Yea, they sacrificed their sons and their daughters unto devils,
Psalm 106:37 belongs to the recorded history and account of Israel's experience. Studying that history together with the histories in Psalms 105 and 107 helps readers appreciate God's goodness, mercy, and love. That history is presented as a warning for God's people in the last days against idolatry and falling away, against sins, unbelief, and rebellion, and it should be studied regularly to avoid repeating Israel's course.
Its setting is Israel's failure to remain separate from the nations of Canaan, for they mingled with them, learned their idolatrous practices, and adopted their worship. Human sacrifice was part of the idolatry that spread after Solomon's alliances with heathen nations, when Israel replaced God's worship with heathen practices and eventually fell under the power of the nations whose ways they had adopted. Sacrificing sons and daughters was in reality worship offered to devils, demonic gods, and idols, not to God.
The next verse identifies the recipients as the idols of Canaan, and the sacrifices were made to Canaanite idols. Supposed worship of the dead was thus demon worship. The victims were innocent, their blood polluted the land, the people were defiled by these deeds, and this brought the Lord's anger, judgment, and oppression upon them.
The verse's image of human sacrifice is applied to people worshipping at Satan's altar. The verse is linked with the polluted offerings of the Moabites and Amorites, representing a sin-stained offering brought to the Lord. In the account of mingling with the nations, the verse's specific statement about sacrificing children is not explained.
Psalm 106:37 belongs to the recorded history and account of Israel's experience. Studying that history together with the histories in Psalms 105 and 107 helps readers appreciate God's goodness, mercy, and love. That history is presented as a warning for God's people in the last days against idolatry and falling away, against sins, unbelief, and rebellion, and it should be studied regularly to avoid repeating Israel's course.
Its setting is Israel's failure to remain separate from the nations of Canaan, for they mingled with them, learned their idolatrous practices, and adopted their worship. Human sacrifice was part of the idolatry that spread after Solomon's alliances with heathen nations, when Israel replaced God's worship with heathen practices and eventually fell under the power of the nations whose ways they had adopted. Sacrificing sons and daughters was in reality worship offered to devils, demonic gods, and idols, not to God.
The next verse identifies the recipients as the idols of Canaan, and the sacrifices were made to Canaanite idols. Supposed worship of the dead was thus demon worship. The victims were innocent, their blood polluted the land, the people were defiled by these deeds, and this brought the Lord's anger, judgment, and oppression upon them.
The verse's image of human sacrifice is applied to people worshipping at Satan's altar. The verse is linked with the polluted offerings of the Moabites and Amorites, representing a sin-stained offering brought to the Lord. In the account of mingling with the nations, the verse's specific statement about sacrificing children is not explained.