Charles (Chuck) Kensinger

The Lord reminds the Israelites in Deuteronomy 11, of all the things that He has done for them.  The promise of Jehovah to give them a land that will grow plentiful food for them and their descendants is just one.

A warning is given again to obey Him and that if they do not, they will not be blessed in the way that has been promised.  There is a blessing and a curse included here.  They must remind themselves and their children each day of who Yahweh is and what He wants them to do in the law.

Deuteronomy 12 tells specific ways to keep from falling into the worship of other gods.  Putting your faith in Jehovah is an action you must take.  He will choose a place of worship.  This is the worship center.  Not a single temple or high place for another god is to be converted to His worship.  When the early Christian church became the national church of the Roman government, many festivals and holidays were changed to Christian holidays.  Christmas, Easter, and Halloween are three.  We must separate the holy from the unholy because of this.  That is why Christmas and other holidays are more secular than they are holy.

The priests who were descended from Levi must be taken care of.  They would not have land to inherit.  Their legacy was the service to God.  The blood is pointed out as the part that has life in it.  Blood is not to be eaten or drank.  Other laws are not to be added unless specifically given by God.

Following other gods seems to be a broken record in Deuteronomy 13.  Here we see that prophets or dreamers who try to direct the Israelites to other deities are to be executed.  Family relationships are not to deter them from dealing with anyone who attempts to draw them from Jehovah.

Yahweh is serious about not worshiping anyone but Him and instructs the destruction of an entire town if it follows a worshiper of other gods.   By stopping individuals or groups from falling into idolatry the nation can be saved from the tragedy of being rejected by The Lord.  As we will read later, they did not obey these commands and suffered the consequences.

©Copyright 2020 by Charles Kensinger