Deut. 11:1 ¶ Therefore thou shalt love the LORD thy God, and keep his charge, and his statutes, and his judgments, and his commandments, alway.
This is the third time that Moses instructed the people to love the LORD and at least the thirteenth time he has told them to keep God’s commandments. If repetition is any sign of the importance of a particular instruction, I think this would put love, submission and obedience at the top of the list. When I looked at the Hebrew for alway, it seemed to emphasize that this is a daily process—day after day after day for perpetuity.
Deut. 11:2 And know ye this day: for I speak not with your children which have not known, and which have not seen the chastisement of the LORD your God, his greatness, his mighty hand, and his stretched out arm,
Deut. 11:3 And his miracles, and his acts, which he did in the midst of Egypt unto Pharaoh the king of Egypt, and unto all his land;
Deut. 11:4 And what he did unto the army of Egypt, unto their horses, and to their chariots; how he made the water of the Red sea to overflow them as they pursued after you, and how the LORD hath destroyed them unto this day;
Deut. 11:5 And what he did unto you in the wilderness, until ye came into this place;
Deut. 11:6 And what he did unto Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, the son of Reuben: how the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, and their households, and their tents, and all the substance that was in their possession, in the midst of all Israel:
Deut. 11:7 But your eyes have seen all the great acts of the LORD which he did.
Moses points out that he is not speaking to the children, but to the adults who had witnessed the mighty acts of God’s deliverance, provision and judgment. Many but not all of this older generation would have seen and remembered the amazing miracles that God performed in Egypt to get Pharaoh to let the people of Israel go. I’m sure any of those old enough to remember would still have a vivid recollection of passing through the walls of water in the Red Sea and then seeing Pharaoh’s army destroyed as the walls of water came crashing down upon them. They would have remembered the many evidences of God’s miraculous powers as they wandered through the wilderness—from giving water from a rock to providing manna from heaven to feed them to sending judgment in the form of fiery serpents and then providing for healing of those who would lift their eyes to look at the brass serpent on the pole to the awesome display of His presence at Sinai and on and on.
Dathan and Abiram were in league with Korah in questioning God’s appointment of Moses and Aaron to leadership. God spectacularly confirmed His choice of Moses and Aaron and caused the earth to open up and swallow the troublemakers and all that belonged to them. (see Numbers 16) These people had seen this with their own eyes.
Again, I often make comparisons and judgments as I read these accounts. It’s just hard to fathom that men were that brazen and rebellious in consideration of the undeniable power and authority of God. I can’t help but think that I could never be that stupid. I have to admit that although I haven’t seen the same type of miracles, I cannot deny the miracles that abound around us. There is no denying God’s sovereign power and authority, yet I have found myself rebellious and disobedient just as surely as were they. I am so thankful for the mercy and forgiveness of God and that I am securely held in the grip of the Savior.
John 10:27–30 “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. I and my Father are one.”
Deut. 11:8 ¶ Therefore shall ye keep all the commandments which I command you this day, that ye may be strong, and go in and possess the land, whither ye go to possess it;
Deut. 11:9 And that ye may prolong your days in the land, which the LORD sware unto your fathers to give unto them and to their seed, a land that floweth with milk and honey.
“Therefore” = Based on all you have witnessed of the mighty hand of God in action….
Moses declared that there is absolutely no other right response to God than to obey Him. Their strength as a nation and their ability to go in and possess the land is directly connected to their obedience. It will also have direct bearing on their maintaining possession of the land. The land is theirs to inherit as promised to their forefathers. The description of the land flowing with milk and honey is a poetic way of saying that it abounds with everything they need.
Deut. 11:10 For the land, whither thou goest in to possess it, is not as the land of Egypt, from whence ye came out, where thou sowedst thy seed, and wateredst it with thy foot, as a garden of herbs:
Deut. 11:11 But the land, whither ye go to possess it, is a land of hills and valleys, and drinketh water of the rain of heaven:
Deut. 11:12 A land which the LORD thy God careth for: the eyes of the LORD thy God are always upon it, from the beginning of the year even unto the end of the year.
