A response is found in Deuteronomy 12, where Moses is
recording God’s instructions for worship. The Lord is about to bring Israel
into a new land. They are just about to cross the Jordan,
where God is commanding them to take action as they occupy this new territory.
The property is being controlled by a people who worship false idols and pagan
gods. Moses listens carefully to God’s prior instructions, where He outlines
the “blessings and cursing.” If the people obey, they will be in the blessings
of God; if they disobey Israel
will fall outside of the Lord’s hand.
There is a distinctive choice between obedience and
sacrifice. We can choose to obey God on his terms, even when we don’t think it
makes sense. Obedience involves trust and faith. This was the attitude that God
desired for Moses and the people. This opportunity involved two other things:
change and growth. Change takes courage and growth takes nurturing.
The Lord said to Moses:
Det. 12:2
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.
12:3Break 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.
When God brings us to a new place in our growth, he does not
desire for us to remain in the old (2Cor. 5:17).
He does not want us to even worship in the way “things were,” but rather, He wants
us to focus on “what is,” and who He is. When we cling on to the former things, we cannot
embrace the newness that God desires to give us. He is a God of blessing not
defeat. His nature is to give not take. His character is to love not refuse.
The Lord did not want any reminders of the old ways and
disobedience in worship, nor did he want the Israelites to fall into the
temptation of worshiping other gods. The people had to destroy the former
things so they may not be reminded nor tempted to evil, but they were to
inherit the full blessings of God.
There are no two ways about it. God calls us to grow and be formed into the image of Christ (Eph. 2:10). We cannot move forward while looking back or holding onto the past. You are a new creation in Christ, the old is gone the new has come. Now, go in the direction of His voice.
What land or blessing has God called for you today? What are
the old sacred “things” that God is tugging at you to destroy in order to obey
Him? May our worship be pure and pleasing to Him through the act of obedience.
“If I had cherished
sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened;” - Ps. 66:18
Branon Dempsey is the Managing Editor for PraiseCharts Live as well as the Director and Founder of Worship Team Training: a ministry for local church worship ministries. He has studied and been trained by members of Maranatha! Music and Integrity Music for worship ministry and composition. Branon lives in Cypress, Texas where he is also a Worship Leader/Songwriter and has been in ministry for over 16 years. You can read more articles and blogs by Branon on PraiseCharts Live or visit him at www.worshipteamtraining.com.