Deuteronomy 16:7
And you shall roast it and eat it in the place the LORD your God will choose, and in the morning you shall return to your tents.
And you shall cook
The Hebrew word for "cook" here is "בָּשַׁל" (bashal), which means to boil or prepare food by heat. This instruction is part of the Passover celebration, where the Israelites were to prepare the sacrificial lamb. The act of cooking signifies preparation and dedication, emphasizing the importance of following God's commands precisely. It reflects the care and reverence required in worship, reminding believers today of the need for intentionality in their spiritual practices.

and eat it
Eating the Passover lamb was a communal act of remembrance and obedience. The Hebrew word "אָכַל" (akal) means to consume or devour. This act of eating is not merely physical nourishment but a spiritual one, symbolizing participation in God's covenant. It serves as a reminder of God's deliverance from Egypt, encouraging believers to partake in the spiritual nourishment provided through Christ, the ultimate Passover Lamb.

in the place the LORD your God will choose
This phrase underscores the centralization of worship in a location chosen by God, which would later be Jerusalem. The Hebrew word for "choose" is "בָּחַר" (bachar), indicating a deliberate selection by God. This choice signifies God's sovereignty and the importance of worshiping Him according to His terms. It calls believers to recognize God's authority in their lives and to seek His presence in the places He designates, both physically and spiritually.

and in the morning
The mention of "morning" highlights the renewal and new beginnings. In Hebrew, "בֹּקֶר" (boqer) signifies dawn or the break of day. This timing reflects the freshness of God's mercies and the hope of a new day. It encourages believers to start each day with a renewed commitment to God, embracing His grace and guidance as they return to their daily lives.

you shall return to your tents
Returning to their tents symbolizes a return to daily life after a sacred encounter with God. The Hebrew word "שׁוּב" (shuv) means to turn back or return. This act of returning signifies the integration of worship into everyday life, reminding believers that their spiritual experiences should influence their daily actions and decisions. It calls Christians to carry the lessons and blessings of their spiritual encounters into their homes and communities, living out their faith in practical ways.

Persons / Places / Events
1. The Israelites
The primary audience of Deuteronomy, the Israelites are God's chosen people, receiving instructions on how to live in covenant with Him.

2. The LORD (Yahweh)
The covenant God of Israel, who provides specific instructions for worship and living.

3. The Place the LORD Chooses
Refers to the designated location for worship and sacrifice, which would later be identified as Jerusalem, the central place of worship for Israel.

4. The Passover Sacrifice
The event being described involves the preparation and consumption of the Passover lamb, a key element of the Passover festival commemorating the Israelites' deliverance from Egypt.

5. Tents
Symbolic of the Israelites' nomadic life during the Exodus and their temporary dwellings during the festival celebrations.
Teaching Points
Obedience to God's Instructions
The Israelites were to follow God's specific instructions for worship, highlighting the importance of obedience in our relationship with God.

Centrality of Worship
Worship was to be conducted in the place God chose, emphasizing the centrality and unity of worship in the life of believers.

Remembrance and Celebration
The Passover was a time to remember God's deliverance and celebrate His faithfulness, encouraging us to regularly reflect on and celebrate God's work in our lives.

Temporary vs. Permanent
The return to tents symbolizes the temporary nature of earthly life, pointing us to the eternal dwelling we have with God through Christ.

Community and Fellowship
The communal aspect of the Passover meal underscores the importance of fellowship and unity within the body of Christ.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the instruction to cook and eat the Passover in the place the LORD chooses reflect the importance of obedience in our worship today?

2. In what ways does the centrality of worship in a designated place in Deuteronomy 16:7 relate to the role of the church in our lives?

3. How can we incorporate the principles of remembrance and celebration from the Passover into our personal and communal worship practices?

4. What does the temporary nature of the Israelites' tents teach us about our perspective on earthly life and eternal promises?

5. How can the communal aspect of the Passover meal inspire us to foster deeper fellowship and unity within our Christian communities?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Exodus 12
Provides the original instructions for the Passover, establishing the context for Deuteronomy 16:7.

Leviticus 23
Lists the appointed feasts of the LORD, including Passover, and outlines their significance.