This is a statement of contrast; in Egypt it had been necessary to carry water to nourish the seeds that were planted. Canaan was a land of hills and valleys where the water ran freely and was continually supplied by the rains of heaven. In fact, this land had been singled out for God’s favor among all other places on planet earth just as surely as the people of Israel had been set apart among all other peoples. The Hebrew for “careth for” states to “tread or frequent.” In other words, He specifically saw to it that the land was carefully nourished from year to year. It made me think of a gardener taking pride in His special garden. (I still can’t help but think it is connected to the Garden of Eden.)
Deut. 11:13 And it shall come to pass, if ye shall hearken diligently unto my commandments which I command you this day, to love the LORD your God, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul,
Deut. 11:14 That I will give you the rain of your land in his due season, the first rain and the latter rain, that thou mayest gather in thy corn, and thy wine, and thine oil.
Deut. 11:15 And I will send grass in thy fields for thy cattle, that thou mayest eat and be full.
Though God is going to give them possession of a land of plenty, its continued abundant provision would be directly dependent upon the people of Israel keeping their covenant with God—to be careful to obey God and serve Him from a heart of love. Their obedience would result in sufficient rain as needed each season and timed to facilitate planting and harvesting. It would also serve to ensure there was abundant grass for the cattle to provide meat for sustenance.
Deut. 11:16 Take heed to yourselves, that your heart be not deceived, and ye turn aside, and serve other gods, and worship them;
Deut. 11:17 And then the LORD’S wrath be kindled against you, and he shut up the heaven, that there be no rain, and that the land yield not her fruit; and lest ye perish quickly from off the good land which the LORD giveth you.
Again Moses warns the people not to let themselves be deceived into turning away from God to serve and worship “other gods.” If they allowed that to happen, the LORD would become angry and withhold the rain; and that would in turn result in no harvest.
It is very clear in the wording of these verses that the LORD held them accountable regarding falling for deception. He had carefully ensured that they were made knowledgeable about His word and His expectations. He had given them Moses to lead and instruct them. Joshua had been prepared to assume that responsibility after the death of Moses. There was no acceptable excuse for allowing themselves to be deceived.
This is a truth that should be recognized by believers today. God has preserved His written word for our instruction. He has provided the Holy Spirit to lead and teach us. We have no excuse for allowing ourselves to be deceived by false teachers except by choice. If we are not diligent to hide the word away in our heart or make it part of our daily sustenance, we are choosing to set ourselves up to be deceived. If we just go through the motions to present a front and conform to the letter of the law with no heart involvement, we are choosing to set ourselves up to be deceived. If we never seek the LORD in prayer to seek His guidance and instruction through the Spirit, we are choosing to set ourselves up to be deceived. If our priorities are dominated by accommodating the flesh and accumulating worldly riches, we are choosing to set ourselves up to be deceived. It all boils down to our choices, and we are accountable to God for those choices.
Of note is the fact that God declares He would withhold rain as judgment because of the people’s sin. People today don’t like to consider events in nature as being a possible judgment for sin—but isn’t it interesting that the accepted terminology for describing these things is as an “act of God.”
Deut. 11:18 ¶ Therefore shall ye lay up these my words in your heart and in your soul, and bind them for a sign upon your hand, that they may be as frontlets between your eyes.
“Therefore” = Because I hold you accountable for allowing yourselves to be deceived…
You should hide my words in your heart and soul. In other words, memorize them and treasure them; have them always before you. I think I noted previously, that it is from this instruction that Jewish phylacteries were worn. According to Webster, these phylacteries (little boxes strapped on the head or left arm) contain the following scriptures.
Exodus 13:2-10 Sanctify unto me all the firstborn, whatsoever openeth the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and of beast: it is mine. And Moses said unto the people, Remember this day, in which ye came out from Egypt, out of the house of bondage; for by strength of hand the LORD brought you out from this place: there shall no leavened bread be eaten. This day came ye out in the month Abib. And it shall be when the LORD shall bring thee into the land of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, which he sware unto thy fathers to give thee, a land flowing with milk and honey, that thou shalt keep this service in this month. Seven days thou shalt eat unleavened bread, and in the seventh day shall be a feast to the LORD. Unleavened bread shall be eaten seven days; and there shall no leavened bread be seen with thee, neither shall there be leaven seen with thee in all thy quarters. And thou shalt shew thy son in that day, saying, This is done because of that which the LORD did unto me when I came forth out of Egypt. And it shall be for a sign unto thee upon thine hand, and for a memorial between thine eyes, that the LORD’S law may be in thy mouth: for with a strong hand hath the LORD brought thee out of Egypt. Thou shalt therefore keep this ordinance in his season from year to year.”
