The tribes had compromised God's command to drive out the inhabitants of the land. Incomplete removal of evil often means disaster in the end. We must beware of compromising with wickedness.   

   Repeatedly we see the nation of Israel sinning against God and God allowing suffering to come upon the land and the people. Sin  always has its consequences. Where there is sin we can expect suffering to follow. Rather than living in an endless cycle  of abandoning God and then crying out to him for rescue, we should seek to live a consistent life of faithfulness.  

   Despite the efforts of Israel's judges, the people still would not turn wholeheartedly to God. They all did whatever they thought was best for themselves. The result was the spiritual, moral, and political decline of the nation. Our lives will also fall into decline and decay unless we live by the guidelines God has gives us.