The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Deuteronomy 12:4,
"You [Israel] must not worship the Lord your God in their [the Canaanites] way."
Moses told the Israelites, as they took the promised land from the Canaanites, to be sure they worshipped God in God's own way and not the Canaanite way. Moses also told the Israelites where they were to worship, "Then to the place the Lord your God will choose as a dwelling for his Name—there you are to bring everything I command you: your burnt offerings and sacrifices, your tithes and special gifts, and all the choice possessions you have vowed to the Lord. And there rejoice before the Lord your God—you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, and the Levites from your towns who have no allotment or inheritance of their own. Be careful not to sacrifice your burnt offerings anywhere you please. Offer them only at the place the Lord will choose in one of your tribes, and there observe everything I command you." Verses 11-14.
The practice of worship developed by sinful and fallen mankind reflects that sinful nature. Marked by depravity and debauchery, the Canaanites worshipped their idols. Temple prostitution, sexual immorality and child sacrifice (carried out by burning their own children in their ritual worship) were all part of the practice of their "worship", "You must not worship the Lord your God in their way, because in worshiping their gods, they do all kinds of detestable things the Lord hates. They even burn their sons and daughters in the fire as sacrifices to their gods." Verse 31.
The Canaanite worship of idols was detestable to God. Israel was not to learn their ways. Another reason the Israelites were not to worship idols is that God is a jealous God. "Do not follow other gods, the gods of the peoples around you; for the Lord your God, who is among you, is a jealous God and his anger will burn against you, and he will destroy you from the face of the land." Deuteronomy 6:14-15.
"You [Israel] must not worship the Lord your God in their [the Canaanites] way."
Moses told the Israelites, as they took the promised land from the Canaanites, to be sure they worshipped God in God's own way and not the Canaanite way. Moses also told the Israelites where they were to worship, "Then to the place the Lord your God will choose as a dwelling for his Name—there you are to bring everything I command you: your burnt offerings and sacrifices, your tithes and special gifts, and all the choice possessions you have vowed to the Lord. And there rejoice before the Lord your God—you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, and the Levites from your towns who have no allotment or inheritance of their own. Be careful not to sacrifice your burnt offerings anywhere you please. Offer them only at the place the Lord will choose in one of your tribes, and there observe everything I command you." Verses 11-14.
The practice of worship developed by sinful and fallen mankind reflects that sinful nature. Marked by depravity and debauchery, the Canaanites worshipped their idols. Temple prostitution, sexual immorality and child sacrifice (carried out by burning their own children in their ritual worship) were all part of the practice of their "worship", "You must not worship the Lord your God in their way, because in worshiping their gods, they do all kinds of detestable things the Lord hates. They even burn their sons and daughters in the fire as sacrifices to their gods." Verse 31.
The Canaanite worship of idols was detestable to God. Israel was not to learn their ways. Another reason the Israelites were not to worship idols is that God is a jealous God. "Do not follow other gods, the gods of the peoples around you; for the Lord your God, who is among you, is a jealous God and his anger will burn against you, and he will destroy you from the face of the land." Deuteronomy 6:14-15.
What I learn from this is that God insists on being worshipped according to the way he has revealed himself in the pages of Scripture, and not just "any old way."
What do I know of these things? Have I sufficiently studied the Scriptures to know how God asks to be worshipped? If I am not well informed on these things, perhaps I need to invest more time in my study of them.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
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Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
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