Deuteronomy 6:4-9 “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.”
Deut. 11:19 And ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.
Deut. 11:20 And thou shalt write them upon the door posts of thine house, and upon thy gates:
Deut. 11:21 That your days may be multiplied, and the days of your children, in the land which the LORD sware unto your fathers to give them, as the days of heaven upon the earth.
Not only are the people to take personal accountability for knowing and obeying God’s instructions and commands, they are to teach them to their children. How? By example. His word should be a common topic of discussion in the home. Obedience to His word should be reflected in the daily life of the parent. They should show how they value His word through incorporating it into their nightly and morning routines. His word should adorn their homes and property. It should be obvious to all that the LORD is revered and His word valued in the home. The application to the believer today is obvious.
By serving God in love and obedience and teaching their children to do the same, they would ensure their continued possession of the land that God is giving to them as promised to their fathers.
“as the days of heaven upon the earth” – I can read a couple of thoughts into that phrase.
A reference to time without end.
A reference to earthly blessings that will make them feel like they are experiencing heaven on earth.
Deut. 11:22 For if ye shall diligently keep all these commandments which I command you, to do them, to love the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, and to cleave unto him;
Deut. 11:23 Then will the LORD drive out all these nations from before you, and ye shall possess greater nations and mightier than yourselves.
“if” – Unlike God’s covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, this covenant is conditioned upon their obedience to Him from a heart of love. The Hebrew for cleave states “to catch by pursuit…follow close…pursue hard.” In other words, their actions will prove their desire. If they keep their part of the covenant, they can be confident that God will empower them to drive out the great and powerful nations that are in the land and take possession of it even though the odds against them seem impossible.
Deut. 11:24 Every place whereon the soles of your feet shall tread shall be yours: from the wilderness and Lebanon, from the river, the river Euphrates, even unto the uttermost sea shall your coast be.
Though I’m not sure exactly how much land is being referenced, the boundaries are described as stretching from the wilderness (in the south) to Lebanon (in the north) and from the Euphrates (on the east) to the Mediterranean (on the west). Never has the nation of Israel proper occupied that territory. Scripture does tell us that Solomon had dominion over that territory, but only as a sovereign over other nations—not as king over the territory as apportioned to the twelve tribes.
2Chronicles 9:26 “And he reigned over all the kings from the river even unto the land of the Philistines, and to the border of Egypt.”
“river” = a stream (including the sea; expec. the Nile, Euphrates, etc.
Deut. 11:25 There shall no man be able to stand before you: for the LORD your God shall lay the fear of you and the dread of you upon all the land that ye shall tread upon, as he hath said unto you.
Again, Moses emphasizes that not one of your enemies will be able to stand against you. Why? Because YHWH, the God of Israel, will empower you to strike fear in their hearts. Moses continues to drive home the truth that their success will be due entirely to God. Without Him, they had no chance of victory whatsoever.
This is an important truth. It takes diligence to guard against the sin of pride and its terrible consequences. I believe pride is the root sin from which all sins are birthed. Jesus too affirms the important truth that we are powerless without Him.
John 15:5 “I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.”
Deut. 11:26 ¶ Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse;
Deut. 11:27 A blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you this day:
Deut. 11:28 And a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the LORD your God, but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day, to go after other gods, which ye have not known.
The LORD has Moses make a clear distinction between choosing to obey God vs. choosing to disobey Him.
Obedience = blessing
Disobedience = curse
There are no shades of gray; it is clearly a black or white choice.
Deut. 11:29 And it shall come to pass, when the LORD thy God hath brought thee in unto the land whither thou goest to possess it, that thou shalt put the blessing upon mount Gerizim, and the curse upon mount Ebal.
Deut. 11:30 Are they not on the other side Jordan, by the way where the sun goeth down, in the land of the Canaanites, which dwell in the champaign over against Gilgal, beside the plains of Moreh?