1 Kings 8
Describes the dedication of the temple in Jerusalem, the place the LORD chose for His name to dwell.

John 1:29
Connects the Passover lamb to Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.
Conditions of WorshipJ. Parker, D. D.Deuteronomy 16:1-8
Jewish Commemorative FeastsE. White.Deuteronomy 16:1-8
The Passover a Memorial and a ProphecyD. Davies Deuteronomy 16:1-8
The Passover, a Memorial of DeliveranceR.M. Edgar Deuteronomy 16:1-8
The Yearly FestivalsW. Roberts, M. A.Deuteronomy 16:1-8
The Yearly FestivalsWalter Roberts, M. A.Deuteronomy 16:1-8
Unleavened BreadS. A. Blackwood.Deuteronomy 16:1-8
The PassoverJ. Orr Deuteronomy 16:1-9
People
Levites, Moses
Places
Beth-baal-peor, Egypt
Topics
Boil, Choose, Chooses, Cook, Cooked, Eat, Eaten, Fix, Hast, Marked, Morning, Return, Roast, Tents, Turn
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Deuteronomy 16:1-8

     4438   eating
     7394   memorial
     8467   reminders

Deuteronomy 16:5-7

     5268   cooking

Deuteronomy 16:6-7

     6622   choice

Library
The Age of the Apostles (Ad 33-100)
The beginning of the Christian Church is reckoned from the great day on which the Holy Ghost came down, according as our Lord had promised to His Apostles. At that time, "Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven," were gathered together at Jerusalem, to keep the Feast of Pentecost (or Feast of Weeks), which was one of the three holy seasons at which God required His people to appear before Him in the place which He had chosen (Deuteronomy xvi. 16). Many of these devout men there converted
J. C. Roberston—Sketches of Church History, from AD 33 to the Reformation

Whether Six Daughters are Fittingly Assigned to Gluttony?
Objection 1: It would seem that six daughters are unfittingly assigned to gluttony, to wit, "unseemly joy, scurrility, uncleanness, loquaciousness, and dullness of mind as regards the understanding." For unseemly joy results from every sin, according to Prov. 2:14, "Who are glad when they have done evil, and rejoice in most wicked things." Likewise dullness of mind is associated with every sin, according to Prov. 14:22, "They err that work evil." Therefore they are unfittingly reckoned to be daughters
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica

Whether Pride Should be Reckoned a Capital vice?
Objection 1: It would seem that pride should be reckoned a capital vice, since Isidore [*Comment. in Deut. xvi] and Cassian [*De Inst. Caenob. v, 1: Collat. v, 2] number pride among the capital vices. Objection 2: Further, pride is apparently the same as vainglory, since both covet excellence. Now vainglory is reckoned a capital vice. Therefore pride also should be reckoned a capital vice. Objection 3: Further, Augustine says (De Virginit. xxxi) that "pride begets envy, nor is it ever without this
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica

The Passing and the Permanent
'For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but My kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of My peace be removed, saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee.'--ISAIAH liv, 10.-- There is something of music in the very sound of these words. The stately march of the grand English translation lends itself with wonderful beauty to the melody of Isaiah's words. But the thought that lies below them, sweeping as it does through the whole creation, and parting all things
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Obedience
Take heed, and hearken, O Israel; this day thou art become the people of the Lord thy God. Thou shalt therefore obey the voice of the Lord thy God, and do his commandments.' Deut 27: 9, 10. What is the duty which God requireth of man? Obedience to his revealed will. It is not enough to hear God's voice, but we must obey. Obedience is a part of the honour we owe to God. If then I be a Father, where is my honour?' Mal 1: 6. Obedience carries in it the life-blood of religion. Obey the voice of the Lord
Thomas Watson—The Ten Commandments

The Second Commandment
Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am o jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of then that hate me; and shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments.' Exod 20: 4-6. I. Thou shalt not
Thomas Watson—The Ten Commandments

Appeal to the Christian Women of the South
BY A.E. GRIMKE. "Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not within thyself that thou shalt escape in the king's house more than all the Jews. For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place: but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this. And Esther bade them return Mordecai this answer:--and so will I go in unto the king,
Angelina Emily Grimke—An Appeal to the Christian Women of the South

The Life and Death of Mr. Badman,
Presented to the World in a Familiar Dialogue Between Mr. Wiseman and Mr. Attentive. By John Bunyan ADVERTISEMENT BY THE EDITOR. The life of Badman is a very interesting description, a true and lively portraiture, of the demoralized classes of the trading community in the reign of King Charles II; a subject which naturally led the author to use expressions familiar among such persons, but which are now either obsolete or considered as vulgar. In fact it is the only work proceeding from the prolific
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

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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