As we begin reading about the laws given to Moses, we may be tempted to skip over them, thinking that they have no relevance to us today. If so, think again and read the following verse.

Romans 7:7a
What shall we say, then? Is the law sinful? Certainly not! Nevertheless, I would not have known what sin was had it not been for the law.

"Only after struggling through the tedious process of reading and trying to understand these laws does one fully comprehend the bondage of the law of Moses and appreciate the blessings of grace."

Deuteronomy 16:21
Do not set up any wooden Asherah pole beside the altar you build to the Lord your God...
We cannot "baptize" the pagan and claim it for God.

Mark 7:7
However, they worship Me in vain, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men." 

The people are warned about giving their children to Molech.  This is another way of saying that the pagans were sacrificing their children to the god Molech.  God ordered a strict penalty for those who sacrificed their children.  That same warning applies to us today.  Do people in effect sacrifice their children when abortions are performed?

Deuteronomy 14:2
For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. Out of all the peoples on the face of the earth, the LORD has chosen you to be his treasured possession.
Take some time to let this verse sink in. When we choose Jesus as personal Lord and Savior we become His treasured possession. How would our lives look if we lived our lives daily as if we are His treasured possession?

The Biblical "two-witness" rule is commanded.  The punishment for idolatry is death, but only on the testimony of two or three witnesses and then, the witnesses are the ones to be first in putting the offender to death.

God tells the people when they go into the land  "destroy completely all the places on the high mountains and on the hills and under every spreading tree where the nations you are dispossessing worship their gods.  Break down their altars, smash their sacred stones and burn their Asherah poles in the fire, cut down the idols of their gods and wipe out their names from those places."

In other words, they were to destroy any remnant of any worship of other gods.  God continually warns the people about the dangers of worshiping other gods and the life style associated with it.

Deuteronomy 12:31
Do not worship the LORD your God in the way they worship their gods, for in the worship of their gods they do all the disgusting things that the LORD hates.

God says, "Don't worship me in their way."  We are told that even if a family member or our closest friend secretly entices us to move away from worship of God, we are not to yield or even listen.

Deuteronomy 12:9
since you have not yet reached the resting place and the inheritance the LORD your God is giving you.
What is our resting place? What is our inheritance? Many times in Scripture, rest is synonymous with salvation and eternal life. Our resting place is in heaven. Our inheritance is our eternal life.

The Israelites were promised an inheritance, rest from their enemies, and a life of safety.  These promises however were contingent on destroying all the pagan influences.

The people are told they will be going to a specific place for their burnt offerings and sacrifices.  "Be careful not to sacrifice your burnt offerings anywhere you please."

There are several references in Deuteronomy 12 to slaughtering their animals and eating the meat.  It seems as if God is now giving them permission to eat the animals.  This leads one to believe that they were not allowed to eat the meat of the animals while they were wandering in the wilderness.  Could this be why they were craving meat early on and why God gave them the quail?

God continually reminds us through His Word that there are rewards for obedience, "because you will be doing what is good and right in the eyes of the Lord your God".

A suggestion for today - live Deuteronomy 14:2! For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. Out of all the peoples on the face of the earth, the LORD has chosen you to be his treasured possession.
Put the verse on your mirror, on your refrigerator, on the wall of your cubby at work, on your desk, on the dashboard of your car, etc. We think your day will go a lot better if you do!!!