Moses now instructs the people to make two of the mountains in the Promised Land monuments to this truth. There are to designate Mount Gerizim (to the south) the mount of blessing; it faces Mount Ebal (to the north), the designated mount of cursing. The location of these two mounts is designated as “where the sun goeth down,” which would be toward the west. The city of Shechem is located in the valley between them. Another landmark associated with them was their proximity to the plains of Moreh, one of the places where God affirmed His promise to give the land to Abraham.
Genesis 12:6-7 “And Abram passed through the land unto the place of Sichem, unto the plain of Moreh. And the Canaanite was then in the land. And the LORD appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land: and there builded he an altar unto the LORD, who appeared unto him.”
Deut. 11:31 For ye shall pass over Jordan to go in to possess the land which the LORD your God giveth you, and ye shall possess it, and dwell therein.
Deut. 11:32 And ye shall observe to do all the statutes and judgments which I set before you this day.
As this chapter ends, Moses declares that they will pass over the Jordan River to take possession of the land that “the LORD your God giveth you.” It is spoken of as a deed already accomplished—“ye shall possess it and dwell therein.” Moses also declares confidently that they will keep their covenant with YHWH according to the instruction of Moses. It’s like Moses was trying to impart his faith to the people as he taught them. Or maybe these words form a prayer to the Almighty even as He seeks to strengthen their commitment with his words of confidence.
Deut. 12:1 ¶ These are the statutes and judgments, which ye shall observe to do in the land, which the LORD God of thy fathers giveth thee to possess it, all the days that ye live upon the earth.
At this point Moses begins to explain in more detail the instructions God had given to govern how they lived. First and foremost he addresses getting their spiritual house in order. The Hebrew for the word observe is enlightening—“ to hedge about (as with thorns), i.e. guard; generally, to protect, attend to, etc….be circumspect, take heed (to self)….” Moses is basically saying that living in obedience to God’s instructions will serve as a hedge of protection around them. It will keep them in a place of blessing and protect them from stepping into a place that will result in judgment. These laws are to be followed as long as the people of Israel lived in the land.
Deut. 12:2 Ye shall utterly destroy all the places, wherein the nations which ye shall possess served their gods, upon the high mountains, and upon the hills, and under every green tree:
Deut. 12:3 And ye shall overthrow their altars, and break their pillars, and burn their groves with fire; and ye shall hew down the graven images of their gods, and destroy the names of them out of that place.
Their first order of business upon taking possession of the land was to completely destroy all the places connected with idol worship wherever they might be located. They were to destroy every item associated with that worship—altars (places of sacrifice), pillars (columns for holding idols), groves (the Hebrew indicates this is connected to the worship of the goddess Ashtoreth), graven images (the actual idol statues), and even the places that bear the names of these false gods. YHWH, The one and only True God, wants the land to be completely purged of anything related to the worship of false gods.
Just imagine the consequences if we were to act accordingly today!
Deut. 12:4 Ye shall not do so unto the LORD your God.
Deut. 12:5 ¶ But unto the place which the LORD your God shall choose out of all your tribes to put his name there, even unto his habitation shall ye seek, and thither thou shalt come:
Deut. 12:6 And thither ye shall bring your burnt offerings, and your sacrifices, and your tithes, and heave offerings of your hand, and your vows, and your freewill offerings, and the firstlings of your herds and of your flocks:
Deut. 12:7 And there ye shall eat before the LORD your God, and ye shall rejoice in all that ye put your hand unto, ye and your households, wherein the LORD thy God hath blessed thee.
Moses goes on to give instruction regarding the proper worship of YHWH, the God of Israel. In contrast to the heathen places of worship, YHWH is going to choose a place in the land as the acceptable place to gather to worship Him. At that place the people were to come to make their offerings (freely offered acts of worship and thanks), sacrifices (offerings requiring the death of an innocent animal made to atone for sin or make clean), tithes (a tenth of all that God gives you), and vows (a solemn promise to God) before the LORD. At that place they will eat (of the fellowship and peace offerings) and fellowship before YHWH, the God of Israel, with great cause to rejoice for the abundance with which God has rewarded their labor. At that place they would gather to celebrate the designated feasts of the LORD.
