But then, indeed, when you did not know God, you served those which by nature are not gods.

Nature = long standing practice, habit, standard accepted custom

NOW: You know God. And, God knows you. Why turn back?

9 But now after you have known God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage?

The Galatians were leaving the bondage. They were "dropping out" of grace and enrolling in kindergarten - again.

Weak things - beggarly elements - Result in bondage.

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Old Testament