What is the meaning of Deuteronomy 27:7? There you are to sacrifice your peace offerings • “There” points to the very altar of uncut stones Israel was to raise on Mount Ebal (Deuteronomy 27:4–6). God specified the place, underscoring that worship is never left to human whim but is carried out exactly where He says (Deuteronomy 12:5). • “Peace offerings” (sometimes called fellowship offerings) symbolized harmony between the worshiper and God. Unlike burnt offerings—which were wholly consumed—the peace offering allowed shared participation, emphasizing restored relationship (Leviticus 3:1–17; 7:11–15). • The command is immediate and literal: once the altar was built, the sacrifices were to be offered right there, celebrating the covenant renewal Moses was leading before they entered the land (Joshua 8:30–31 repeats the fulfillment). • Cross references reinforce both the place and the practice: Exodus 20:24 promised that where God caused His name to dwell He would bless; Deuteronomy 27:5 demands unhewn stones so the focus rests on God, not human craftsmanship. eating them • Peace offerings uniquely invited the worshiper to eat part of the sacrifice “before the LORD” (Leviticus 7:15). The meal pictured intimate table fellowship, foreshadowing the communion believers now enjoy with Christ (1 Corinthians 10:16–18). • Eating on the mountain testified that sin had been addressed and fellowship was granted. No one dines in God’s presence unless cleansed (Exodus 24:9–11). • Practical blessings flowed: – Family and servants shared the feast (Deuteronomy 12:7). – Levites, who had no land inheritance, were included (Deuteronomy 12:12). – The poor also benefited, modeling social care rooted in worship (Deuteronomy 14:29). • Eating kept worship from becoming a distant ritual; it engaged taste, smell, and community, grounding spiritual truth in everyday experience. and rejoicing in the presence of the LORD your God • Joy is commanded, not optional. Worship that accurately reflects God’s character will be marked by gladness (Psalm 100:2). • “In the presence of the LORD” highlights nearness. The covenant God chose to dwell among His people (Exodus 25:8); their joy sprang from that privilege. • Rejoicing was to be corporate: men, women, children, sojourners—everyone joined the celebration (Deuteronomy 16:11). Today the church mirrors this inclusive joy (Philippians 4:4). • God-centered joy safeguards against mere formality. The feast on Mount Ebal followed solemn cursings and blessings (Deuteronomy 27:11–26), showing that even after hearing the law’s weight, God intended His people to end in delight, not despair (Nehemiah 8:9–12). summary Deuteronomy 27:7 calls God’s people to obey by offering peace offerings at the exact place He appoints, to sit down and share in those sacrifices, and to overflow with joy before Him. The verse weaves together precision in worship, intimate fellowship, and heartfelt celebration—timeless principles that still guide believers who, cleansed by the greater sacrifice of Christ, feast on His grace and rejoice in His abiding presence. |
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