“the firstlings of the herds and flocks” – This is direct reference to God’s instruction as explained in Exodus. It is an ongoing reminder that their deliverance from Egypt to live as an independent nation is a direct result of God’s provision for them.
Exodus 13:12-15 “That thou shalt set apart unto the LORD all that openeth the matrix, and every firstling that cometh of a beast which thou hast; the males shall be the LORD’S. And every firstling of an ass thou shalt redeem with a lamb; and if thou wilt not redeem it, then thou shalt break his neck: and all the firstborn of man among thy children shalt thou redeem. And it shall be when thy son asketh thee in time to come, saying, What is this? that thou shalt say unto him, By strength of hand the LORD brought us out from Egypt, from the house of bondage: And it came to pass, when Pharaoh would hardly let us go, that the LORD slew all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both the firstborn of man, and the firstborn of beast: therefore I sacrifice to the LORD all that openeth the matrix, being males; but all the firstborn of my children I redeem.”
Deut. 12:8 Ye shall not do after all the things that we do here this day, every man whatsoever is right in his own eyes.
This is an interesting section to me. It seems to indicate that the people were not following God’s instructions in spite of Moses’ leadership. Moses describes how they are living as doing “every man whatsoever is right in his own eyes.”
I remember from previous reading in Joshua that they hadn’t been obedient to circumcise all those born in the wilderness. Previous reading in Exodus-Numbers revealed that the years of wandering had included times of rebellion and judgment. I would have thought that as that time drew to a close, the people would have been eager to please God in hopes of benefiting from His power and provision in conquering the land. I wouldn’t have thought they would be characterized in the same way I characterize the professing “church” today. Just as Israel needed a call to repentance and obedience, so the “church” needs today.
Because of my interest in the study of “end times,” I also couldn’t help but think of how this will apply to Israel in preparation to entering God’s eternal land of promise. A believing remnant will turn from being a people following what is right in their own eyes to becoming a nation totally committed to YHWH in faith and obedience and entering into the rest and inheritance referenced in the next verse.
Deut. 12:9 For ye are not as yet come to the rest and to the inheritance, which the LORD your God giveth you.
I read this over several times and finally started to look at the Hebrew when I noticed that there is no Hebrew showing until the word “come.” That actually made more sense to me; I just couldn’t make the connection with “for, since, when or because” as used in other translations. It was better to read it with a clean break. Moses is saying things are going to be different when we cross over into the land that we are inheriting from God as promised to our fathers. Instead of serving in a nation of false gods in bondage and fear, Moses says (my paraphrase), “Come, let’s enter into a land where we can experience rest as we submit to the Lordship of YHWH who has chosen to give us this land.”
Deut. 12:10 But when ye go over Jordan, and dwell in the land which the LORD your God giveth you to inherit, and when he giveth you rest from all your enemies round about, so that ye dwell in safety;
Deut. 12:11 Then there shall be a place which the LORD your God shall choose to cause his name to dwell there; thither shall ye bring all that I command you; your burnt offerings, and your sacrifices, your tithes, and the heave offering of your hand, and all your choice vows which ye vow unto the LORD:
Deut. 12:12 And ye shall rejoice before the LORD your God, ye, and your sons, and your daughters, and your menservants, and your maidservants, and the Levite that is within your gates; forasmuch as he hath no part nor inheritance with you.
I liked the wording of the NIV for verse 10: “But you will cross the Jordan and settle in the land the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance, and he will give you rest from all your enemies around you so that you will live in safety.”
It’s a statement of faith in God’s promise. They are to recognize that truth and determine to worship God as He commands concerning where and how. This is the greatest thanks a child of God can give Him—obedience from a heart of love. They will have great cause to rejoice in having a safe land of their own to call home. I thought it was interesting that special address was made to the Levite who would inherit no land of his own. In spite of that lack, they have great cause for rejoicing in their privileged position of service before God and the provision that will be made for them through the sacrifices and offerings brought to God. They will lack nothing and will truly “rest” as God provides their every need through the obedience of others.
I couldn’t help but think of the words of Jesus at this point.
Matthew 11:29-30 “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Deut. 12:13 Take heed to thyself that thou offer not thy burnt offerings in every place that thou seest:
Deut. 12:14 But in the place which the LORD shall choose in one of thy tribes, there thou shalt offer thy burnt offerings, and there thou shalt do all that I command thee.
