And they served their idols: which were a snare unto them.
After settling in Canaan Israel failed to drive out and remove the Canaanite nations left among them. Through disobedient association and contact with those peoples they mingled with idolaters, learned their heathen ways, and abandoned God's ways and counsel. When they served those idols the idols became a snare that entangled them and drew them away from faithfulness to God's covenant. That snare led into departure from God and separation from Him unto further evils including sacrificing sons and daughters and defiling the land, followed by subjection to enemies and loss of power through withdrawal of His protection. Their recorded experience stands as a warning for God's people in the last days not to desire evil or practice idolatry, for idols become a snare to all who serve them and clinging to them keeps people from passing through the narrow gate.
Israel's Idolatry Became Snare
After settling in Canaan Israel failed to drive out and remove the Canaanite nations left in the land. The idols of those unremoved peoples were served by Israel and became a snare to them. That contact with heathen influences exposed Israel to temptations that few could resist.
Through disobedience Israel kept association and contact with those peoples instead of separating from them. They mingled with them and joined themselves to idolaters. In that mingling they learned their heathen practices and ways. In doing so they abandoned God's ways and disregarded His counsel.
When Israel served those idols the idols became a snare that entangled them. Drawn by what they had learned, they were turned away from faithfulness to God's covenant.
That snare led into sin and into departure from God and separation from Him. From idolatry they advanced to other evils. They went so far as to sacrifice sons and daughters, to shed innocent blood, and to defile the land.
The result was subjection to enemies and oppression by hostile nations. They eventually fell prey to the very nations whose practices they had followed. In joining idolaters and disregarding God's counsel they lost power and honor through God's withdrawal of His special presence and protection.
Warning for Last Days
The history containing this verse is to be studied together with the histories in Psalms 105 and 107, so that God's goodness, mercy, and love may be more fully appreciated. It stands as part of Israel's recorded experience that provides warnings for God's people in the last days. That record should be studied so its sins are not repeated. Israel's serving of idols until those idols became a snare belongs to that warning.
As part of the record of the wilderness experience, it warns God's people in the last days not to desire evil or practice idolatry. The danger grew where parents neglected their duty, after Israel failed to drive out the nations, learned their practices, and was entangled and drawn away from faithfulness to God's covenant, while children were shaped by the idolatrous influences around them. Idols become a snare to all who serve them. Clinging to idols and refusing to give them up leaves people behind and prevents them from passing through the narrow gate.
After settling in Canaan Israel failed to drive out and remove the Canaanite nations left among them. Through disobedient association and contact with those peoples they mingled with idolaters, learned their heathen ways, and abandoned God's ways and counsel. When they served those idols the idols became a snare that entangled them and drew them away from faithfulness to God's covenant. That snare led into departure from God and separation from Him unto further evils including sacrificing sons and daughters and defiling the land, followed by subjection to enemies and loss of power through withdrawal of His protection. Their recorded experience stands as a warning for God's people in the last days not to desire evil or practice idolatry, for idols become a snare to all who serve them and clinging to them keeps people from passing through the narrow gate.
Israel's Idolatry Became Snare
After settling in Canaan Israel failed to drive out and remove the Canaanite nations left in the land. The idols of those unremoved peoples were served by Israel and became a snare to them. That contact with heathen influences exposed Israel to temptations that few could resist.
Through disobedience Israel kept association and contact with those peoples instead of separating from them. They mingled with them and joined themselves to idolaters. In that mingling they learned their heathen practices and ways. In doing so they abandoned God's ways and disregarded His counsel.
When Israel served those idols the idols became a snare that entangled them. Drawn by what they had learned, they were turned away from faithfulness to God's covenant.
That snare led into sin and into departure from God and separation from Him. From idolatry they advanced to other evils. They went so far as to sacrifice sons and daughters, to shed innocent blood, and to defile the land.
The result was subjection to enemies and oppression by hostile nations. They eventually fell prey to the very nations whose practices they had followed. In joining idolaters and disregarding God's counsel they lost power and honor through God's withdrawal of His special presence and protection.
Warning for Last Days
The history containing this verse is to be studied together with the histories in Psalms 105 and 107, so that God's goodness, mercy, and love may be more fully appreciated. It stands as part of Israel's recorded experience that provides warnings for God's people in the last days. That record should be studied so its sins are not repeated. Israel's serving of idols until those idols became a snare belongs to that warning.
As part of the record of the wilderness experience, it warns God's people in the last days not to desire evil or practice idolatry. The danger grew where parents neglected their duty, after Israel failed to drive out the nations, learned their practices, and was entangled and drawn away from faithfulness to God's covenant, while children were shaped by the idolatrous influences around them. Idols become a snare to all who serve them. Clinging to idols and refusing to give them up leaves people behind and prevents them from passing through the narrow gate.