Decalogue, part 2 (Deuteronomy 12)

Scripture: Deuteronomy 12 (especially verses 1-7)

If you missed the previous post, you missed the explanation of what we're doing in the middle of Deuteronomy. But it's pretty simple: in the heart of the book, as Moses gives Isreal the Law again to prepare them for the promised land, he gives commands that develop and clarify each of the Ten Commandments, in order. So we'll read through a section at a time, a Commandment at a time. Today, the second:

You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or in the earth beneath or in the waters below.


This is an excellent example of a commandment that might seem obsolete at first glance. But with a little work, we can learn from it some timeless truths about God. Two of these truths come to mind, and we'll focus on one because we already talked about the other (which is the fact that God and God alone is worthy of our worship).

What did it actually mean for ancient peoples to make physical idols as part of their religions? Well, I'm sure it meant a lot of things, but one of them was this: the people were giving their deity an embodiment so that an exchange could take place. The people sacrifice an animal to meet the god's need of hunger, and in return the god would (hopefully) grant a good harvest or what have you.

So an implication of the entire idol/sacrifice system was a god who has needs, needs that can be met by the actions of people. Deuteronomy 12 does a great job reinforcing that with God, this isn't the case. After commanding the Israelites to destroy all the other religions' idols and altars, Moses flatly says, "You must not worship the Lord your God in their way" (12:4).

How, then, would Israel worship their God? There was still sacrifice, but notice that the entire process is reversed-- it is the people who will eat. It is the people whose needs will be met. Not only did the sacrificial system meet their need of hunger, but ultimately their need for forgiveness. How far this is from the typical Ancient Near East sacrifice to feed a hungry god.

The heart of this worship was not fear, but celebration: "There, in the presence of the Lord your God, you and your families shall eat and shall rejoice in everything you have put your hand to, because the Lord your God has blessed you" (12:7).

What is your view of God? Someone who needs you to help, serve, appease, or bargain with Him? Or a sovereign, majestic, almighty Lord whom you should celebrate?