Deuteronomy 12 - Praying God's Word

Please read Deuteronomy 12.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/deu/12/1/s_165001

Notice the key repeated phrase, “... the place which the LORD your God will choose.”

Meditate on verse 5.

But you shall seek the LORD at the place


which the LORD your God will choose from all your tribes,

 to establish His name there for His dwelling,


and there you shall come.

God gave instructions to the Israelites for entering the Promised Land. He told them to completely destroy all the places where the previous occupants had worshipped idols. God commanded Israel to obliterate anything referring to idolatry, even the names of the gods because God was going to choose the place in the land for His name to dwell. The LORD’s name would be established and worshipped in that place.

Notice that God always referred to the location He would choose as the place. He never gave a geographical location for the place. God did that on purpose because He had a very special place in mind for His name to dwell.

God knew the tabernacle would be erected in several locations: Gilgal, Shiloh, and Gibeon (Joshua 4:19; 18:1; 1 Chronicles 21:29). He knew that eventually a temple would be built in Jerusalem (2 Chronicles 3:1). But when God repeatedly said He would choose the place for His name to dwell in Deuteronomy 12, He had much more than a geographical location in mind. Every time He said the place, He was thinking about you!

Do you not know that you are a temple of God

 and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?

 —1 Corinthians 3:16

God knew all along that His name would be established and dwell in you! He purposely called it the place because you are the place God chose for His name to dwell!

Reread Deuteronomy 12 asking God to reveal to you what He was thinking when He gave these words to Moses nearly 3500 years ago.  Pray Deuteronomy 12:2-3 and 11 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“LORD, help _________ and me utterly destroy, tear down, smash, burn,

cut down, and obliterate everything
in our lives that is an idol or god.


Thank You for choosing us as the place for Your name to dwell.

 May we bring all of our lives to You as You command.

Because of Your name, Jesus~”

The WATCHMAN on the WALL ~ Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell