NOVEMBER 5, 2025
Deuteronomy 12:15-19 (HCSB)
Slaughtering Animals to Eat
15 “But whenever you want, you may slaughter and eat meat within any of your gates, according to the blessing the Lord your God has given you. Those who are clean or unclean may eat it, as they would a gazelle or deer, 16 but you must not eat the blood; pour it on the ground like water. 17 Within your gates you may not eat: the tenth of your grain, new wine, or oil; the firstborn of your herd or flock; any of your vow offerings that you pledge; your freewill offerings; or your personal contributions. 18 You must eat them in the presence of the Lord your God at the place the Lord your God chooses—you, your son and daughter, your male and female slave, and the Levite who is within your gates. Rejoice before the Lord your God in everything you do, 19 and be careful not to neglect the Levite, as long as you live in your land.
Sarah Ricciardi
“Rejoice before the LORD your God in everything you do.” (19) God is outlining how to obey Him and gives this reminder. When I obey out of obligation, out of ritual. When my heart is removed from obedience or worse...when JOY is removed from obedience...is that really obedience? When I was young, my mom catered weddings. (My mouth still waters over her sausage ball recipe.) I loved helping her. From mixing icing to packing up food and setting out displays, it was fun. I still use her trick for making paper napkins look beautiful on the end of a serving table. Since I am pretty sure these tasks were also non-negotiable, I had joy in obedience. I think that’s why God throws in this reminder, “Rejoice before the LORD your God in everything you do.” (19) He outlines specific steps of obedience–how to worship Him–and sprinkles in this call to do so with joy. We all know what it feels like to obey begrudgingly. It feels like drinking sour milk–not enjoyable in the moment and then makes you feel rotten afterward. The obedience God calls us to, He calls us to on purpose. It’s not to torture us, or taunt us. He is calling us to know Him more deeply through the act of doing what He says to do. And when we “rejoice before Him in everything”, well, we’re not just checking off a task. We are learning the rhythm of walking with Him through everything we do.
Slaughtering Animals to Eat
15 “But whenever you want, you may slaughter and eat meat within any of your gates, according to the blessing the Lord your God has given you. Those who are clean or unclean may eat it, as they would a gazelle or deer, 16 but you must not eat the blood; pour it on the ground like water. 17 Within your gates you may not eat: the tenth of your grain, new wine, or oil; the firstborn of your herd or flock; any of your vow offerings that you pledge; your freewill offerings; or your personal contributions. 18 You must eat them in the presence of the Lord your God at the place the Lord your God chooses—you, your son and daughter, your male and female slave, and the Levite who is within your gates. Rejoice before the Lord your God in everything you do, 19 and be careful not to neglect the Levite, as long as you live in your land.
Sarah Ricciardi
“Rejoice before the LORD your God in everything you do.” (19) God is outlining how to obey Him and gives this reminder. When I obey out of obligation, out of ritual. When my heart is removed from obedience or worse...when JOY is removed from obedience...is that really obedience? When I was young, my mom catered weddings. (My mouth still waters over her sausage ball recipe.) I loved helping her. From mixing icing to packing up food and setting out displays, it was fun. I still use her trick for making paper napkins look beautiful on the end of a serving table. Since I am pretty sure these tasks were also non-negotiable, I had joy in obedience. I think that’s why God throws in this reminder, “Rejoice before the LORD your God in everything you do.” (19) He outlines specific steps of obedience–how to worship Him–and sprinkles in this call to do so with joy. We all know what it feels like to obey begrudgingly. It feels like drinking sour milk–not enjoyable in the moment and then makes you feel rotten afterward. The obedience God calls us to, He calls us to on purpose. It’s not to torture us, or taunt us. He is calling us to know Him more deeply through the act of doing what He says to do. And when we “rejoice before Him in everything”, well, we’re not just checking off a task. We are learning the rhythm of walking with Him through everything we do.
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