Moses continues to distinguish between offerings made to idols and those made to Almighty God. God is unique and holy. The place He sanctifies as acceptable for the offerings made and the method by which they are offered to Him must be unique and holy according to His will and instruction. Again, Moses declares that God will choose a place in the land designated to one of the tribes.
Deut. 12:15 Notwithstanding thou mayest kill and eat flesh in all thy gates, whatsoever thy soul lusteth after, according to the blessing of the LORD thy God which he hath given thee: the unclean and the clean may eat thereof, as of the roebuck, and as of the hart.
Regarding the normal diet of the people, however, God has said that they may kill and eat meat according to their liking. The wording of the KJV is confusing, but I believe the other translations clarify that the instruction does not limit the person, whether clean or unclean, in the “clean” meat he consumes.
Deut. 12:16 Only ye shall not eat the blood; ye shall pour it upon the earth as water.
There is one important instruction, however, regarding the consumption of meat. They are not to eat the blood; it is to be poured out on the earth like water. We learned previously that God declares the blood to represent the life of the flesh.
Leviticus 17:11 “For the life of the flesh is in the blood.”
God’s word is careful and consistent in teaching that we are to value life. He is the giver of life and the only One with the authority to take life. Though He is allowing the people to eat meat, they are to remember that life is precious and can be taken only as instructed by God. They were even to “bury” the blood after pouring it out.
Leviticus 17:13 “And whatsoever man there be of the children of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn among you, which hunteth and catcheth any beast or fowl that may be eaten; he shall even pour out the blood thereof, and cover it with dust.”
I believe this was a sign of respect for the life that was sacrificed to provide your sustenance.
Deut. 12:17 Thou mayest not eat within thy gates the tithe of thy corn, or of thy wine, or of thy oil, or the firstlings of thy herds or of thy flock, nor any of thy vows which thou vowest, nor thy freewill offerings, or heave offering of thine hand:
Deut. 12:18 But thou must eat them before the LORD thy God in the place which the LORD thy God shall choose, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite that is within thy gates: and thou shalt rejoice before the LORD thy God in all that thou puttest thine hands unto.
Anything designated as belonging to God, such as tithes or the male firstborn of the flocks, or any offerings made to Him that allowed for the offerer to partake of the offering were to be brought to and transacted at the place designated as His choice. Why are they to rejoice at what they give to the LORD? Because it represents how bountifully they have been blessed by Him. It’s a public acknowledgement that they recognize Him as LORD and that all their blessings come from His hands.
I think it is also significant to note that no one in the community is to be left out; they are all to participate—sons, daughters, servants and Levites.
Deut. 12:19 Take heed to thyself that thou forsake not the Levite as long as thou livest upon the earth.
Moses is very clear in addressing the status of the Levite as he instructs the people. To forsake the Levite would be to forsake God since they are His chosen servants. Their lives are not to be burdened with the distractions of everyday life. They should be allowed to give their full attention to serving the LORD. As long as the people obey God’s instructions regarding tithes, firstborns, offerings and sacrifices, the Levites will have sufficient provision.
As part of a “royal priesthood,” I believe we can look forward to the same privilege enjoyed by the Levites when we get to heaven. We will not be burdened with distractions to our ability to worship and serve the LORD.
Deut. 12:20 When the LORD thy God shall enlarge thy border, as he hath promised thee, and thou shalt say, I will eat flesh, because thy soul longeth to eat flesh; thou mayest eat flesh, whatsoever thy soul lusteth after.
Deut. 12:21 If the place which the LORD thy God hath chosen to put his name there be too far from thee, then thou shalt kill of thy herd and of thy flock, which the LORD hath given thee, as I have commanded thee, and thou shalt eat in thy gates whatsoever thy soul lusteth after.
Deut. 12:22 Even as the roebuck and the hart is eaten, so thou shalt eat them: the unclean and the clean shall eat of them alike.
Moses now addresses the issue of distance and ability to travel as the Lord expands the borders of the land according to His promise. He is stating that God has no problem with their eating “clean” meat that is prepared according to His instructions, but they are not to make offerings or sacrifices except at the one place He designates. Again, no one is prohibited from eating meat.
