The Danger of Even the Smallest Compromise

Judges 1: 22-36
October 19th 2025, Third Lord’s Day of the Month
　Rev. Tadashi Nagae, Pastor

The people of Israel entered the land of Canaan and began to settle there. However, after the death of Joshua, they gradually regressed spiritually. Let us learn a lesson from this.

First, there is the danger that compromise comes in our lives of faith. The LORD told them that they should drive out their enemy, the Canaanites. However, the passage repeatedly states that “they (the Israelites) did not drive them (the Canaanites) out.” This is where the fall began. There is also the danger of even the smallest compromise in our lives of faith. We must be careful.

Second, there is the danger that even the smallest compromise can lead to bondage to sin. The Canaanites lived among the people of Israel, while in verses 32 and 33, Israelites lived among the Canaanites. They came under their control. Even in our lives of faith, sin may start out as a small force, but it will eventually dominate our hearts. So we really need to be careful.

This passage is not something that only concerns us. Satan is targeting us, trying to lead us into even the slightest compromise and cause us to fall. When the LORD shows us our sins, we must repent immediately!