This program of daily devotions is designed to take you through the Bible in three years. It is our desire to help you gain a better general understanding of God's Word.
Please understand that in a study this brief, we will be concerned with only the major emphases and context of the Scriptures.
Each day a devotion for one or two chapters is posted, beginning with chapter one of Genesis and going through chapter twenty-two of Revelation. You are free to print each page as it appears. If you miss a day, you may contact us and request that devotion. Please send your request, along with $.50 (p&h) for each page to:
Bruce McGee,Pastor
205 Adams
Columbia, LA 71418
HERE
Bro. Bruce's commentaries for the
books of Genesis, Exodus, and Leviticus are
now available in hard copy for $7.50. Just mail your request for
COMMENTARY ON GENESIS to the address above.
DEUTERONOMY
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.
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:
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.
4 Ye shall not do so unto the LORD your God.
After yet another reminder to learn and do God's Word, Moses gives a NEW Word from God.
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:
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:
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.
God tells them there will be one central place of worship, and that ALL of them should bring their offerings, tithes, and sacrifices there. The idea is that there is only ONE God, and He is sufficient for all there needs.
8 Ye shall not do after all the things that we do here this day, every man whatsoever is right in his own eyes.
9 For ye are not as yet come to the rest and to the inheritance, which the LORD your God giveth you.
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;
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:
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.
13 Take heed to thyself that thou offer not thy burnt offerings in every place that thou seest:
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.
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.
16 Only ye shall not eat the blood; ye shall pour it upon the earth as water.
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:
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.
To do "whatsoever is right in his own eyes" is NOT what God wants from man. Jesus said that we could worship God "in spirit and in truth" irregardless of whether it is in Jerusalem or any other place (John 4:21-24).
19 Take heed to thyself that thou forsake not the Levite as long as thou livest upon the earth.
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.
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.
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.
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.
24 Thou shalt not eat it; thou shalt pour it upon the earth as water.
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.
26 Only thy holy things which thou hast, and thy vows, thou shalt take, and go unto the place which the LORD shall choose:
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.
The direction here starts with the admonition not to forget the Levite who exists on the tithes and offerings.
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.
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;
30 Take heed to thyself that thou be not snared by following them, after that they be destroyed from before thee; and that thou inquire not after their gods, saying, How did these nations serve their gods? even so will I do likewise.
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.
32 What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it.
It is profitable to us when we follow God's Word (verses 28 & 32). It is also profitable for our children and friends (verse 28).
Please continue to follow with us daily in Bible study.
CHAPTER 12
This word is about the altar places where the Canaanites have been worshipping idols. The Israelites are to literally "break down" those places and utterly destroy them.
God knew that superstitious beliefs are appealing to the nature of man, and that people could easily be lured into worship of idols.
Notice verse 4. To worship false gods is an offense to God. To place trust in superstition is to take away from the all-sufficiencey of God.
For example: when a Christian places trust in luck that takes awy from the diety of God. It is an offense to Him. (see Deuteronomy 5:7-9a)
This didn't mean they couldn't have other places in which to worship God such as home altars, synagogues, etc.
Today, our central place of worshiop is in the PERSON of Jesus Christ. And He designates the church as the general place to worship Him. But we can worship God ANYWHERE at ANYTIME.
Perhaps the reason for this statement then is to provide STRENGTH for the church. While it is true that we can worship God ANYWHERE and at ANYTIME, God WANTS us to attend church. The combined worship, tithes, and talents of many individuals provides a base from which God can work ministry to the world around the church.
However, God does demand that we come to a CENTRAL place of worship for specific reasons: to bring our sacrifices, tithes and offerings (verse 11), and to bring our praise (verse 12).
The purpose for this is to demonstrate to others our worship of God (verse 12).
Yes, we can and should worship God at home, in the car, in the office, in the woods -- everywhere (verse 15). But we are commanded to "not forsake the assembling of ourselves together.." (Hebrews 10:5). We are to bring tithes, offerings, sacrifices and praise to the "storehouse" so that the church will have provisions to meet the needs of the people (Malachi 3:10, and see also verse 7 of our text here).
It's all right to have whatever one desires (verses 20-25), except don't eat blood (see Acts 15:20).
But don't forget to bring the tithes, offerings, and sacrifices ("holy things," verse 26) to the designated place of worship.
When prosperity is given to us (verse 29), we should be careful NOT to "follow a multitude to do evil." (See Exodus 23:2)
Just because "everybody else is doing it," doesn't make it right.
Again, God says it is an offense to Him if we place faith in other gods (verse 31).