Israel failed to destroy the nations in the land,
as the LORD had commanded them.
Instead, they mingled among the pagans
and adopted their evil customs.
They worshiped their idols,
which led to their downfall.
They even sacrificed their sons
and their daughters to the demons.
They shed innocent blood,
the blood of their sons and daughters.
By sacrificing them to the idols of Canaan,
they polluted the land with murder.
They defiled themselves by their evil deeds,
and their love of idols was adultery in the Lord’s sight.

Psalm 106:34-39

Give thanks to the LORD and proclaim his greatness.
Let the whole world know what he has done.
Sing to him; yes, sing his praises.
Tell everyone about his wonderful deeds.
Psalm 105:1-2

• Psalm 106 is a lament and confession of sin, recounting Israel's history of rebellion and God's faithfulness despite it.
• When Israel entered the Promised Land, God gave very specific, strong commands to completely drive out or destroy the Canaanite nations (Deuteronomy 7:1-6, Exodus 23:31-33).
• God had commanded not out of arbitrary cruelty, but to prevent the Israelites from adopting the idolatrous, immoral practices of these nations. It was a spiritual preservation strategy.
• "They failed to destroy": This was a direct act of disobedience. They compromised.
• "Mingle" here implies assimilation, integration, and becoming indistinguishable from the very people God warned them about.
• This was a direct result of their initial disobedience. One compromise often leads to another.
• "...and adopted their evil customs."
• This is the natural consequence of mingling without distinction. When you become too comfortable with sin, you start to adopt its ways.
• It wasn't just physical mingling; it was cultural and spiritual adoption.
• This is the core sin – turning away from the one true God.
• Idolatry isn't just bowing to statues. It's putting anything – money, power, relationships, comfort, self – in the place of God.
• A "snare" is a trap. Idolatry promises fulfillment but delivers destruction. It entangled them, leading to further sin and judgment.
• This is the horrific climax of their idolatry – child sacrifice, particularly to gods like Molech.
• The psalmist reveals the spiritual reality behind the idols. They weren't just worshipping wood and stone; they were serving demonic spiritual forces.
• Their actions had cosmic implications, polluting the very land God had given them. God's presence cannot dwell where such wickedness persists.
• Their choices didn't just affect their nation; they internally defiled themselves.
• Just as a wife is unfaithful to her husband, Israel was unfaithful to their covenant God, who was their divine Husband.
• Just as Israel failed to separate from the pagan nations, modern Christians face the constant temptation to "mingle" with the world's values, entertainment, and priorities without discernment.
• We don't sacrifice children to Molech, but we can sacrifice our time, energy, and devotion to "gods" that aren't the one true God. Anything that takes God's rightful place in our hearts is an idol.
• Israel's story is a clear progression: initial disobedience (not destroying nations) led to mingling, then to adopting customs, then to full-blown idolatry and horrific practices. 
• Small compromises can lead to massive moral and spiritual failures.
• God's commands are for our protection and flourishing. His call to be set apart is not arbitrary; it's designed to protect us from spiritual corruption and keep us in right relationship with Him.

Un-mingle!!!!