It should be noted that this exception is for those for whom distance from the appointed place is too much of a hardship.
Deut. 12:23 Only be sure that thou eat not the blood: for the blood is the life; and thou mayest not eat the life with the flesh.
Deut. 12:24 Thou shalt not eat it; thou shalt pour it upon the earth as water.
Deut. 12:25 Thou shalt not eat it; that it may go well with thee, and with thy children after thee, when thou shalt do that which is right in the sight of the LORD.
I think we can safely assume that repetition is an indication of the seriousness with which one should receive God’s word. Again, Moses emphasizes that they are not to eat meat that has blood. The blood represents life, and they are to make sure the meat is totally without life. Obedience to this command is one way of ensuring God blessing upon your life. God always rewards obedience to His word.
I think it is also interesting that Moses references the fact that their actions are “in the sight of the LORD.” Nothing we do escapes His attention. Just another amazing truth about the God we serve.
Proverbs 15:3 “The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.”
Job 34:21 “For his eyes are upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his goings.”
And my favorite…
Psalm 139:1-12 “O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether. Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it. Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me. Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.”
Deut. 12:26 Only thy holy things which thou hast, and thy vows, thou shalt take, and go unto the place which the LORD shall choose:
Deut. 12:27 And thou shalt offer thy burnt offerings, the flesh and the blood, upon the altar of the LORD thy God: and the blood of thy sacrifices shall be poured out upon the altar of the LORD thy God, and thou shalt eat the flesh.
Deut. 12:28 Observe and hear all these words which I command thee, that it may go well with thee, and with thy children after thee for ever, when thou doest that which is good and right in the sight of the LORD thy God.
No matter the distance, there will be only one place from which God will accept their “holy things”—such as vows, offerings and sacrifices. All sacrifices are to be made upon the altar of God. This is so important because everything associated with the worship of God at the tabernacle/temple pointed to Christ. He would be the one perfect innocent sacrifice offered according to God’s choice and in the place where He establishes His name. His blood would be poured out as the only acceptable sacrifice for man’s sin. To accept that gift in faith makes one a partaker of the life that He gives in the Spirit after pouring out the life of His flesh.
Again, Moses gives the admonition that obedience results in blessing, and that their obedience never goes unnoticed by God.
Deut. 12:29 When the LORD thy God shall cut off the nations from before thee, whither thou goest to possess them, and thou succeedest them, and dwellest in their land;
Deut. 12:30 Take heed to thyself that thou be not snared by following them, after that they be destroyed from before thee; and that thou enquire not after their gods, saying, How did these nations serve their gods? even so will I do likewise.
Deut. 12:31 Thou shalt not do so unto the LORD thy God: for every abomination to the LORD, which he hateth, have they done unto their gods; for even their sons and their daughters they have burnt in the fire to their gods.
This should be an unnecessary warning to God’s chosen people. After experiencing such amazing provision and miraculous displays of His power, how could His people ever even contemplate following false gods? They were never to imitate heathen practices as a way of worshipping the LORD. Speaking as God’s representative before the people, Moses was inspired to include this warning; and the future will reveal that it was necessary but not heeded.
We humans have a sin nature that delights in drawing us to the forbidden. We just can’t seem to be satisfied with what we know to be right when confronted with others who “seem” to have more or enjoy more or know more who participate in things forbidden by God. Curiosity is a good thing in the proper confines, but a very dangerous thing when it takes us outside the confines of God’s revealed will for our lives. Later scripture records that God instructs the people to kill every man, woman and child as they take possession of the land. This instruction is intended to protect the people from this very temptation. They do not comply with this instruction. As a result, they end up becoming ensnared by the very idolatrous practices they were warned against. God hates everything associated with the worship practices of the heathen nations. Especially singled out is their practice of sacrificing their sons and daughters as burnt offerings.
Deut. 12:32 What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it.
Point is made that God has given them clear commands concerning how to worship and how to live. They are not to add anything to or take away anything from His words. By the time of Jesus’ day they had added so much to His words that to keep the law had become a tremendous burden on God’s people. Not only had they added to, they had made keeping the letter of the law without regard to the heart of the law the primary focus. God had been positioned as an unfeeling tyrant rather than a loving protective Father.