Read Deuteronomy 11:26-12:32 at Bible Gateway.
Previously: deuteronomy 11:26-14:29, you shall not make idols
(Please review the teaching tools of scripture, especially the Hebrew paragraph divisions. The paragraphs marked by an “s” at their close are weak paragraphs, which indicate a change of facet but not a change of theme or topic. The paragraphs marked by a “p” at their close are strong paragraphs, which indicate the completion of a theme or topic.)
Now this section is the first section explaining the second commandment, Do not make idols. (The second commandment is explained in Deu 11:26-14:29, and this is my summary of it.) The opening section of this explanation forms a single unit teaching a complete overarching theme or topic:
Deu 11:26-28 {s} Blessing for obedience + curse for disobedience
Deu 11:29-12:19 {s} Israel shall worship YHVH in the way He commands
Deu 12:20-28 {s} Ditto, even when you must travel some distance to His place
Deu 12:29-32 {p} Israel shall not serve YHVH in the manner of the nations
Deu 11:29-12:19 is about destroying the places of the idols, and bringing sacrifices and so on to a single place, the place that the LORD will choose to place His name. But it is also about whether to eat meat, and where, whether within your gates or at the place of the LORD’s name.
Deu 12:20-28 is similar, eating meat within your gates if the place of the LORD’s name is too far a journey, however, only burnt offerings and sacrifices shall be offered at the place of the LORD’s name.
Deu 12:29-32 is an admonition to not go in to the land, and worship the LORD the way the Gentiles worshiped their idols.
So without a little history, none of this makes sense, all of this talk of killing and eating meat and places, what does this have to do with not making idols?
In ancient paganism, since it is a polytheistic religion, there were many sacred places. A green tree (an evergreen tree) was a sacred place, because the evergreen was thought to represent the continuation of life in the middle of winter when everything else appeared to be dead. A high hill was a sacred place, because it was the closest spot to the sun, moon, and stars, and ancient paganism revolved around sun worship and astral worship. Groves – an area where certain kinds of trees were found all growing together without mixture – were sacred places, as certain trees were supposed to represent certain characteristics of “mother earth/ nature.”
Suffice it to say, that in ancient paganism, sacrifices were made to idols everywhere. There were as many sacred places as there were gods. Then after an animal was sacrificed to an idol, and worship given to an idol, the animal was eaten with feasting, revelry, and usually immorality (as at Acacia Grove, Num 25:1-2). Every time an animal was killed to be eaten, it was done as a sacrifice with accompanying worship given to an idol. So this is the cultural norm, not only that Israel was raised in in Egypt (well, the first generation), but also, that the whole world around them followed.
In the culture around Israel, eating involved idol worship. Paul dealt with this issue among the Gentiles where he planted churches quite often in the New Testament. The places where the idols have their names, were to be completely destroyed by Israel. Then God would choose ONE place where His name would dwell, because He is the ONE God, as opposed to the many places where the many names of the many gods that the idolaters worshiped dwelt. It is in that ONE place that Israel was to sacrifice to God, and in so doing, not give honor to idols.
What does all this mean for us? No one bows down to graven images in 2012 America.
“When the Lord your God cuts off from before you the nations which you go to dispossess, and you displace them and dwell in their land, take heed to yourself that you are not ensnared to follow them, after they are destroyed from before you, and that you do not inquire after their gods, saying, ‘How did these nations serve their gods? I also will do likewise.’ You shall not worship the Lord your God in that way; for every abomination to the Lord which He hates they have done to their gods; for they burn even their sons and daughters in the fire to their gods. Whatever I command you, be careful to observe it; you shall not add to it nor take away from it.” Deu 12:29-32
This is the concluding paragraph of this first section, which ends with a “p” marker, a strong paragraph division. Some things are an abomination to the LORD our God. One of His characteristics that sets Him apart from men, is He does not change. He is the same, yesterday, today, and forever (Heb 13:8). The things that were an abomination to Him 4000 years ago, which His soul hates (the meaning of that phrase in the Hebrew) are still an abomination to Him today.
Are we sacrificing our children to our idols in 2012 America? Let us not be ensnared by the ways of the world around us … but let us humble our hearts before God, and say to Him, “Whatever You command me, I will be careful to observe! I will not add the ways of the world around me, to it, nor take from it because Your righteous judgments are an offense to the world! In 2012 America, God is calling His people to turn from their wicked ways, so that He may heal their land!
Continued: deuteronomy 10:12-12:32, love and gratitude
Leave a Reply