Deuteronomy
12- One Place to Worship
The
Israelites were commanded to assemble in one place for worship. This unified
their worship and brought them closer together as a nation. They were one when
they went up to Jerusalem for the feasts.
Believers
do not meet in one place to worship God today; we meet around One Person, and
that Person is the Lord Jesus Christ. If you are meeting to socialize or be
entertained, that is idolatry. The thing that is to draw us together into a
oneness is the person of Jesus Christ. The reasons the judgments of God came
upon Israel, one after the other in the times of the judges, was because the
people had lapsed into idolatry. The reason Israel went into Babylonian
captivity was idolatry. Anything that
comes between our souls and God becomes an idol.
The
designated place for the Israelites to worship was Jerusalem. Anything that was
an offering to the Lord had to be eaten before the Lord in the one place which
God would designate.
In
Leviticus 17, while Israel was in the wilderness camp, they were told that every
time an ox, or lamb, or goat was killed, it had to be brought to the door of
the tabernacle and the priest would sprinkle the blood upon the altar and would
offer the fat as a sweet savor to God.
The
Lord tells them again that an animal may be killed for food, but they shall not
eat the blood of the animal. The blood represents the life, which is the reason
that scripture puts such an emphasis on the blood of Jesus Christ.
If
the Israelites disobey God, God will treat them as He treats the other nations.
God doesn’t watch the actions of some people and disregard others. We find that
over and over again in the book of Ezekiel. Sin is sin. If Israel does not obey
the Lord, she will not be spared.
Please
read the chapter listed so that you can understand God’s Word better.
If
you have missed any lessons, you can go to: God Plans For You at https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com.
J.
Vernon McGee Commentary and Nelson’s Quick Reference Commentary.
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