Deuteronomy: At Journey's EndSample

No other name

According to the introduction in 1:5, Moses was teaching (as the word ‘law’ means). In particular he was teaching the great, fundamental principle of Israel’s life: obedience to the word of God. From 12:1 onwards (to 26:19) he is dealing with ‘decrees and laws’ – the commands of God in their unchangeable nature (‘decrees’ are, literally, statutes, engraved in the rock for permanence) and their divine origin (‘laws’ here are, literally, judgments: the authoritative decisions and pronouncements of the divine Judge-King). These rules are to be practised in everyday life. 

Chapter 12 can be seen as an application of the first two commandments: there is only one God and one exclusive object of worship. It will help our reading if we see how carefully planned this chapter is. Verses 1–4 affirm the principle of exclusivity, and this is repeated in the matching verses 29–32 (compare verses 4 and 31). In verses 5–14 (note how these two end verses have the same theme, bracketing the section), the truth of one only God is reflected in the provision of one central place and focus of worship. Verses 15–19 and 20–28 cover the same ground twice: first, domestic meat-eating is allowed, provided the sacredness of the blood is guarded (vv. 15–16 and vv. 20–25); secondly, the statutory offerings must be brought to the chosen place (vv. 17– 19 and vv. 26–28). 

In a day like ours, when ‘inclusivity’ is all the rage – with interfaith services where each ‘faith community’ contributes its own ‘insights’ – it would be easy to take offence at the rigid exclusivity of Deuteronomy (vv. 2–3, 30–31). No, of course we are not called to go around demolishing things, but the inescapable fact is that the Bible does not see all other religions as ‘equal’, with each having a bit of truth and none having it all. There is religious falsehood in the world and, Bible in hand, we are called to keep clear and pure from it. The great truth of only one God should be unmistakable in our worship. Likewise, our worship should be a time of rejoicing (vv. 7, 12, 18). Even the idea of a single ‘chosen place’ speaks to us. Not now an earthly site, involving great journeys, our ‘chosen place’ – the centre our God has appointed for us, where his Name dwells – is Jesus (John 2:21).

Reflection

Ask these questions of your worship: does it truly reflect your belief that there is only one God and no other? Does it – please be honest – make you happy and fill you with joy? Is it gloriously focused on the Lord Jesus Christ?