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Deuteronomy 12-15
Worship God's Way,
So Things Go Well With You
Psalm 29:1-2 Worthy Worship
1.Ascribe to Yahweh, you sons of the mighty, ascribe to Yahweh glory and strength.2.Ascribe to Yahweh the glory due to his name. Worship Yahweh in holy array-adornment/beauty of holiness.Observations
29:1.As David witnesses the majesty of a thunderstorm (see rest of the psalm), he calls upon the sons of the mighty to praise God. Ascribe is sometimes translated “give,” but has the connotation of credit or attribute. Glory (power/importance) and might are His.
29:2.
"Holy array" is sometimes translated beauty of holiness. Most contexts of worship emphasize the holiness of the worshiper in approaching God (see Leviticus below).
Application
We can't properly worship God dressed in our sins.
Prayer
Glorious God, You are majestic in power and might, nothing can compare to You in heaven or earth. May I give You the glory that comes from a holy life, which You make possible. Amen.
Proverbs 8:1-7 What's the Way to Go? Listen!
1.“Doesn't wisdom cry out? Doesn't understanding raise her voice?2.On the top of high places by the way, where the paths meet, she stands.3.Beside the gates, at the entry of the city, at the entry doors, she cries aloud:4."To you men, I call! I send my voice to the sons of mankind.5.You simple/naive, understand prudence. You fools, be of an understanding heart.6.Hear, for I will speak excellent things. The opening of my lips is for right things.7.For my mouth speaks truth. Wickedness is an abomination to my lips.”Observation
8:1-7.“Simple” or naïve comes from the root that means spacious or open, as in open-minded (=empty headed). These are folks who haven't developed Biblical prejudices about what's right and wrong. A “prejudice” is a pre-judging of what you will and won't do, based upon God's revelation of what's wise and foolish. Simple.
Application
God has spoken, not stuttered. Are you listening?
Prayer
Spirit of Truth, thanks that you make Truth accessible. Guide me in the good paths. Amen.
Deuteronomy 12-15 Worship God's Way, So Things Go Well With You
The next fourteen chapters contain specific stipulations that flow, more or less, from the Ten Commandments. They aren't as directly applicable to the modern audience as were the previous chapters (make sure you didn't miss them), but the principles are still the path to blessing today.
Chapter 12 Worship God's Way, So Things Go Well With You
1.These are the statutes and the ordinances which you shall observe to do in the land which Yahweh, the God of your fathers, has given you to possess it, all the days that you live on the earth.2.You shall surely destroy all the places in which the nations that you shall dispossess served their gods, on the high mountains, and on the hills, and under every green tree:3.and you shall break down their altars, and dash in pieces their pillars, and burn their Asherim with fire; and you shall cut down the engraved images of their gods; and you shall destroy their name out of that place.4.You must not worship Yahweh your God their way.5.But you are to seek the place which Yahweh your God shall choose, and there you must go7....rejoice in all...in which Yahweh your God has blessed you.8.You shall not do...whatever is right in your own eyes;12.You shall rejoice before Yahweh your God...13.Take heed that you don`t offer your burnt offerings in every place that you see;14.but in the place which Yahweh shall choose...15.you may kill and eat flesh within all your gates, after all the desire of your soul, according to the blessing of Yahweh16.Only you shall not eat the blood; you shall pour it out on the earth as water.17.You may not eat within your gates the tithe...18.but you shall eat them before Yahweh your God in the place which Yahweh your God shall choose...19.Take heed that you don`t forsake the Levite...21.If the place which Yahweh your God shall choose, to put His name there, be too far from you, then you shall kill of your herd and of your flock, which Yahweh has given you, as I have commanded you; and you may eat within your gates, after all the desire of your soul.25.You shall not eat blood; that it may go well with you, and with your children after you, when you shall do that which is right in the eyes of Yahweh.26.Only your holy things which you have, and your vows, you shall take, and go to the place which Yahweh shall choose:28.Observe and hear all these words which I command you, that it may go well with you, and with your children after you forever, when you do that which is good and right in the eyes of Yahweh your God.30.take heed that you not be ensnared to follow...and do not inquire after their gods, saying, How do these nations serve their gods? even so will I do likewise.31.You shall not do so to Yahweh your God: for every abomination to Yahweh, which He hates, have they done to their gods; for even their sons and their daughters do they burn in the fire to their gods.32.Whatever thing I command you, that shall you observe to do: you shall not add to, nor diminish it.Observations
12:2-3.Pure worship involves destroying all traces of other gods, and not even learning about them, so as not to be ensnared by them (Dt 12:30-31).
12:7-15.
On the positive side, they could rejoice in what Yahweh had given them, as long as they did it as Yahweh specified, exclude the blood, and include the Levites. From years of eating corn flakes (manna), and only sacrificial meat (apparently), they could now eat meat whenever they wished (repeated three times).
