Judges 1
Scripture
Judges 1:27
But Manasseh did not drive out the people of Beth Shan or Taanach or Dor or Ibleam or Megiddo and their surrounding settlements, for the Canaanites were determined to live in that land.
Observation
After the death of Joshua, God chooses the tribe of Judah to be the first of the tribes to continue the conquest of the Promised Land. Simeon joins forces with Judah to drive out the Canaanites. The Israelites enjoy initial victories, including the taking of Jerusalem and a rather ironic punishment exacted upon Adoni-Bezek. The incident where Caleb’s nephew Othniel wins the hand of Caleb’s daughter in reward for his success in taking the city of Kiriath-Sepher is recounted here from Joshua 15. Despite victory in the hill country, Israel could not dislodge the Canaanites from the plains because they had chariots fitted with iron. With the aid of information provided by a captured inhabitant, the tribe of Joseph attacks and takes the city of Bethel. Sadly, from this point on, the chapter is an inventory of the failure of several other tribes of Israel to drive out the inhabitants of the land.
Anything less than total victory ensures eventual defeat
The history of Israel from here on out is a repeating cycle of idolatry, harlotry and apostasy followed by judgement, repentance and God’s gracious deliverance. Israel’s compromise in not obeying the Lord’s command to utterly destroy the evil, pagan nations occupying the Promised Land would haunt her for the rest of her troubled history and lead her into the vilest sin and abominations before the Lord - culminating in conquest by multiple empires; the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple; and the exile of its people. Any return, rebuilding or revival would be short lived and half-hearted, and Israel would end its biblical history as a conquered, occupied people.
Compromise with the enemy is not an option
Such is the case whenever I tolerate or seek any kind of compromise in dealing with the evil influences of the World. God wants me to totally destroy and erase from my life anything of this World that causes me to sin. Like the Israelites, I ensure my own spiritual destruction when I think I can cohabitate with the sinful things of this world or flirt with them and think I can keep it under my control. I must be willing to fight for as long as it takes, no matter what the cost, in order to absolutely eradicate any area of temptation or influence in my life that would lead me into modern day idolatry and bondage.