Scripture Daily

Context No. 3947 of 4322 · Deuteronomy

Context · Reflection

Deuteronomy 12:15-19: in context

15Yet you may kill and eat meat within all your gates, after all the desire of your soul, according to the LORD your God’s blessing which he has given you. The unclean and the clean may eat of it, as of the gazelle and the deer. 16Only you shall not eat the blood. You shall pour it out on the earth like water. 17You may not eat within your gates the tithe of your grain, or of your new wine, or of your oil, or the firstborn of your herd or of your flock, nor any of your vows which you vow, nor your free will offerings, nor the wave offering of your hand; 18but you shall eat them before the LORD your God in the place which the LORD your God shall choose: you, your son, your daughter, your male servant, your female servant, and the Levite who is within your gates. You shall rejoice before the LORD your God in all that you put your hand to. 19Be careful that you don’t forsake the Levite as long as you live in your land.

As God gives instructions about worship and eating in the land, a warm refrain runs through: you shall eat before the LORD your God and rejoice, you and your household. Worship was not to be grim but joyful, a shared celebration before God with sons and daughters, servants, the whole household together.

And woven into the joy is a command not to forget one group: take care that you do not neglect the Levite as long as you live in your land. The Levites, who had no land of their own and depended on the offerings of others, were to be included in the household's rejoicing and provided for. Two things stand out. Worship of God is meant to be joyful and shared, a household rejoicing together in his presence and his blessings. And genuine joy before God does not forget those who depend on the community, the Levite, and by extension all who are vulnerable and dependent. True celebration before God includes rather than overlooks the ones who might be left out.

Is my worship of God both joyful and generous, a glad rejoicing in his blessings that also remembers and includes those who depend on the community and might otherwise be left out?

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