12:8.
They must not do what's right in their eyes, but only what's right in Yahweh's eyes (12:25).
12:21-28.
God does care about our desires, and specifies that these commands are given so things will go well with us (2x).
Application
Learn what pleases God, and do it His way if you want to enjoy life.
Prayer
God, thanks for blessing me, and being concerned about my desires, may I be more concerned about pleasing You than myself. Amen.
Chapter 13 False Prophets Encourage False Worship
1.If there arise in the midst of you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and he give you a sign or a wonder,2.and the sign or the wonder happens... saying, Let us go after other gods, which you have not known, and let us serve them;3.you shall not listen to the words of that prophet, or to that dreamer of dreams: for Yahweh your God proves/tests you, to know whether you love Yahweh your God with all your heart and with all your soul.4.You shall walk after Yahweh your God, and fear Him, and keep His commandments, and obey His voice, and you shall serve Him, and cleave to Him.5.That prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death, because he has spoken rebellion against Yahweh your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, to draw you aside out of the way which Yahweh your God commanded you to walk in. So shall you put away the evil from the midst of you.6.If your brother, son, daughter, wife or your friend, who is as your own soul, entice you secretly, saying, "Let us go and serve other gods,"7.of the gods of the peoples who are round about you8.you shall not consent, nor listen, neither pity him, spare, or conceal him:9.but you shall surely kill him; your hand shall be first on him to put him to death, and afterward the hand of all the people.11.All Israel shall hear, and fear, and shall not do any more such wickedness as this is in the midst of you.12.If you hear concerning one of your cities:13.Certain base fellows/ children of Belial, are gone out from the midst of you, and have drawn away the inhabitants of their city, saying, Let us go and serve other gods,14.then shall you inquire, search, ask diligently; and, if it be truth, and certain, that such abomination is done in the midst of you,15.you shall surely strike the inhabitants of that city with the edge of the sword, destroying it utterly, and all that is therein and the cattle of it, with the edge of the sword.16.You shall gather all the spoil into the midst of the street, and shall burn the city, and all the spoil of it every whit, to Yahweh your God: and it shall be a heap forever; it shall not be built again.17.There shall cleave nothing of the devoted thing to your hand; that Yahweh may turn from the fierceness of His anger, and show you mercy, and have compassion on you, and multiply you, as He has sworn to your fathers;18.when you shall listen to the voice of Yahweh your God, to keep all His commandments which I command you this day, to do that which is right in the eyes of Yahweh your God.Observations
13:2-5.False prophets can do signs and wonders to deceive God's people. Any prophecy that isn't in accord with God's word is satanic, and the prophet should be killed (13:5) to remove evil from the midst. Those who seek wonders rather than the word, wander out of the way of God to follow Satan. Mt 12:39 "An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, but no sign will be given it but the sign of Jonah the prophet.”
13:4.
A good description of what it means to walk with God. Use as a checklist for starters.
13:8.
Discriminatory allegiance requires not just avoiding evil, but eliminating it, regardless of human relationships. No pity.
13:12-18.
God is serious about His people avoiding sources of contamination, to the extent that the entire city, including its stuff must be totally destroyed if the people have turned aside from following Yahweh. 13:13 “base fellows” is equally translated “children of Belial (KJV),” which better fits the context.
Application
Walking with God goes beyond reading His word, it involves obeying it, including identifying and eliminating whatever or whoever would deceive or dissuade us from loyalty to Him.
Prayer
God, protect and deliver me from evil influences by my allegiance and obedience to You. Amen.
Chapter 14 Food For A Holy People
1.You are the children of Yahweh your God: you shall not cut yourselves, nor make any baldness between your eyes for the dead.2.For you are a holy people to Yahweh your God, and Yahweh has chosen you to be a people for His own possession, above all peoples who are on the face of the earth.3.You shall not eat any abominable thing. 4 These are the animals which you may eat...6.Every animal that parts the hoof, and has the hoof cloven in two, [and] chews the cud7.these you shall not eat8.doesn`t part the hoof but doesn`t chew the cud, he is unclean to you: of their flesh you shall not eat, and their carcasses you shall not touch.9.These you may eat of all that are in the waters: fins and scales you may eat;19.All winged creeping things are unclean to you: they shall not be eaten.20.Of all clean birds you may eat.21.You shall not eat of anything that dies of itself: you may give or sell it to a foreigner: for you are a holy people to Yahweh your God. You shall not boil a kid in its mother`s milk.22.You shall surely tithe all the increase..23....and the firstborn of your herd and of your flock; that you may learn to fear Yahweh your God always.24.If...the place is too far from you, which Yahweh your God shall choose, to set His name there, when Yahweh your God shall bless you;25.then shall you turn it into money, and bind up the money in your hand, and shall go to the place which Yahweh your God shall choose:26.and you shall bestow the money for whatever your soul desires, for oxen, or for sheep, or for wine, or for strong drink, or for whatever your soul asks of you; and you shall eat there before Yahweh your God, and you shall rejoice, you and your household.27.The Levite who is within your gates, you shall not forsake him; for he has no portion nor inheritance with you.28.At the end of every three years you shall bring forth all the tithe of your increase in the same year, and shall lay it up within your gates:29.and the Levite, because he has no portion nor inheritance with you, and the sojourner, and the fatherless, and the widow, who are within your gates, shall come, and shall eat and be satisfied; that Yahweh your God may bless you in all the work of your hand which you do.Observation
14:22-29.It looks like one tithed (10%) of their increase in a feast at Jerusalem for two years, and then the third year they celebrated God's goodness in their hometown. If Jerusalem was too far to take your animals and stuff, you could sell them in your hometown, and then buy an equivalent amount in Jerusalem.
