Exclusively Worship God

Moses: ⁴ “Do not worship the LORD your God in the way these pagan peoples worship their gods. ⁵ Rather, you must seek the LORD your God at the place of worship He Himself will choose from among all the tribes — the place where His Name (Presence) will be honored. . . . ³⁰ do not fall into the trap of following their customs and worshiping their gods. Do not inquire about their gods, saying, ‘How do these nations worship their gods? I want to follow their example.’ ³¹ You must not worship the LORD your God the way the other nations worship their gods, for they perform for their gods every detestable act that the LORD hates. They even burn their sons and daughters as sacrifices to their gods.” Deuteronomy 12:4-5, 30-31 (NLT)

¹ “Suppose there are prophets among you or those who dream dreams about the future, and they promise you signs or miracles, ² and the predicted signs or miracles occur. If they then say, ‘Come, let us worship (serve) other gods’ — gods you have not known before — ³ do not listen to them. The LORD your God is testing you to see if you truly love Him with all your heart and soul. ⁴ Serve only the LORD your God and fear Him alone. Obey His commands, listen to His voice, and cling to Him.” Deuteronomy 13:1-4 (NLT)

⁹ “When you enter the land the LORD your God is giving you, be very careful not to imitate (follow) the detestable customs of the nations living there. ¹⁰ For example, never sacrifice your son or daughter as a burnt offering. And do not let your people practice fortune-telling, or use sorcery, or interpret omens, or engage in witchcraft, ¹¹ or cast spells, or function as mediums or psychics, or call forth the spirits of the dead. ¹² Anyone who does these things is detestable to the LORD. It is because the other nations have done these detestable things that the LORD your God will drive them out ahead of you. ¹³ But you must be blameless before the LORD your God. ¹⁴ The nations you are about to displace consult sorcerers and fortune-tellers, but the LORD your God forbids you to do such things.” Deuteronomy 18:9-14 (NLT)

Every few years a person will create some title or designation to bring fame and popularity to him or herself or some object and draw people away from the living God. Such idol worship has existed since biblical times. However, Moses warned Israel and now the church that all humankind must always worship the true and living God first and exclusively.

Deuteronomy chapter 12 starts a new section in the book of Deuteronomy. Here, Moses provides Israel and now the church specific applications of the covenant – the Ten Commandment (see Exodus 34:28; Deuteronomy 4:13; Deuteronomy 9:9-10; Deuteronomy 10:1-4). First, Moses wanted to assure that Israel and the church will never place another god, human, nor idol before the true and living God of Israel nor follow the evil worship practices of other nations (Deuteronomy 12:1-4, 29-31; see also Deuteronomy 6:4-6). God’s first commandment is, “You shall have no other gods before Me” (Exodus 20:3, 23; Deuteronomy 5:7; see also Exodus 34:14; Deuteronomy 6:14; 2 Kings 17:35; Psalm 81:9; Jeremiah 25:6; Jeremiah 35:15). Moses made it clear to Israel and now the church that we must remove and turn away from any false worship and idols in our lives such as people, activities, attitudes, possessions, greed, relationships, places, or habits that tempts us to turn our whole hearts away from the living God (Deuteronomy 13:1-5, see Exodus 23:33; Exodus 34:11-14; 1 Corinthians 10:14). Greed is idolatry (e.g. see Matthew 6:24; 1 Timothy 6:6-10, 17-19; Colossians 3:5). The whole earth belonged to the LORD God (e.g., see Exodus 19:5; Leviticus 25:23), and the living God wanted Israel to turn away from and purge the land of evil, idolatry, and wickedness (Deuteronomy 12:2-4; see also Numbers 33:50-56; Deuteronomy 7:1-5, 23-26).

Also, God’s people were commanded not eat the blood or shed human blood, for the blood is the life, and Israel must not eat the lifeblood with the meat (Deuteronomy 12:16, 23, 25; see also Genesis 9:4; Leviticus 3:17; Acts 15:19-21). Instead, God commanded Israel to pour out the blood on the ground like water (see Deuteronomy 12:24, 27). Sadly, eating blood was an integral part of the evil practices of the land the Israelites were about to enter. Importantly, this emphasis on the blood is at the heart of the message of the Gospel. The blood is divinely earmarked for the atonement of human sins (e.g., see Leviticus 17:10-12; Acts 15:20). The living God graciously saves and cleanses us from our sins by our faith in the sacrificial death of His Son, Jesus Christ, “in whom we have redemption through his blood” (e.g., see Romans 5:9; Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 1:14; 1 Peter 1:19; 1 John 1:7).

