Tuesday - Deuteronomy 12 - Vital Vision

Here is a simple truth, without God's revelation... we would be doomed. No matter how moral a society might be; regardless of the degree of education or even the strength of the family unit... without an injection of God's inspired truth, every man would ultimately be doomed. Such is the foundation behind the bulk of Deuteronomy 12. The principle is summarized by Solomon this way, "Where there is no vision, the people perish."  Now, contrary to the frequent application, the vision here is not a reference to being goal oriented, creative or "visionary" in one's strategy. The vision of Proverbs 29:18 is a direct allusion to divine revelation. We need God to reveal Himself and His truth to us, for we would never discover Him on our own.

Deuteronomy 12:8 states that if we simply follow our conscience or our natural inclinations, we will fall far short of what God requires of us. Several verses tell us that we have to know God's positions, and we must do things His way, not our own way. Doing what is "good and right in the sight of the LORD God" is to be chosen over "whatever is right in our own eyes" (Deuteronomy 12:28 & 8). We are also not allowed to BEGIN with His perspective and adjust it based upon our own experiences, personality or preferences. "Don't add to it.  Don't take away from it" (Deuteronomy 12:32). Not that God feels threatened by us; He doesn't!  But, He knows that the only thing that we can do is pollute and detract from His revelation. We are absolutely incapable of improving upon His wisdom.