But you shall seek the place where the Lord your God chooses, out of all your tribes, to put His name for His dwelling place; and there you shall go. (Deuteronomy 12:5)
When Moses referred to “the place” it should be understood that it was not just any place. Specifically the Hebrew word המקום ha’makom refers to the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. However, the tabernacle would be situated in Shiloh until it was destroyed by the Philistines in the days of Eli the High Priest, followed by a tenure in Mount Zion; the Temple would not come until many decades later. The point is that, long before there was “dwelling place,” God had already chosen the place where His Presence was to rest.
Selecting the place for His House beforehand stipulated that Israel was to worship only in places designated by God. In other words, the average person was not to determine the place to worship lest they also felt inclined to determine how God was to be worshiped. So then, the Sanctuary in Jerusalem – a centralized location with an authorized priesthood – provided for united national life. Splintered, the people would be more likely to “go after other gods.” This was made evident when Jeroboam set up altars and golden calves in Dan and Bethel, thus widening the division between the northern and southern kingdoms which, in turn, hastened the exile of Israel.
The point of all this is to accentuate the importance of the restoration of the Kingdom (Acts 1:6) and the resurrection of David’s Tabernacle. According to the prophet: “On that day I will raise up the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down … and rebuild it as in the days of old” (Amos 9:11). In that day, God will reunite His people as one flock under one Shepherd – King Messiah. At that time, all the tribes of the earth will come up to Jerusalem, as a united people, to worship the Almighty and, at long last, enjoy a time of peace and justice. As it is written, “Then a throne will be established in steadfast love, and on it will sit in faithfulness in the tent of David one who judges and seeks justice and is swift to do righteousness” (Isaiah 16:5).
All who love justice and peace long for that day, especially seeing that we live among so much contentiousness. In the meantime, though, let us do our part to foster true unity of the faith and legitimate harmony among God’s people. Let us continue to seek justice and be swift to do what is right in God’s eyes and may our hearts be “the Place” where His Presence dwells.
Blessings and Shalom,
Bill
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