- Bring this into the Presence of God, your God, at the place he designates for worship (14:22)
- but if the place God, your God, designates for worship is too far away... (14:23)
- ...take the money to the place God, your God, has chosen to be worshiped. (14:25)
- ...in the Presence of God, your God, at the place that God designates for worship (15:20)
- ...at the place God chooses to be worshiped by establishing his name there (16:2)
- Don't sacrifice the Passover in any of the towns...other than the one God, your God, designates for worship; there and there only will you offer the Passover-Sacrifice (16:5)
- Boil and eat it at the place designated by God, your God. (16:7)
- Rejoice at the place God, your God, will set aside to be worshiped (16:11)
- Celebrate the Feast to God, your God, for seven days at the place God designates (16:14)
- All your men must appear before God, your God, three times each year at the place he designates (16:16)
I think this stood out to me because I know the rest of the story. The Israelites don't fully obey this command. Once they get settled the Promised Land, they start doing things their way. Sure, they continue to make sacrifices, but they start doing it at places of their choosing, not God's designated place.
My initial thought was, "Why does it matter where they worship? What's the big deal? At least they continue to worship and make sacrifices."
And that knee-jerk response is evidence of my own sinfulness and unholiness. Like the Israelites, I don't fully obey God's commands, and I want my way to be acceptable to God. "Why isn't this good enough, God? At least I'm doing it."
I see how much that same attitude creeps into my everyday life. I mostly obey what God says, but I subtly reserve the right to decide how I'll do it. I decide for myself what's "good enough."
For example, God says to forgive others as Christ forgave me - fully, unconditionally, sacrificially - but sometimes I don't feel like it. I may say the words "I forgive" but then I'll hold on to resentment toward the person. Or, God says it's better to give than receive, but sometimes when I serve my family, I'm cranky on the inside, thinking, "I have to do everything around here!" (which, for the record, is completely inaccurate. I don't.)
God makes it clear that partial obedience to His commands is disobedience. Carefully keep the commands of God, your God, all the requirements and regulations he gave you. (6:17) Diligently do everything I command you, the way I command you: don't add to it; don't subtract from it. (12:32)
As much as I want my way (read: disobedience) to be okay, God has some things to say about it:
Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams. (1 Samuel 15:22)
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. (Psalm 51:17)"I ask nothing of you but that kind of love, which includes respecting Me for who I am, following Me wherever I lead, serving Me with your whole heart, and obeying every command I give. That's what I asked of Israel...and that's what I ask of you. But that's asking something neither you nor Israel could give. You are not capable of loving Me like that...
Read Deuteronomy and realize that no one can please me unless I put the life of My Son, who always pleases Me, into their hearts. And that's what I promised to do. That's what I have done." 66 LL
5 comments:
I agree wholeheartedly with you, Cic, that I often choose how half-heartedly I will obey God, my God; making the justifications that it's more than yesterday (or last year) and that's it more than the person next to me.
The other thing that stood out to me was the repetition Moses continues, using "God, your God," in addressing the Israelites. It completely reiterates the relationship and reminds them that He is theirs and they are His. I know in our house, we use this principle when a child has been caught doing something wrong ("Guess what your daughter did today??!!" (emphasis on the "your"). I've started trying to apply that reminder to myself when thinking about the promises or commands of God. "God, my God...."
I didn't pick up on that theme, Cici, of God's specifically pointing the Israelites to a designated place for worship. How true that I want to obey God mostly, enough to look good, but not enough to completely empty myself of pride, selfishness, my own will. How often do I hold on to that one little piece of my own agenda with a tight fist and miss all of God's Presence, all of His pleasure.
In chapter 16, I loved how much God called them to rejoice and to celebrate in His Presence. I realize how much I miss in true joy and celebration because I make it about what I want, my terms of what's celebration-worthy.
I'm thankful to dig deeper in the old testament and truly see how much I want my own way and how I half-heartedly obey when I place it right up next to God's commands. It truly shows me how much I need Jesus and my gratefulness for the cross continues to grow!
I pray that this would change the way I share Christ with others. And that my heart would be stirred each day as I continue to read and learn more about God's holiness, His commands, and our unfaithful ways. I think this will make the Gospel more powerful to others!! Realizing just how no matter what, we could never follow all of these commands that our Holy God requires, because He's our Holy God. Thankful for Jesus Christ and the blood He shed for me today.
I hear you, Christina! The more I read in the OT, the more I'm ready to hear the good news of Jesus in the New Testament. But I'm realizing how much richer my understanding is of the NT when I actually understand the OT. So, we will spend the vast majority of the year reading through the OT, and it'll be so exciting and rich to finally get to the NT in October/November. Glad you're back on here, my friend. (And Stacey and Stacy and Shannon this week as well!)
Deut 14:21 Because you are a people holy to God----do all these commands. Whew! And my mind goes this week to living this day by the commands of God --- Romans 7:8 says the law produces in me more coveting, more jealousy, more ambition. Rom 7:10 - the very commandments that are intended to bring life actually bring death. Am I living by the moral law? Rom 7:21 Even today there is a law at work in me. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from myself? Divine Grace delivers me daily. We are all people holy to God---amazing. grace.
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