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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The book of Deuteronomy is the fifth book of the Old Testament and the final book of the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Bible). It is attributed to Moses and is believed to be a collection of his speeches given to the Israelites before they entered the Promised Land. The book of Deuteronomy is a powerful reminder of God's covenant with His people and the importance of following His laws. Chapter 12 of Deuteronomy continues with Moses' speech to the Israelites, emphasizing the importance of obeying God's laws and the consequences of disobedience. This chapter also highlights the central theme of the book of Deuteronomy, which is the call to love and serve God wholeheartedly.
The first part of chapter 12 of Deuteronomy focuses on the destruction of idolatry. Moses reminds the Israelites that they are about to enter a land filled with pagan nations who worship idols. He warns them not to be influenced by these practices and to completely destroy all of the idols and places of worship that they come across. He emphasizes that they must worship God alone and follow His commandments. This is a recurring theme throughout the book of Deuteronomy, as the Israelites are constantly reminded to stay faithful to God and not to turn to other gods. This serves as a warning to the Israelites and to us that idolatry and worshipping anything other than God is a serious offense in His eyes.
Another important theme in chapter 12 of Deuteronomy is the centralization of worship. Moses instructs the Israelites to bring all their offerings and sacrifices to the place that God will choose for His name to dwell. This is in contrast to the surrounding nations who worshipped in various locations and under different gods. The centralization of worship was meant to unite the Israelites and to prevent them from being influenced by other nations. It also emphasized the importance of having a central place of worship for the people of God. This commandment still holds significance for believers today, as it reminds us of the importance of gathering together as a community to worship and serve God.
Throughout the book of Deuteronomy, Moses stresses the importance of obedience to God's laws. In chapter 12, he reminds the Israelites that they must obey God's commandments and not add or subtract from them. He warns them not to follow the ways of the pagan nations and to remember all the commandments that God has given them. Obedience is a central theme in the book of Deuteronomy, as it is a key component of the covenant between God and His people. The Israelites were called to be a holy and obedient nation, and this call extends to believers today. Obedience to God's laws is a sign of our love for Him and our commitment to following His ways.
As with any covenant, there are blessings for obedience and consequences for disobedience. Moses reminds the Israelites of the blessings that will come upon them if they obey God's commandments. These blessings include prosperity, protection, and victory over their enemies. This serves as an encouragement for the Israelites to remain faithful to God and to trust in His promises. This theme of blessings for obedience is also present throughout the Bible, as God promises to bless those who follow His ways. As believers, we can also expect blessings from God when we remain obedient to His commandments.
On the other hand, Moses also warns the Israelites of the consequences of disobedience. He tells them that if they turn away from God and follow the ways of the pagan nations, they will face destruction and exile. This is a sobering reminder that the consequences of disobedience are severe and can lead to separation from God. This warning is also relevant for believers today, as we are reminded of the consequences of turning away from God and following our own desires. The book of Deuteronomy emphasizes the importance of staying faithful to God and the consequences that come with disobedience.
Throughout chapter 12 of Deuteronomy, Moses emphasizes the call to love and serve God wholeheartedly. He reminds the Israelites that their obedience and worship of God should come from a place of love and reverence. This call to love and serve God is a recurring theme throughout the book of Deuteronomy, as it is the foundation of the covenant between God and His people. The Israelites were called to be a holy nation, set apart for God's purposes, and this call extends to believers today. We are also called to love and serve God wholeheartedly, and this should be the motivation behind our obedience and worship.
Chapter 12 of Deuteronomy serves as a reminder of the importance of obeying God's commandments and the consequences of disobedience. It highlights the central theme of the book of Deuteronomy, which is the call to love and serve God wholeheartedly. This chapter also emphasizes the importance of worshipping God alone and the blessings that come with obedience. It serves as a warning against idolatry and the dangers of following the ways of the world. Ultimately, chapter 12 of Deuteronomy reminds us that our obedience to God is a sign of our love for Him and our commitment to following His ways.
In conclusion, chapter 12 of Deuteronomy is a powerful reminder of God's covenant with His people and the call to love and serve Him wholeheartedly. It emphasizes the importance of obedience to God's commandments and the consequences of disobedience. This chapter also highlights the central theme of the book of Deuteronomy and serves as a warning against idolatry and the dangers of following the ways of the world. As believers, we are called to follow God's commandments and to love and serve Him with all our hearts. Chapter 12 of Deuteronomy reminds us of the significance of our obedience to God and the blessings that come with it.
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