◄ Deuteronomy 12:7 ►
There, in the presence of the LORD your God, you and your households shall eat and rejoice in all you do, because the LORD your God has blessed you.
Study Bible
There, in the presence of the LORD your God
This phrase emphasizes the importance of worshiping and celebrating in a designated place chosen by God, which in the context of Deuteronomy, refers to the central sanctuary. This centralization of worship was intended to unify the Israelites and prevent idolatry. The presence of the LORD signifies His holiness and the sacredness of the location, reminding the Israelites of God's omnipresence and His covenant relationship with them.

you and your households
The inclusion of households highlights the communal aspect of worship and celebration. It underscores the importance of family in the spiritual life of Israel, where faith and religious practices are passed down through generations. This communal worship fosters unity and shared faith experiences, reinforcing the covenant community.

shall eat and rejoice
Eating and rejoicing are integral parts of worship and celebration in the Old Testament. Feasting in the presence of God symbolizes fellowship and gratitude for His provision. Rejoicing reflects the joy that comes from being in right relationship with God and experiencing His blessings. This practice foreshadows the Messianic banquet and the joy found in Christ.

in all you do
This phrase suggests that every aspect of life is to be lived in gratitude and joy before God. It implies that worship is not confined to rituals but extends to daily activities, encouraging a holistic approach to faith where all actions are done for God's glory. This aligns with the New Testament teaching of doing everything in the name of the Lord Jesus.

because the LORD your God has blessed you
The blessings of God are the foundation for the Israelites' joy and worship. This phrase acknowledges God's provision and faithfulness, reminding the Israelites of their dependence on Him. It also serves as a call to remember God's past faithfulness as motivation for present obedience and future trust. The blessings are both material and spiritual, pointing to the ultimate blessing found in Jesus Christ, who fulfills God's promises.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Moses
The author of Deuteronomy, delivering God's laws and instructions to the Israelites.

2. Israelites
The chosen people of God, receiving instructions on how to worship and live in the Promised Land.

3. Promised Land
The land of Canaan, where the Israelites are to settle and worship God according to His commandments.

4. The LORD (Yahweh)
The covenant God of Israel, who blesses and provides for His people.

5. Households
The family units of the Israelites, who are to partake in communal worship and celebration.
Teaching Points
Worship in Community
God designed worship to be a communal activity, where families and communities come together to celebrate His blessings.

Joy in God's Presence
True joy and fulfillment are found in the presence of the LORD. Our worship should be characterized by rejoicing and gratitude for His blessings.

Blessings as a Source of Rejoicing
Recognize and celebrate the blessings God has given us. Our response to His provision should be one of joy and thanksgiving.

Holistic Worship
Worship involves all aspects of life, not just rituals. Eating and rejoicing in God's presence signifies that every part of our lives is an act of worship.

Generational Faithfulness
Involve your household in worship and celebration, teaching the next generation to honor and rejoice in the LORD.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the communal aspect of worship in Deuteronomy 12:7 challenge our modern individualistic approach to faith?

2. In what ways can we incorporate joy and celebration into our worship practices today?

3. How do the blessings in your life lead you to rejoice in the presence of God?

4. What are some practical ways to involve your household in worship and celebration of God's blessings?

5. How does the concept of holistic worship, as seen in Deuteronomy 12:7, influence your understanding of living a life that honors God?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Leviticus 23
Discusses the appointed feasts of the LORD, where the Israelites are commanded to gather and rejoice before God, similar to the instructions in Deuteronomy 12:7.

Psalm 16:11
Speaks of the joy and blessings found in God's presence, echoing the theme of rejoicing in Deuteronomy 12:7.

Acts 2:46-47
Describes the early Christians breaking bread together with glad and sincere hearts, paralleling the communal joy and worship in Deuteronomy 12:7.
Sermons
Centralization in WorshipR.M. Edgar Deuteronomy 12:4-14
Public WorshipJ. Orr Deuteronomy 12:5-9
Characteristic Signs of Jehovah's WorshipD. Davies Deuteronomy 12:5-28
The Central SanctuaryJ. Orr Deuteronomy 12:6-29
People
Levites, Moses
Places
Beth-baal-peor, Jordan River
Topics
Blessed, Blessing, Business, Eat, Eaten, Families, Feast, Forth, Households, Joy, Putting, Rejoice, Rejoiced, Undertake, Undertakings, Wherein
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Deuteronomy 12:7

     4438   eating
     5682   family, significance
     5830   delight
     7936   love feast
     8624   worship, reasons

Deuteronomy 12:1-7

     5378   law, OT

Deuteronomy 12:2-7

     7442   shrine

Deuteronomy 12:4-7

     8315   orthodoxy, in OT

Deuteronomy 12:4-25

     4478   meat

Deuteronomy 12:5-7

     5042   name of God, 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

Links
Deuteronomy 12:7 NIV
Deuteronomy 12:7 NLT
Deuteronomy 12:7 ESV
Deuteronomy 12:7 NASB
Deuteronomy 12:7 KJV

Deuteronomy 12:7 Commentaries

Bible Hub
Deuteronomy 12:6
Top of Page
Top of Page