Deuteronomy Chapter 12
The Israelites were about to enter the promised land. Not only would they inherit the cities, houses and land, but they would also inherit the places of worship and altars and idols of the wicked inhabitants who worshipped many gods and practiced satanic worship. God gave Israel very clear and strict instruction that all of those places of worship needed to be destroyed.
Israel was never to set up their own places of worship for example worship in high places or places more convenient for them. Their places of worship would be where God established them. Some Bible scholars believe that because the Tabernacle was a portable structure, “the place that the LORD your God will choose out of all your tribes to put his name and make his habitation there. There you shall go…” were places the Tabernacle was moved to that God designated as places of worship. Places of designated worship that are mentioned in the Bible are Shiloh, Shechem and Bethel.
Despite God’s strict instruction about the worship of Him, we discover upon reading the history of the Israelites that at various times they did copy the practices of the worship of the Canaanites. It is exactly these practices that led God to bring judgement on the nation, and they were captured by foreign nations. It is sad to read and know that so much could have been prevented had they just obeyed the Word of the Lord.
Let's Reflect
1. They were instructed to not offer sacrifices to God wherever they decided was a good spot, but they were to bring their sacrifices of worship where?
2. According to verse 7 and verse 12 what did God want for the people as they worshipped Him?
3. The nation of Israel had endured being under the thumb of Egypt as their slaves for 400 years. What did God want to give to the people according to verse 9 once they entered the promised land?
4. God wanted them to enjoy eating meat. There would be plenty of it in the promised land. What strict instruction did God give regarding what they ate? See verse 16.
5. Additionally, they were not to eat the things that had been promised to God. They would be able to enjoy the meat of the sacrificed animal such as the first-born sacrifices once they had brought them to the proper place of worship. The food was given to the family members as well as the members of what tribe?
6. According to verse 23 why were they instructed not to eat the blood of a butchered animal?
7. God warned the people not to adopt the ways of worship of the current inhabitants of the land. They worshipped their gods with sexual perversion, human sacrifices and they worshipped nature. He called their worship an abomination. Who would be the one to set the standard of worship for the Israelite people? See verse 32. Who sets the standard of our worship today?