Moreover, Moses warned Israel and also the church not to corrupt themselves by following, imitating, or even examining about the evil customs of these wicked nations but worship only God according to His ways (Deuteronomy 12:4, 29-31; see also Deuteronomy 18:9-10; Jeremiah 10:2-5). The living God wanted Israel and now the church to be “wise in what is good, and innocent in what is evil” (see Romans 16:19, NASB). Sin is both deadly and destructive. Therefore, Moses encouraged Israel and now the church not give any place to evil nor to follow the evil practices of these nations (see Exodus 23:2;  Ephesians 4:27)

The religions of these evil nations were false, filthy, and detestable. These evil nations worshiped a multitude of worthless gods and goddesses, chiefly Baal, the storm god, and Asherah, his partner. Even worse, these evil nations in worshipping their gods and various idols did horrible and detestable practices that God hates, including sacrificing their sons and daughters, eating blood in worship of their false gods and idols, and using deception and trickery (Deuteronomy 12: 16, 23, 25, 27, 31; Deuteronomy 18:10; see also Leviticus 18:21; Leviticus 20:2-5; Deuteronomy 25:13-16). Moreover, these evil nations made use of temple prostitution, mutilation (cutting themselves), and other inhumane features as they sought to worship their gods. Even worse, their immoral religion practiced a form of magic and divination with which they hoped to please the gods, see guidance, and influence the powers of nature to give them bountiful crops (e.g., see Deuteronomy 18:9-14). As the people of God, Moses warned Israel and the now the church to worship the living LORD God in the ways He commands and not imitate the evil religious practices of others.

Moreover, Moses warned Israel and now the church not to follow and practice black magic, divination, witchcraft, sorcery, fortunetelling, serpent charmer, mediums and wizards, or calling forth the spirits of the dead (Deuteronomy 18:10-14; see also Leviticus 19:26, 31; Leviticus 20:6). For the church, the Apostle Paul specifically listed idolatry and witchcraft among the sins of the flesh (see Galatians 5:19-21). Moreover, the book of Revelation warns that anyone engaging in these evil practices of sorcery, witchcraft, and divination is destined for the lake of fire (see Revelation 21:8; Revelation 22:14-15). Moses warned the people that anyone doing these evil things is an object of horror and disgust to the living LORD God (see Deuteronomy 18:12). Instead, Moses encouraged Israel and now the church to always walk blamelessly before the LORD God and seek the living God for our help, needs, and guidance (Deuteronomy 18:13-14; see also Psalm 119:1). God’s people are not to resort to such sources for their guidance, information, and strength. Rather, people are to listen and obey God’s true prophets (see Deuteronomy 18:14-22; Isaiah 8:19-20); the greatest of which is Jesus the Messiah (see Acts 3:22; Acts 7:37). Divination, witchcraft, sorcery, black magic, and other such consulting evil spirits were wrong because they sought power and guidance totally apart from God (see also Isaiah 8:19-22). Furthermore, seeking such mediums, horoscopes, fortune-telling, witchcraft, or seeking out spiritists bring defilement and evil into one’s life (see Leviticus 19:31). With the trustworthy guidance of the living God by His Holy Spirit, the Holy Bible and His church, we have all the help and guidance we need.

Sadly, when Israel finally entered into God’s long-awaited Promised Land, Israel did not purge the land of evil and their false gods but instead mingled among the nations and followed their evil and detestable practices. The Israelites did not fully follow these instructions in destroying the “high places,” which were the centers of idol worship (see Deuteronomy 12:2-5). Instead, Israel served foreign gods and idols and mixed (syncretism) the worship of God with other evil practices (see Deuteronomy 12:4). which were a snare unto them (e.g., see Judges 2:1-3; Judges 3:5-6; Ezra 9:12; Psalm 106:34-36; 2 Kings 17:7-23; 2 Kings 21:1-10). Moreover, Israel worshipped foreign gods and idols on high places, erected altars to Baal and made an Asherah pole (e.g., see 1 Kings 12:25-32; 2 Kings 21:3). Even more, Israel bowed down to all the starry hosts (the sun, moon, and constellations) and worshiped and sought guidance from them instead of the living God of heaven and earth (e.g., see 2 Kings 21:3, 5; 2 Kings 23:4-5). Even worse, Israel sacrificed their sons and daughters to worship their gods, practiced divination, sought omens, and consulted mediums and spiritists (e.g., see 2 Kings 17:15-17; 2 Kings 21:6). Israel did much evil in the eyes of the LORD, arousing His anger (e.g., see 2 Kings 21:6).

