Deuteronomy 12
In Deuteronomy 12, Moses emphasizes the need for Israel to completely remove pagan worship practices as they enter the Promised Land. This chapter outlines specific instructions for centralized worship, proper sacrifices, and the importance of maintaining purity in their religious life. The focus is on preserving the worship of the one true God in the manner He prescribed.
Deuteronomy 12:1-3 (NKJV)
1 "These are the statutes and judgments which you shall be careful to observe in the land which the Lord God of your fathers is giving you to possess, all the days that you live on the earth.
2 You shall utterly destroy all the places where the nations which you shall dispossess served their gods, on the high mountains and on the hills and under every green tree.
3 And you shall destroy their altars, break their sacred pillars, and burn their wooden images with fire; you shall cut down the carved images of their gods and destroy their names from that place."
Moses begins by instructing Israel to follow God's laws in the land they are about to possess. The first task is to eliminate every vestige of pagan worship. The high places, altars, and idols where the nations worshipped false gods must be completely destroyed. By erasing these objects and places, the Israelites are to purify the land for the worship of the true God, leaving no room for idolatry to influence them.
Deuteronomy 12:4 (NKJV)
4 "You shall not worship the Lord your God with such things."
Israel must not adopt any of the pagan practices or locations in their worship of the Lord. The ways in which the surrounding nations worshipped their gods were detestable to God, and He demanded pure and holy worship according to His commands, not influenced by the rituals or customs of the nations they were displacing.
Deuteronomy 12:5-7 (NKJV)
5 "But you shall seek the place where the Lord your God chooses, out of all your tribes, to put His name for His dwelling place; and there you shall go.
6 There you shall take your burnt offerings, your sacrifices, your tithes, the heave offerings of your hand, your vowed offerings, your freewill offerings, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks.
7 And there you shall eat before the Lord your God, and you shall rejoice in all to which you have put your hand, you and your households, in which the Lord your God has blessed you."
God commands Israel to seek out the place where He will establish His presence. This central place of worship, which later becomes the temple in Jerusalem, is where the Israelites are to bring all their offerings and sacrifices. By centralizing worship in one location, God ensures that Israel's worship remains pure and unified. In this place, they are to offer their sacrifices and rejoice in God's blessings, reminding them of His provision.
Deuteronomy 12:8-9 (NKJV)
8 "You shall not at all do as we are doing here today—every man doing whatever is right in his own eyes—
9 for as yet you have not come to the rest and the inheritance which the Lord your God is giving you."
Moses warns Israel that they must not continue the current practice of decentralized worship, where everyone worships as they see fit. The time of wandering, where worship was less structured, is coming to an end. In the Promised Land, there will be a new order, with worship occurring at the specific place God chooses, reflecting His divine authority and order.
Deuteronomy 12:10-11 (NKJV)
10 "But when you cross over the Jordan and dwell in the land which the Lord your God is giving you to inherit, and He gives you rest from all your enemies round about, so that you dwell in safety,
11 then there will be the place where the Lord your God chooses to make His name abide. There you shall bring all that I command you: your burnt offerings, your sacrifices, your tithes, the heave offerings of your hand, and all your choice offerings which you vow to the Lord."
Once Israel settles in the Promised Land and experiences rest from their enemies, God will establish the specific place for His worship. At that point, the people are to bring all their offerings to that central location, ensuring that their worship is focused on God alone and not fragmented or compromised by local practices. This centralization also highlights their reliance on God's provision and protection.
Deuteronomy 12:12 (NKJV)
12 "And you shall rejoice before the Lord your God, you and your sons and your daughters, your male and female servants, and the Levite who is within your gates, since he has no portion nor inheritance with you."
Worship is to be a time of joy, involving the entire community, including families, servants, and the Levites. The Levites, who had no inheritance of land, were dependent on the offerings of the people. This command reinforces the communal nature of worship and celebration, as well as the responsibility to care for the Levites.
Deuteronomy 12:13-14 (NKJV)
13 "Take heed to yourself that you do not offer your burnt offerings in every place that you see;
14 but in the place which the Lord chooses, in one of your tribes, there you shall offer your burnt offerings, and there you shall do all that I command you."
Moses reiterates that burnt offerings are only to be made in the place God designates. The people are not to make offerings just anywhere, as doing so could lead to confusion and idolatry. Centralizing worship in the place God chooses keeps the focus on Him and prevents the influence of local pagan customs.
Deuteronomy 12:15-16 (NKJV)
15 "However, you may slaughter and eat meat within all your gates, whatever your heart desires, according to the blessing of the Lord your God which He has given you; the unclean and the clean may eat of it, of the gazelle and the deer alike.
16 Only you shall not eat the blood; you shall pour it on the earth like water."
Although sacrificial offerings must be centralized, ordinary meat consumption is permitted in their homes. Whether ceremonially clean or unclean, everyone can partake, but they must not consume blood. This prohibition on blood reflects the belief that life is in the blood, which belongs to God. Pouring it on the ground honors God's command.
Deuteronomy 12:17-18 (NKJV)
17 "You may not eat within your gates the tithe of your grain or your new wine or your oil, of the firstborn of your herd or your flock, of any of your offerings which you vow, of your freewill offerings, or of the heave offering of your hand.
