Place: After their conquest of Canaan, when they had found rest, the LORD will choose a place for His name, where His presence will dwell (12:9-11).[1] In Jerusalem[2] will be Israel’s place of worship (12:5-6) and joyful feasts (16:14-15; 26:11). In that place where Abraham once offered up Isaac, the temple will be built (Gen. 22:2; 2 Chron. 3:1). There, Jesus will one day declare Himself to be the temple to be destroyed and raised up (John 2:19-21). With His death and resurrection, Jesus put a hiatus on worship in Jerusalem (John 4:21) and began to build His church (Matt. 16:18) as the spiritual dwelling of God (Eph. 2:22; 1 Pet. 2:5). Finally,[3] the presence of the LORD with His people reaches its culmination and perfection in the New Jerusalem (Rev. 21:2-3, 22).

Prophet: Moses warns of the temptation to chase after false gods and idols, not only the vestiges of Canaanite idolatry but also human efforts to lead them astray from the LORD into idolatry. So grave was this danger, the LORD called the children of Israel to eliminate every idolatrous artifact (12:2-3) and to execute every person who tried to seduce them to serve other gods (13:5-11), even to destroy entire cities if they should fall into idolatry (13:12-16). But all these efforts would not be enough to keep them from false worship and to lead them toward a wholehearted devotion to the LORD. Another teacher must come, a prophet like Moses (18:15-19), a man who will speak the word of God from heaven and guide us in the paths of righteousness (Ps. 23:3). This is Jesus, the incarnate Word (John 1:14; 3:34). We must listen to Him (Acts 3:22).

[1] The place for the LORD’s name is the place of His presence: 12:5-7; 14:23; 16:2-16; 26:2-10.

[2] Jerusalem is later established as God’s chosen place (1 Kings 11:36; 14:21; 2 Chron. 6:6; 12:13; Neh. 1:9).

[3] Before the eternal state will be the millennial kingdom in which true worshippers will worship in Jerusalem.