Bible Commentaries
Deuteronomy 12

Verses 1-32

Having thus repeated the great words of the Law and called the people to obedience, Moses now proceeded to deal with the statutes and judgments, and, first, the statutes.

In dealing with these he commenced with the true place of worship. He solemnly charged them what their attitude toward false places of worship must be when they entered the land. They were to be utterly destroyed without pity and without sparing.

Moses then put into striking contrast their attitude toward the true place of worship, commencing with the words, "Ye shall not do so unto Jehovah your God." To the place of His appointment they were earnestly to seek.

Then he proceeded to emphasize this more particularly. The attendance of the people at the center of worship to be appointed in the land was obligatory. During the wilderness period there had evidently been some laxity in this matter; for he said, "Ye shall not do after all the things which ye do here this day, every man whatsoever is right in his own eyes." This evidently referred to matters of worship and they were thus solemnly charged that in the land there must be regular attendance at the place of the divine appointment.

No worship in the home was to be taken as a substitute for public worship. Nevertheless, certain provisions were made for those who might live at a distance.