18 But you must eat them before the Lord your God in the place which the Lord your God chooses, you and your son and your daughter, your male servant and your female servant, and the Levite who is within your gates; and you shall rejoice before the Lord your God in all to which you put your hands."
Certain offerings, such as tithes and vowed offerings, are not to be consumed at home but must be brought to the place God designates. These offerings, which belong to God, are to be part of a communal meal in God's presence. By doing so, they celebrate God's provision and goodness, reinforcing their dependence on Him.
Deuteronomy 12:19 (NKJV)
19 "Take heed to yourself that you do not forsake the Levite as long as you live in your land."
Moses reminds the people not to neglect the Levites, who had no land inheritance. The Levites relied on the offerings and tithes of the people for their sustenance. By ensuring their care, the people acknowledge the importance of those who serve God on their behalf, maintaining the spiritual health of the nation.
Deuteronomy 12:20-21 (NKJV)
20 "When the Lord your God enlarges your border as He has promised you, and you say, 'Let me eat meat,' because you long to eat meat, you may eat as much meat as your heart desires.
21 If the place where the Lord your God chooses to put His name is too far from you, then you may slaughter from your herd and from your flock which the Lord has given you, just as I have commanded you, and you may eat within your gates as much as your heart desires."
As Israel grows and their borders expand, God permits them to eat meat even if they are far from the central place of worship. While sacrifices must be made at the chosen place, ordinary meat consumption can occur anywhere, reflecting God's practical provision for His people.
Deuteronomy 12:22-23 (NKJV)
22 "Just as the gazelle and the deer are eaten, so you may eat them; the unclean and the clean alike may eat them.
23 Only be sure that you do not eat the blood, for the blood is the life; you may not eat the life with the meat."
Moses again reminds the people that they may eat meat in their homes, whether ceremonially clean or unclean. However, the consumption of blood is strictly forbidden, as it represents life, which belongs to God. The prohibition reinforces the sanctity of life and the people's responsibility to honor God's command.
Deuteronomy 12:24-25 (NKJV)
24 "You shall not eat it; you shall pour it on the earth like water.
25 You shall not eat it, that it may go well with you and your children after you, when you do what is right in the sight of the Lord."
The command to pour out the blood on the ground is repeated to stress its significance. God promises that obeying this command will lead to blessings for future generations. By respecting the sanctity of life, as represented by blood, the Israelites would ensure they remain in God’s favor and live in accordance with His will, benefiting themselves and their descendants.
Deuteronomy 12:26-27 (NKJV)
26 "Only the holy things which you have, and your vowed offerings, you shall take and go to the place which the Lord chooses.
27 And you shall offer your burnt offerings, the flesh and the blood, on the altar of the Lord your God; and the blood of your sacrifices shall be poured out on the altar of the Lord your God, and you shall eat the flesh."
Moses reiterates that the holy and vowed offerings must be brought to the central place of worship. Burnt offerings are to be offered fully to God, with the blood poured on the altar, symbolizing the complete surrender of life to God. The flesh of the sacrifices could be eaten, but it was done in the context of worship, reinforcing the sacred nature of these rituals.
Deuteronomy 12:28 (NKJV)
28 "Observe and obey all these words which I command you, that it may go well with you and your children after you forever, when you do what is good and right in the sight of the Lord your God."
Moses urges Israel to carefully follow all of God’s commands, promising that this obedience will bring prosperity and blessings to them and their descendants. The emphasis is on doing what is right in God's sight, not just following outward forms of worship, but living with integrity and faithfulness according to God's will.
Deuteronomy 12:29-30 (NKJV)
29 "When the Lord your God cuts off from before you the nations which you go to dispossess, and you displace them and dwell in their land,
30 take heed to yourself that you are not ensnared to follow them, after they are destroyed from before you, and that you do not inquire after their gods, saying, 'How did these nations serve their gods? I also will do likewise.'"
Moses warns the Israelites that after they conquer the land, they must not be curious about how the former nations worshipped their gods. Even though these nations are destroyed for their wicked practices, Israel is cautioned against being tempted to adopt any of their customs. Such curiosity could lead them into idolatry, which would undermine their relationship with God.
Deuteronomy 12:31 (NKJV)
31 "You shall not worship the Lord your God in that way; for every abomination to the Lord which He hates they have done to their gods; for they burn even their sons and daughters in the fire to their gods."
God explicitly commands Israel not to imitate the worship practices of the pagan nations, which included detestable acts like child sacrifice. These abhorrent practices deeply offend God, and Israel must ensure their worship remains pure and holy, reflecting God's nature and commandments. Worshipping in such ways would corrupt their relationship with God and lead to His judgment.
Deuteronomy 12:32 (NKJV)
32 "Whatever I command you, be careful to observe it; you shall not add to it nor take away from it."
Moses concludes with a strong reminder that God’s commandments are to be followed exactly as given, without any additions or subtractions. This prevents the Israelites from modifying or diluting God's laws, ensuring that their worship and lifestyle remain in alignment with God's will. Complete obedience to God's instructions is key to maintaining their covenant relationship with Him.