Meaning of Psalms 106:37

Psalms 106:37 recounts a particularly egregious sin of the Israelites, describing their descent into idolatrous practices that involved the horrific sacrifice of their own children to pagan deities. This act signifies a profound betrayal of their covenant with Yahweh, the God who had delivered them from slavery in Egypt and promised them a land flowing with milk and honey. The verse highlights the ultimate corruption of a people who, despite experiencing God's consistent faithfulness, turned to foreign gods and engaged in practices that were an abomination to their covenantal Lord. This sacrifice was not merely a symbolic offering but a literal, brutal act of child immolation, a practice abhorrent to the God of Israel and characteristic of the Canaanite religions prevalent in the land.

Context and Background

This verse is found within Psalm 106, a psalm of historical recollection and confession. The psalm recounts the history of Israel’s unfaithfulness from the Exodus to their exile, emphasizing their repeated cycles of sin, God's judgment, and His persistent mercy in delivering them. Specifically, verse 37 falls within a section (verses 34-38) that details the Israelites’ failure to drive out the Canaanite nations as commanded by God (Deuteronomy 7:1-5; 20:16-18). Instead, they intermingled with these peoples and adopted their detestable practices. The "false gods" or "demons" (Hebrew: shedim) mentioned are the deities worshipped by the surrounding nations, particularly the Canaanites, whose religious cults were known for their fertility rites and, in some cases, child sacrifice, often associated with deities like Moloch.

Key Themes and Messages

The primary theme is idolatry and its devastating consequences. The sacrifice of children represents the pinnacle of spiritual rebellion, where the most precious aspect of a family—their offspring—is offered to beings who are ultimately powerless and destructive. This act demonstrates a complete abandonment of the God of life and a surrender to powers that demand the ultimate price. Another key theme is disobedience to God's commands. God had explicitly forbidden such practices and commanded the eradication of the Canaanites and their idolatrous worship. Israel's failure to obey resulted in their own spiritual corruption. The verse also underscores the perversion of worship, where what should be a sacred act of devotion is twisted into a brutal offering to false powers.

Spiritual Significance and Application

Spiritually, this verse serves as a stark warning against the dangers of straying from God and embracing false ideologies or practices that compromise our devotion. It highlights the destructive nature of sin, which can lead individuals and communities to commit acts that are antithetical to God's nature and will. The sacrifice of children can be seen metaphorically as offering our own "children"—our dreams, our talents, our future, or even our actual children—to things that ultimately do not nourish or honor God. It calls for a rigorous examination of what or who receives our ultimate devotion and whether our practices align with the worship of the one true God.

Relation to the Broader Biblical Narrative

This incident is a critical point in the biblical narrative of Israel’s relationship with God. It explains the subsequent judgments God brought upon them, including periods of oppression and exile. The adoption of Canaanite practices was a direct violation of the Mosaic Covenant, which stipulated blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience (Leviticus 26; Deuteronomy 28). The prophets repeatedly condemned such syncretistic worship and the associated moral decay, including child sacrifice (e.g., Jeremiah 7:31; Ezekiel 16:20-21). This verse foreshadows the eventual destruction of Jerusalem and the Babylonian exile, consequences of the nation's persistent apostasy.

Analogies

One analogy for sacrificing children to false gods is like a person addicted to a substance that promises temporary pleasure but ultimately destroys their health, relationships, and future. The "false god" is the addiction, and the "sacrifice" is the giving up of one's well-being and potential for its fleeting gratification. Another analogy might be a company that, in pursuit of profit, engages in unethical or harmful practices, sacrificing the well-being of its employees, the environment, or the public good to appease the "god" of financial gain.

Relation to Other Verses

• Deuteronomy 18:10-12: This passage explicitly warns against practices like divination, sorcery, and the "passing of one's son or daughter through the fire," which directly relates to the child sacrifice mentioned in Psalms 106:37 and identifies it as an abomination to the Lord.
• Jeremiah 7:31: The prophet Jeremiah condemns the people of Judah for building high places in Topheth, a place associated with child sacrifice, declaring, "They have built the high places of Topheth, which is in the valley of the son of Hinnom, to burn their sons and their daughters in the fire, a thing that I commanded them not, nor did it enter into my mind."
• Ezekiel 16:20-21: God accuses Jerusalem of taking His sons and daughters, whom she had borne to Him, and offering them as food to idols, highlighting the profound betrayal of their covenant relationship.
• 1 Corinthians 10:14, 20: The Apostle Paul warns believers against idolatry, stating, "Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry," and later, "What am I saying then that a sacrifice made to an idol is anything, or that an idol is anything? No, I am saying that what they sacrifice they offer to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be partners with demons." This connects the concept of offering sacrifices to false gods with the spiritual reality of worshipping demonic forces.