Deuteronomy 12:1 Study Bible: These are the statutes and the ordinances which you shall observe to do in the land which the LORD, the God of your fathers, has given you to possess it, all the days that you live on the earth.

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◄ Deuteronomy 12:1 ►

These are the statutes and ordinances you must be careful to follow all the days you live in the land that the LORD, the God of your fathers, has given you to possess.

Study Bible

These are the statutes and ordinances
The phrase "statutes and ordinances" refers to the specific laws and decrees given by God to the Israelites. In Hebrew, "statutes" is "chukkim" and "ordinances" is "mishpatim." "Chukkim" often refers to decrees that may not have an obvious reason but are to be followed out of obedience to God. "Mishpatim" are judgments or laws that are more understandable and logical. Together, they encompass the full range of divine instructions, emphasizing the comprehensive nature of God's law. This highlights the importance of obedience and the need for the Israelites to live according to God's will, reflecting His holiness and justice.

that you must be careful to follow
The command to "be careful to follow" underscores the diligence and intentionality required in observing God's laws. The Hebrew root "shamar" means to guard, keep, or observe. This implies a proactive and vigilant approach to living out God's commandments. It is not a passive adherence but an active, conscious effort to align one's life with divine expectations. This reflects the conservative Christian perspective that emphasizes the importance of living a life that is pleasing to God through careful obedience to His Word.

in the land that the LORD, the God of your fathers, has given you
This phrase situates the commandments within the context of the Promised Land, a gift from "the LORD, the God of your fathers." The use of "LORD" (YHWH) signifies the covenantal relationship between God and Israel. The reference to "the God of your fathers" connects the present generation to the patriarchs—Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—emphasizing continuity and faithfulness. The land is not just a physical territory but a divine inheritance, a place where God's people are to live out His statutes as a testimony to His faithfulness and their identity as His chosen people.

to possess
The word "possess" in Hebrew is "yarash," which means to inherit or take possession of. It implies not only occupying the land but also maintaining and stewarding it according to God's purposes. This possession is both a privilege and a responsibility, requiring the Israelites to uphold God's laws as a condition of their continued residence in the land. It serves as a reminder that the land is ultimately God's, and they are stewards of His gift.

as long as you live on the earth
This phrase emphasizes the enduring nature of the commandments. The Hebrew concept of "living on the earth" suggests a lifelong commitment to God's statutes. It implies that obedience is not temporary or conditional but a perpetual obligation. This reflects the conservative Christian view that God's laws are timeless and applicable to all generations, underscoring the eternal relevance of His Word. The call to obedience is a lifelong journey, reflecting a steadfast commitment to God's covenant and His eternal truths.

Persons / Places / Events

1. Moses
The author of Deuteronomy, delivering God's laws to the Israelites.

2. Israelites
The chosen people of God, preparing to enter the Promised Land.

3. Promised Land
The land of Canaan, which God promised to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

4. The LORD (Yahweh)
The covenant God of Israel, who has given the land to His people.

5. Statutes and Ordinances
The laws and commands given by God for the Israelites to follow.

Teaching Points

Obedience to God's Commands
The importance of adhering to God's statutes and ordinances is emphasized. Obedience is not just a one-time act but a lifelong commitment.

Living in the Promised Land
The Israelites are reminded that their possession of the land is a gift from God, contingent upon their faithfulness to His commands.

God's Sovereignty and Faithfulness
The passage underscores God's sovereignty in giving the land and His faithfulness to His promises to the patriarchs.

Holiness and Distinctiveness
The statutes and ordinances are designed to set the Israelites apart as a holy nation, distinct from the surrounding peoples.

Application for Today
Believers today are called to live by God's Word, recognizing that His commands are for our good and His glory.

Bible Study Questions

1. How does understanding the historical context of Deuteronomy 12:1 enhance our appreciation of God's laws?

2. In what ways can we apply the principle of obedience to God's commands in our daily lives today?

3. How does the concept of the Promised Land in Deuteronomy relate to the promises God has made to believers in the New Testament?

4. What are some modern-day "statutes and ordinances" that Christians are called to follow, and how do they reflect God's character?

5. How can we ensure that our obedience to God's Word is motivated by love and reverence rather than mere duty?

Connections to Other Scriptures

Exodus 20
The giving of the Ten Commandments, which are foundational to the statutes and ordinances mentioned in Deuteronomy 12:1.

