traditions?

1. Introduction to the Question

Psalm 24:1 proclaims, “The earth is the LORD’s, and the fullness thereof, the world and all who dwell therein.” This verse raises a natural question: If the entire world truly belongs to one Lord, how do we reconcile this reality with the widespread worship and recognition of other deities across diverse cultures and religious traditions?

2. Scriptural Basis for One Sovereign Lord

From Genesis to Revelation, Scripture affirms that there is only one true God who stands as Creator and Sustainer of all things. Deuteronomy 6:4 emphasizes, “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is One.” Such confessions reveal a consistent biblical thread that distinguishes the living God from any so-called gods.

Throughout the Old Testament, God’s people were exhorted to recognize no other being as divine (Isaiah 45:5). Even in nations where idols were prevalent, Scripture reinforced the unrivaled sovereignty of God. Paul’s teaching in 1 Corinthians 8:5–6 clarifies that “even if there are so-called gods…yet for us there is but one God.” This positions the Lord as the only rightful owner of creation.

3. The Nature of Other Deities in Scripture

The Bible acknowledges that many cultures worshiped various deities, but it consistently portrays them as powerless before the true God. In the Old Testament, the plagues on Egypt (Exodus 7–12) served as direct challenges to the Egyptian pantheon, demonstrating that the Lord reigns over all purported gods.

At times, Scripture exposes the entities behind foreign idols as demonic (1 Corinthians 10:20). Other times it depicts idols as human creations—mere wood, stone, or metal fashioned by craftsmen (Isaiah 44:13–20). These biblical statements illuminate why competing deities exist in people’s minds but ultimately possess no true divinity.

4. Historical and Archaeological Corroboration

Archaeological finds throughout the ancient Near East confirm the prevalence of idol worship among Israel’s neighboring nations. Excavated artifacts representing Baal, Asherah, and other gods illustrate that multiple deities were worshiped. However, texts found among the Dead Sea Scrolls reveal a high regard for the Hebrew Scriptures and consistently exalt the supremacy of the God of Israel. These ancient manuscripts affirm the textual reliability of biblical claims that the Lord alone is Creator.

Evidence from ancient cities such as Jericho, Hazor, and Nineveh highlights historical events that align with Scriptural narratives. The correlation of biblical accounts with archaeological layers in these areas points to the trustworthiness of the biblical record concerning who truly governs history.

5. Philosophical and Theological Explanations

Philosophically, the concept of one sovereign Creator implies that all other so-called gods owe their existence (if they exist at all) to that primary cause. This position is further bolstered by the biblical teaching that God alone created the heavens and the earth in six days (Exodus 20:11). The perceived power of rival deities derives from human devotion, spiritual deception, or cultural tradition, not from any inherent divine authority.

When different cultures venerate other deities, the biblical explanation is not that these gods rival the Maker of all things, but rather that humans—searching for meaning—create or follow spiritual concepts apart from the revealed Creator God. In the words of 1 Chronicles 16:26, “For all the gods of the nations are worthless idols, but it is the LORD who made the heavens.”

6. The Christus Victor Perspective

Christ’s resurrection stands as the ultimate declaration of divine supremacy. If earthly rulers, false deities, or spiritual forces could rival the true God, the resurrection of Christ would be contested. Yet, multiple lines of historical, archaeological, and testimonial evidence—from ancient manuscripts to the transformation of early Christian witnesses—support that He rose from the grave. This event testifies that not even death holds sway over God’s authority (1 Corinthians 15:3–8).

Christ’s triumph signifies that any “competing” deities are powerless to thwart the ultimate plan of salvation. Thus, the resurrection answers the question of whether other gods have legitimate dominion: They cannot rival or overturn the One who conquers death itself (Romans 1:4).

7. Behavioral and Cultural Reasons for Other Gods

From a behavioral standpoint, human spirituality often expresses itself through the worship of something larger than oneself. Across cultures, individuals grapple with existential questions and sometimes adopt beliefs tied to local traditions. The Bible explains that part of humanity’s inclination toward idols comes from turning away from the knowledge of the one true Creator (Romans 1:20–23).

Those who worship other gods are not necessarily acknowledging actual competing divine beings. Rather, cultic practices can represent a spiritual or psychological grasp for security, identity, or communal belonging. Scripture urges believers to direct these innate longings to the One who truly satisfies: “Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters” (Isaiah 55:1).

8. Consistency with a Young Earth and Intelligent Design

Advocates of a young earth, drawn especially from genealogies and chronologies in Scripture (e.g., Genesis 5 and 11), view all creation as the product of a deliberate, intelligent act of God. Although many scientific fields debate the precise age of the earth, proponents of intelligent design note the complexity and fine-tuning of living systems as indicators of a designer. Geological markers—such as global sedimentary layers and fossil records consistent with catastrophic events like a worldwide flood—are presented as corroborating a biblical model. These signs further underscore that no competing divine being contributed to creation; it all traces to one Architect.

9. Practical Reconciliation of the World’s Plurality with God’s Universal Ownership

Psalm 24:1 assures that every realm—physical and spiritual—falls under the dominion of one Lord. The worship offered to other deities does not threaten God’s sovereignty but reflects a reality of our world’s spiritual struggle and human diversities in religious expression.

Several passages demonstrate how the people of God navigated societies rich in idolatry. For example, Daniel thrived under the Babylonian empire without compromising his allegiance to the true God (Daniel 6). Moreover, early Christians lived among polytheistic cultures yet continually affirmed that “there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). These examples clarify that reconciling God’s ownership of the world with other deities simply acknowledges that, while other gods are recognized in various traditions, none holds ultimate authority over the universe.

10. Conclusion and Reflection

At its core, the question regarding God’s universal ownership versus the existence of other deities reveals the Bible’s consistent theme: there truly is no rivalry in the domain of ultimate authority. Ancient idols, contemporary spiritual beliefs, or philosophical constructs cannot diminish the lordship of the Creator. Psalm 24:1 reminds humanity that everything rests in the hands of the Lord.

All other deities exist as constructs of human culture, demonic influence, or misunderstood spiritual phenomena. They may captivate many, but they do not share in the eternal, self-existent nature of the Lord God. This foundational truth brings clarity and comfort: though many voices and spiritual claims abound, only One has rightful possession of the cosmos—“the earth is the LORD’s, and the fullness thereof, the world and all who dwell therein.”