Application
Being God's holy people should be noticeable in all areas of our life, from eating to giving (haircuts might count as well).
Prayer
God, I recognize that all Your commands are for my benefit, especially in protecting me from self-will. Amen.
Chapter 15 Sabbath Year and Poor Israelites
1.At the end of every seven years you shall make a release.2.This is the manner of the release: every creditor shall release that which he has lent to his neighbor; he shall not exact it of his neighbor and his brother; because Yahweh`s release has been proclaimed.3.Of a foreigner you may exact it: but whatever of your is with your brother your hand shall release.4.However there shall be no poor with you; (for Yahweh will surely bless you in the land which Yahweh your God gives you for an inheritance to possess it;)5.if only you diligently listen to the voice of Yahweh your God, to observe to do all this commandment which I command you this day.6.For Yahweh your God will bless you, as he promised you: and you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow; and you shall rule over many nations, but they shall not rule over you.7.If there be with you a poor man, one of your brothers, within any of your gates in your land which Yahweh your God gives you, you shall not harden your heart, nor shut your hand from your poor brother;8.but you shall surely open your hand to him, and shall surely lend him sufficient for his need [in that] which he wants.9.Beware that there not be a base thought in your heart, saying, The seventh year, the year of release, is at hand; and your eye be evil against your poor brother, and you give him nothing; and he cry to Yahweh against you, and it be sin to you.10.You shall surely give him, and your heart shall not be grieved when you give to him; because that for this thing Yahweh your God will bless you in all your work, and in all that you put your hand to.11.For the poor will never cease out of the land...12.If your brother, a Hebrew man, or woman, be sold to you, and serve you six years; then in the seventh year you shall let him go free from you.13.When you let him go free from you, you shall not let him go empty:14.you shall furnish him liberally out of your flock, and out of your threshing floor, and out of your winepress; as Yahweh your God has blessed you, you shall give to him.15.You shall remember that you were a bondservant in the land of Egypt, and Yahweh your God redeemed you: therefore I command you this thing today.16.It shall be, if he tell you, I will not go out from you; because he loves you and your house, because he is well with you;17.then you shall take an awl, and thrust it through his ear to the door, and he shall be your servant forever. Also to your maid-servant you shall do likewise.18.It shall not seem hard to you, when you let him go free from you; for to the double of the hire of a hireling has he served you six years: and Yahweh your God will bless you in all that you do.19.All the firstborn males that are born of your herd and of your flock you shall sanctify to Yahweh your God: you shall do no work with the firstborn of your herd, nor shear the firstborn of your flock.20.You shall eat it before Yahweh your God year by year in the place which Yahweh shall choose, you and your household.21.If it have any blemish, [as if it be] lame or blind, any ill blemish whatever, you shall not sacrifice it to Yahweh your God.22.You shall eat it within your gates: the unclean and the clean [shall eat it] alike, as the gazelle, and as the hart.23.Only you shall not eat its blood; you shall pour it out on the ground as water.Observations
15:4.The poor in the Promised Land, and the Sabbath year are Israel specific, although the principles of generosity and stewardship are applicable today; God still loves a cheerful giver.
15:10.
God is not just concerned about our doing the right thing, but obeying with the right attitude. That's what merits His blessing.
Application
Do you view material blessings as a stewardship you manage for God, or as your “stuff” for self-gratification?
Prayer
Giver of all good gifts, guide me in using Your resources for Your purposes. Amen.
Where to go for more
God in a nutshell: God wants us to worship Him exclusively, in response to His revelation (words and works), which He requires us to know, value and do. He is concerned about us both internally and externally, wanting even sanctified/holy motives in our actions. He wants us to enjoy His blessings, and use them in a way that benefits ourselves, others, and ultimately Him.Us in a nutshell: We need aggressive discriminatory allegiance to God to please Him and maintain the purity/holiness He requires. Being loyal to Him will result in not being loyal to those who don't worship Him. (He is the better choice.)