Hundreds of years after Moses’ instruction in Deuteronomy, a dramatic event took place under King Josiah’s reign. In the midst of temple renovation in Judah (the southern kingdom of Israel), workers came across an old scroll containing the Book of the Law (see 2 Kings 22:8-11). Discovery of the book had an electrifying effect on Judah. When godly King Josiah heard about the Book of the Law, he ushered in a sweeping spiritual revival that included a campaign against idolatry and “high places.” Many biblical scholars believe that Deuteronomy was the book that godly King Josiah discovered that stirred a dramatic revival and religious reform in Judah (see 2 Kings chapters 22 and 23; 2 Chronicles chapters 34 and 35). For all King Josiah’s reforms, it was a little too late for Israel and Judah because of evil so ingrained the people (see 2 Kings 23:26-28). In fact, soon as King Josiah’s death, the people reverted to evil and wickedness against the living God. Because of the people’s idolatry, Israel fell to Assyria in 722 BC, and Judah fell to Babylon in 606-586 BC.

Originally, Moses wanted to assure the people would only worship and glorify the living LORD God – Yahweh and enjoy Him with their families (see Deuteronomy 12:5-7). Therefore, Moses instructed the people to build the living God a place of worship (a sanctuary) where His Name to be honored in the land (see Deuteronomy 12:5, 11, 18). The “Name” of God is equivalent to God’s gracious presence and strong power (e.g., see Exodus 3:14-15; Exodus 34:5-7; Proverbs 18:10). In the sanctuary where God’s Name (Yahweh) is honored, then the people can bring their offerings and tithes and celebrate their festivals and feasts unto the living God with their family and friends (Deuteronomy 12:6-7, 12-14, 26-31; see also Hebrews 10:24-25). Such worship and obedience to the living God would be pleasing and right in God’s eyes and bring God’s blessings to Israel and their children (Deuteronomy 12:28; see also Deuteronomy 4:40).

Then, Moses warned Israel and now the church that if a prophet, visionary, or dreamer comes and performs signs, wonders, and miracles that becomes true but says, ‘Come, let us worship the gods of the other nations,’ Moses said do not listen to such wicked and false prophet (Deuteronomy 13:1-3; see also Jeremiah 23:25-27; Jeremiah 29:8-9; Zechariah 10:2). Even more, Moses warned Israel and now the church not even to listen to your nearest relative, closest friend, even a brother, son, daughter, or beloved spouse who whispers to you to come and worship other gods or idols (see Deuteronomy 13:6-8). Moses encouraged Israel and now the church to NEVER turn one’s heart, love, and allegiance from the living LORD God and His moral commandments and NEVER worship any other god nor idol but worship God only (Deuteronomy 13:4-5; see also Deuteronomy 6:13, 16; Matthew 4:7, 10; 1 Corinthians 5:13; 2 John 1:5-6). Such evil and false prophets, diviners, and mediums prophets appear and perform great signs and miracles, even in God and Jesus’ Name, to exploit and turn people’s hearts away from the living God and His moral commands (e.g., see Jeremiah 23:25-26, 30-32; Matthew 24:24-25). Therefore, Moses warned Israel and now the church to be on guard against such lying workers of evil, even if a close friend or family member, who perform such counterfeit miracles, signs, and wonders to deceive God’s people away from loving and obeying Him (e.g., see Mark 13:22-23; 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12; 2 Peter 2:1-3). The living God and His moral commands must always be first in our lives, even before our spouses, family, and friend (e.g., see Luke 14:25-27).

Many people – cult members as well as believers of Jesus Christ – claim that God has spoken to them. So how do God’s people evaluate those claims? The book of Deuteronomy offers two tests. First, a prediction made in God’s Name must, in fact, come true (see Deuteronomy 18:21-22). Eventually, fulfillment is one test of a true prophet. The second and more stringent test states that if a prediction does come true, but the prophet tries to lead people to worship some other god or idol, that prophet must be rejected and expelled (see Deuteronomy 13:1-5, 6, 13). Israel and now the church must only worship and serve the LORD God (Yahweh) and obey His moral commands (Deuteronomy 13:4). A true and faithful prophet speaks in God’s Name and only gives God’s message for God's glory for the good of the people. A mark of a false prophet or evil worker is messages that say; “Let us go after other gods” (see Deuteronomy 13:2, 6, 13). Evil workers of Satan can perform miracles (e.g., see 2 Thessalonians 2:9) and not everybody who addresses Jesus as “Lord” is a genuine child of God or servant of God (see Matthew 7:21-23).

References

ESV Study Bible, English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008).

New Student Bible (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1992).

The Living Bible Paraphrase (Tyndale House, 1971).

Zondervan NIV Study Bible (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2008).

Wiersbe, Warren W. Bible Exposition Commentary – Old Testament (Victor Books, 1989).