Thoughts on Deuteronomy 12
While in the previous post I was stuck in a passage for a few weeks, this post is many many months in the making. I don’t know how many revisions I’ve done up to this point. Maybe my heart just wasn’t ready this whole time.
It’s difficult to read through this part of the Israelites’ journey without thinking that maybe – just maybe – I, too, am about to experience a “claiming the promised land” moment in my life.
Is it just me? I get excited and begin to imagine what my “promised land” might be. It’s a great motivator: as I imagine future possibilities I find myself making commitments to “be careful to do all” that is commanded of me. Unfortunately, I am not always able to keep these commitments.
Now, by God’s grace, I have learned that the “promised land” is not a Country, a Company, a Career, or (for some) a Companion. Infinitely better than all those things is Christ. Being in the Center of his grace and purpose in my life is the best place I have been and will ever be.
So for this passage, I am led to meditate not on the land of promise – and all the great things about it – but on the instructions of the God of the promise.
- When you’re given a fresh start – start well. Take the opportunity to change previous wrongs and remove bad habits. Not only is it benefitial to do so, but it is disastrous if it is not done. Be merciless, do not allow yourself be tempted. Do not be fooled to think that you are as strong as you think you are. You might be okay now, after a spiritual high, but eventually there will be plateaus and valleys. It is better to be safe than sorry.
- Listen well to instructions. When God tells us to run away from something, He gives us something to run towards instead. Seek, and listen well. Replace those wrong and bad habits with good ones – right ones. God’s instructions are laid out for us in the Bible, so seek Him there.
- Persevere in doing well. Once you’ve received your instructions, obey to the best of your ability. God says to do “all”, not “some”. Even if you’ve made a fresh and clean start, temptations may still come from outside your area of control. “Take care that you be not ensnared to follow them”, the Bible says. In other words, there will be snares/traps. And traps by definition is something that can catch you off guard. Take care, and Persevere.
- Rejoice! and lead your household to rejoice as well. All these instructions are beneficial to you. These are not to restrict you, but to free you from needlessly unnecessary burdens. And although the blessings should not be the focus, God is always clear to say that blessings are a natural by-product of obedience. Not only for you, but also for “your children after you forever.”