JUNE 6TH, 2004
DEUTERONOMY 12
I. When the Children of Israel enter the Promised Land they are to remove all evidence of false worship.
A. They are to destroy all of the places of false worship:
1. on the mountains (2)
2. on the hills
3. under every green tree
B. They are to destroy the man-made structures of false worship:
1. the altars (3)
2. pillars
3. graven images
4. the names of the false gods
II. God desires that false worship be replaced with offerings from our increase. (6)
A. The people are commanded to bring: (6)
1. burnt offerings and sacrifices (for sin).
2. Tithes and heave offerings (portions of material gain)
3. Vows
4. Freewill offerings (material gain above the tithes)
5. The firstborn of flocks and herds
B. Rejoicing follows giving to the Lord. (7)
1. Giving back to the Lord is an acknowledgment that your blessings came from the Lord.
2. Our labor will be more satisfactory if we are working for the Lord.
C. There has always been a place set aside for God’s people to give back to God. (10-14)
1. After they receive the blessings of God, they are to go to a special place and give back to God. (11)
2. God chooses the place. (13)
3. The place is as important as the offering. (14)
III. In verses 15-29, Moses talks about eating meat, but forbids the consumption of blood. (16, 23-24, and 27)
IV. Watch out for your curiosities – they may lead you away from God. (30-32)
A. Notice how curiosity can lead to sin. (30)
- “How did these nations serve their gods?”
B. The stages for repeating the sins of the past are:
1. Curiosity about the past sin. (30)
2. Experimentation of the past sins (for historical value).
3. Without realizing it, the sins are being repeated. (31)
4. The children take seriously what the parents considered a fad.
Conclusion: The chapter ends with a command to take God’s Word and obey it – not to add or subtract from it. (32)