Study Questions:

1. What would be the result of right worship in the lives of the people of Israel? Deut. 12:28

2. Why was it so important to follow God’s instruction for the proper worship? Deut. 13

Commentary and Reflection:

God is the central focus of worship. The real Worship is transformative. It is not just a ritual of performance but an encounter with the creator. He loves us and is the only One who has power to change our hearts.

One of the important topics to notice about worship is that it is based on giving not on receiving. In Deuteronomy 12 Israel is about to cross the Jordan river into Canaan, but before they do that, God wants to make sure they will worship Him in the proper way in this new land. We see that if they fail to worship God in the right way God would be displeased with them to the point of punish them. Obedience was part of right worship.

The text on chapter 12 tells us that God would choose where and how the people must worship Him. 5 “But you shall seek the place where the LORD your God chooses, out of all your tribes, to put His name for His dwelling place; and there you shall go. 6 There you shall take your burnt offerings, your sacrifices, your tithes, the heave offerings of your hand, your vowed offerings, your freewill offerings, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks.” People were to worship and bring their offerings to the place God had chosen.

Some people today go to church looking for what the church has to offer. Some of them don’t think of what they have to offer. Like, if the church is able to offer a good program they are satisfied but if not, they go some place else. Isn’t it a misconception about worship? I think we should think more on what to give than on what to receive.

When Abraham went to sacrifice his very beloved son Isaac, after a three day walk, the two of them, with the servants, arrived at the land of Moriah which God had chosen before. Again, God is choosing the place. Abraham then said to his servants: “stay here with the donkey; the lad and I will go yonder and worship, and we will come back to you.” Gen 22:5. What? Worship? Actually, Abraham would, in a strange way for us today, offer his beloved son as a burnt offering to God. He calls it worship! Can you see what is a real worship? It is about giving not about receiving.

According to the verses mentioned above, (Deut. 12:5-6) the people of Israel were supposed to go to the place God had chosen to worship and bring all their offerings including their tithes.
Today, when you go worship God in the church He has chosen you to be part of, don’t go empty hands. Above all, take your whole self. He loves you. Take your sinful heart and ask Him to change it. He has power to do that.