Deuteronomy 12
-Careful observation of God’s statutes, judgments, and
commands are again reiterated in this didactic chapter. These measures of God’s
holiness were to be perpetual for His people in the land they were going to
inhabit for their prosperity and continuance. They were to utterly destroy all
the foreign gods on every high mountain, hill, and under every green tree
tearing down altars, smashing their sacred pillars, burning their Asherim (wooden
symbols of a female deity) with fire, cutting down their graven images of fake
gods, and obliterating their name from that place. “You shall NOT (emphasis
mine) act like this toward the LORD your God (Deuteronomy 12:1-4).” Idolatry
would not be tolerated. On the other hand, they were to seek the LORD their God
at the dwelling place of His own choosing that He would assign them in the land
where all the tribes would come to worship Him alone. This could be none other than
the forecast of the Temple, which would eventually be built in Jerusalem. This
was the place of God’s greatest revelation of His glory in the land, and prophetically
the place where His Son would atone for the sins of the entire world. It was
the place to bring sacrifice unto Him by His people, their burnt offerings,
tithes, contributions, votive offerings, freewill offerings, and the firstborn
of their herd and flock. There also they and their households would eat before
the LORD in celebration and rejoicing in all their undertakings with which the
LORD would bless them. God then says, “You shall not do at all what we are
doing here today, every man doing whatever is right in his own eyes; for you
have not as yet come to the resting place and the inheritance which the LORD
your God is giving you (Deuteronomy 12:5-9).” There would come a time when they
crossed the Jordan and defeated all their enemies. A time when they would
achieve this promised rest so that they could build and worship their King
Jehovah in His designed place “for His Name to dwell.” This historically came
during the reign of Solomon in the Davidic Kingdom hundreds of years after this
prophetic proclamation (2 Samuel 7, 1 Kings 5, 1 Chronicles 22:9-10). All were
invited to worship in this grand place, from the tribes of Israel, their
servants, and all the nations of the world (Deuteronomy 12:10-12, Isaiah 56:7,
Jeremiah 33:9-11).
-Moses then sums up again their responsibility to “be
careful” in not offering burnt offerings and sacrifices to “cultic” gods in “cultic”
places that they will certainly see in the land they were to possess. They were
to only do things God’s way in His place. The exception was for the slaughter
and eating of meat within their own community gates. This included remembering
the Levites and their ordained priestly service with all its rights and
privileges since they had no inheritance. The only prohibition to this was that
they “not eat the blood” of the animal “for the blood is the life, and you
shall not eat the life with the flesh.” The blood was to be poured out like
water onto the ground so that it would go well with them, and their sons, in
the land. Following God’s prescriptions would be doing right in the sight of
the LORD their God. The place of God’s choosing was the proper place to make His
blood sacrifice. Following their own way would be a snare to them if they
deviated off the good path that the LORD was laying out for them to do. For
their unrecognition of the true and living God, these nations were being
destroyed before them, and if Israel wandered from their Savior, they would
also pay the price for disobedience. “You shall not behave thus toward the LORD
your God, for every abominable act which the LORD hates they have done for
their gods; for they even burn their sons and daughters in the fire to their
gods. Whatever I command you, you shall be careful to do; you shall not add to
nor take away from it (Deuteronomy 12:13-32).”
-*Application* God was serious with these people in cautioning
them because he knew their heart and could see the future. God always gives us
warning if we are willing to pay attention to His hints and clues. God’s warning
is always ample, and His desire is for us to walk away from any potential for
sin in our lives. Lean on God and His understanding. Don’t capitulate to the
wicked culture around us. We can thrive in the land of God’s love, peace, and
prosperity if we will simply do the things He asks of us in faith and
obedience. Be careful, His Temple right now is within the heart of the believer
(Leviticus 26:12, Jeremiah 31:33, John 14:23, 1 Corinthians 3:16-17; 6:19-20, 2
Corinthians 6:16).
Verses to Memorize:
Deuteronomy 12:8-9
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