Psalm 106:36

Psalm 106:36

Idols are a snare

The worship of pagan idols always ends in entrapment! The comments on v35 of this Psalm include the text of Exodus 23:33 where God warns that allowing pagan peoples to dwell in the land will, “cause you to sin against me, because the worship of their gods will certainly be a snare to you.” In Deuteronomy 7:16 the commands of the Lord to His people are strongly worded, “You must destroy all the peoples the Lord your God gives over to you. Do not look on them with pity and do not serve their gods, for that will be a snare to you.”

In Judges 8:27 we read that one of God’s chosen leaders got caught up in the snare after he had delivered Israel from the Midianites. After telling his people that he would not be their ruler but “the Lord will rule over you”, Gideon asked for earrings from the Midianite plunder to be given to him and obtained about 20 kilograms of gold. “Gideon made the gold into an ephod (an object of worship), which he placed in Ophrah, his town. All Israel prostituted themselves by worshipping it there, and it became a snare to Gideon and his family.” 

The Bible warns us many times about the snares that are lying in our paths. It is so easy for us to engage in relationships, contractual agreements, business deals, organisations etcetera, that appear harmless on the surface, but which actually are a trap. Who would question the charitable works of the Freemasons or the good intent of many religious cults? What can be the problem with having a figure of Buddha in the garden or a crucifix on the dining room wall? Surely a corner of a room with incense, candles and a statue of the virgin Mary is comforting but harmless. And what is to be lost by churches forming amicable alliances with Muslims, Hindus and all the other religious groups who are represented in our culture today? Where is the harm in that? I think we all know the answers!

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