Leviticus 18
Details laws concerning moral conduct, which are part of the statutes the Israelites are to follow.

Joshua 1
Joshua's charge to lead the Israelites into the Promised Land, emphasizing obedience to God's law.

Psalm 119
A meditation on the beauty and necessity of God's law, reflecting the heart attitude required in Deuteronomy 12:1.

Matthew 5:17-20
Jesus' teaching on the fulfillment of the law, showing the continuity of God's moral standards.

Sermons

The Invasion a Religious One	R.M. Edgar	Deuteronomy 12:1-3
The Doom of Idolatry	D. Davies	Deuteronomy 12:1-4
Destruction of Monuments of Idolatry	J. Orr	Deuteronomy 12:1-5

People

Levites, Moses

Places

Beth-baal-peor, Jordan River

Topics

Care, Careful, Carefully, Decisions, Fathers, Follow, Giveth, Giving, Ground, Heed, Heritage, Judgments, Laws, Observe, Ordinances, Possess, Statutes

Dictionary of Bible Themes

Deuteronomy 12:1-7

5378 law, OT
7241 Jerusalem, significance

Library

The Eating of the Peace-Offering
'But thou must eat them before the Lord thy God in the place which the Lord thy God shall choose, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite that is within thy gates: and thou shalt rejoice before the Lord thy God in all that thou puttest thine hands unto.'--DEUT. xii. 18. There were three bloody sacrifices, the sin-offering, the burnt- offering, and the peace-offering. In all three expiation was the first idea, but in the second of them the act …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Exposition of the Moral Law.
1. The Law was committed to writing, in order that it might teach more fully and perfectly that knowledge, both of God and of ourselves, which the law of nature teaches meagrely and obscurely. Proof of this, from an enumeration of the principal parts of the Moral Law; and also from the dictate of natural law, written on the hearts of all, and, in a manner, effaced by sin. 2. Certain general maxims. 1. From the knowledge of God, furnished by the Law, we learn that God is our Father and Ruler. Righteousness …
John Calvin—The Institutes of the Christian Religion

The Promise in 2 Samuel, Chap. vii.
The Messianic prophecy, as we have seen, began at a time long anterior to that of David. Even in Genesis, we perceived [Pg 131] it, increasing more and more in distinctness. There is at first only the general promise that the seed of the woman should obtain the victory over the kingdom of the evil one;--then, that the salvation should come through the descendants of Shem;--then, from among them Abraham is marked out,--of his sons, Isaac,--from among his sons, Jacob,--and from among the twelve sons …
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament

The King --Continued.
The second event recorded as important in the bright early years is the great promise of the perpetuity of the kingdom in David's house. As soon as the king was firmly established and free from war, he remembered the ancient word which said, "When He giveth you rest from all your enemies round about, so that ye dwell in safety, then there shall be a place which the Lord your God shall choose to cause His name to dwell there" (Deut. xii. 10, 11). His own ease rebukes him; he regards his tranquillity …
Alexander Maclaren—The Life of David

The Medes and the Second Chaldaean Empire
THE FALL OF NINEVEH AND THE RISE OF THE CHALDAEAN AND MEDIAN EMPIRES--THE XXVIth EGYPTIAN DYNASTY: CYAXARES, ALYATTES, AND NEBUCHADREZZAR. The legendary history of the kings of Media and the first contact of the Medes with the Assyrians: the alleged Iranian migrations of the Avesta--Media-proper, its fauna and flora; Phraortes and the beginning of the Median empire--Persia proper and the Persians; conquest of Persia by the Medes--The last monuments of Assur-bani-pal: the library of Kouyunjik--Phraortes …
G. Maspero—History Of Egypt, Chaldaea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, V 8

Deuteronomy
Owing to the comparatively loose nature of the connection between consecutive passages in the legislative section, it is difficult to present an adequate summary of the book of Deuteronomy. In the first section, i.-iv. 40, Moses, after reviewing the recent history of the people, and showing how it reveals Jehovah's love for Israel, earnestly urges upon them the duty of keeping His laws, reminding them of His spirituality and absoluteness. Then follows the appointment, iv. 41-43--here irrelevant (cf. …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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