Deuteronomy Worksheet - Chapter 12

Review & Intro:  One of the first things the Israelites were to do when they entered the land and conquered the enemy was to completely destroy the Canaanites' altars and places of worship.  This is a principle which many people learn in their walk with God: He doesn't want anything competing for your affection, so it's gotta go. The world's ways and the world's worship must be removed. Clear it out, clean it up, take it all to the dump or the burn pile.

Deuteronomy Chapter 12 - Observation Questions

1.  In the last few chapters, we have seen Moses review the 10 commandments with the Israelites before they enter the land of promise.  He has also given them statutes, ordinances, and judgments which he will be reviewing in this chapter and the ones that follow.  They are carefully to be observed and followed in the land God is giving them to possess ... How long were they to possess it and observe them? vs. 1
2.  When they cross over the Jordan, they will come across the places where idol worship took place in the nations they are dispossessing.  What were they to do when they found these places on the mountains, hills, and under the green trees? vs. 2

3.  What were they to do to the altars built for these false gods? vs. 3a
4.  What were they to do to the sacred pillars built to the gods? vs. 3b
5.  What were they to do to their Asherim? 3b
6.  Using a concordance, write out what the Asherim was that they worshiped.
7.  What were they to do with the engraved images of their gods? vs. 3b
8.  What was the purpose in going to these extremes? vs. 3c
9.  They were not to act like this toward the Lord.  They were to seek "the Lord" at "the place" which the Lord Himself would "choose" for them from all of their tribes.  What did He plan to establish at the place He would choose? vs.5
10.  Let's look ahead and see what the place is that He will choose.  At first, the tabernacle was placed in Bethel, and then in Shiloh, but later He chose a permanent dwelling place.  Comment on the following verses:

• Judges 20:26-27 -
• 1 Samuel 1:3 -
• 1 Kings 11:36 -
• 2 Chronicles 6:6 -
• Zechariah 3:2 -

11.  What are they to bring to that "place" He has chosen? vs. 6 - Name 6 things
12.  What did the entire family of each household gather at God's chosen place to do? vs. 7 - Name 2 things
13.  Sharing meals together as Christians gathered to worship continued to be a practice in the New Testament.  Comment on the following verses about sharing meals together in the Lord and see the significance "eating" has in our fellowship times today.

• Acts 2:46 -

14.  They were not to do what was "right" in their "own eyes".  They had not yet come to the "resting place" of the inheritance the Lord was giving them. (vs.8,9) ... What have we been told in the Word of God about a way that might seem "right" in our "own eyes"?  Comment on the following verses:

• Judges 21:25 -
• Proverbs 12:15 -
• Proverbs 14:12 -
• Proverbs 21:2 -
• Proverbs 30:12 -

15.  Back to Deuteronomy 12. ... When will they bring their offerings and sacrifices to the Lord at the place where He chooses for His Name to dwell? vs. 10-11 - Name 3 things they will be experiencing. vs. 10 -
16.  What should they do along with their sons, daughters, male and female servants, and the Levite that lives within their gates? vs. 12
17.  How important is "rejoicing" in the Lord?  Have you ever noticed how much that word is used in the Holy Scriptures?  Here are just a few for you to look up and think about.  Please comment on each one.

• Psalm 2:11 -
• Psalm 32:11 -
• Psalm 35:9 -
• Psalm 40:16 -
• Psalm 118:24 -
• Isaiah 25:9 -
• Isaiah 61:10 -
• Joel 2:23 -
• Habakkuk 3:18 -
• Philippians 3:1 -
• Philippians 4:4 -

18.  They were to be careful not to offer their burnt offerings in any place they chose; they were to offer them in the place that the Lord chose to dwell among them.  Which tribe would it be?  Comment on the following verses:

• 1 Kings 11:36 -
• What tribe is David from? ... Revelation 5:5 -

19.  They were allowed to slaughter the meat within their own gates and after the offering to come back to their own gates to enjoy their meal together. (vs.15).  Who could eat the meat they had offered to the Lord? vs. 15 -
20.  We should invite the unbelievers to eat with us.  What did Jesus say about when we have a special dinner - who should we invite?

• Luke 14:12-15 -
• Luke 14:22,23 -

21.  Back to Deuteronomy 12.  What were they to do with the blood of the animals they slaughtered? vs. 16
22.  What part of the offerings were they 'not' allowed to eat within their gates, but only at the place the Lord had chosen for them? vs. 17,18
23.  What emotion was combined with eating the tithe at the place the Lord chose for them along with their family, servants, and the Levites? vs. 18b
24.  Who were they to be careful not to forsake as long as they lived in the land? vs. 19
25.  How are we suppose to take care of the ministers among us?  Comment on the verses below:

• 1 Thessalonians 5:12,13 -
• 1 Timothy 5:17,18 -

26.  Back to Deuteronomy 12 ... When the Lord extends their border in the land of promise, what will the people have when they desire to eat meat? vs. 20
27.  If the place which the Lord chose for His name to dwell was too far away from where some of the tribes were located, what were they "allowed" to do concerning the part of the meal that was suppose to be eaten at His House? vs. 21
28.  Who were allowed to eat of the meat they had? vs. 22
29.  Again, what does the Lord have Moses to instruct them about concerning the blood of the animal they were to eat?  Why is the blood so important not to eat? vs. 23-25
30.  We saw earlier in this lesson that we are not to do what is right in "our own eyes".  What brings blessings to us and to our children? vs. 25
31.  They were to take the holy things; the tithe part of their offerings to the place that the Lord would choose for His Name to dwell.  They were to offer their burnt offerings, the flesh and the blood there. (vs.26) ... Where were they to pour the blood out? vs. 27 ... What were they to eat themselves? vs. 27 ...
32.  What would happen if they did what was "good and right" in the "sight" of the Lord? vs. 28
33.  When the Lord had cut off the nations before them and they possessed the land, they were to be careful not to be "ensnared" to follow after their gods. (vs.29,30) ...  How would their curiosity play a role? vs. 30
34.  Why was the Lord so opposed to the practice these nations had before their gods? vs. 31
35.  They were to do all that the Lord had commanded them.  What were they to be careful "not" to do concerning His laws? vs. 32
36.  How are we given the same admonition in the New Testament?  Comment on the verse below:

• Revelation 22:18,19 -

37.  Have you ever done something that was "right in your own eyes" to find out later that it was not right in God's eyes?  How did you correct your vision to help you see as He sees.  Please share if you would like.
38.  Just as Israel would be influenced by the people surrounding them in their influence and worship of the worldly things, what warnings have we been given in the New Testament of the same temptations?  Comment on the verses below:

• James 1:14-15 -
• 1 John 2:16 -
• Matthew 26:41 -
• 1 Timothy 6:9 -
• Romans 8:5,6 -
• Romans 8:13 -
• Romans 13:14 -
• 2 Corinthians 6:14-18 -
• Galatians 5:16-19 -
• Galatians 6:8 -
• Ephesians 6:12 -
• Colossians 2:8 -
• 1 Peter 4:2 -
• 1 Peter 5:8 -

39.  What idols has God laid on your heart to utterly destroy; to smash; to remove the name of these things from your conversations and thinking?  How can we do this according to New Testament principles?

• 2 Corinthians 10:3,4 -
• 2 Corinthians 10:5 -
• Romans 12:1,2 -
• Ephesians 6:10-18 -
• Philippians 4:6,7 -
• Philippians 4:8,9 -

40.  Summarize the lesson and post a prayer if you would like.