Deuteronomy 12:5. “But unto the place which the Lord your God shall choose out of all your tribes to put His name there, even unto His habitation shall ye seek, and thither thou shalt come:”
THE PLACE. They are coming – from Dan in the north to Beersheba in the south – From the desert and mountains in the east on the other side of Jordan – From the Great Sea to the west – they are coming as God said – Coming to “The Place” – the one the Lord God Himself chose.
God’s name is there – God’s habitation with His people is there – Plan on coming to meet Him there – leave what you are doing and come there – Bring your sons and daughters – maidservants and menservants too – “The Place” is where God expects you to come – where He wants to meet with you.
There are animals coming from the herds and flocks – beautiful animals – the very best There are bags full of grain – sheaves are being brought – tithes of all Not provisions to eat but to give to God – evidence of gratitude and thanksgiving They are bringing oil in the casks – the first of everything belongs to the Lord.
Why are they not coming? Where are they? What are they doing? Business comes first – personal matters interfere with offering to God. Pleasure demands its time on His Day and “The Place” is well down on the list. Priorities are made but they are not God’s – “I don’t need to come to go to heaven.”
Seats are empty at the table – the supper is spread but they are not there. “The Place” doesn’t mean much to them – if the place doesn’t, does God? The food of fellowship is on the table – the privilege of offering is there – The quiet hymns of worship and praise go to God’s ears – but voices are missing.
Words of thanksgiving – of remembrance – of appreciation – of spiritual joy – These are given from open and grateful hearts at “The Place” – when you are there But there is a sense of incompleteness when those who could be aren’t there. Lord, speak to them and show them the value of “The Place.”
“O Lord, Thou art the Head of the Church and also the Gathering Center of the assembly in each locality. I thank Thee that the Holy Spirit has given me an appreciation for the place of His name. We have among us those, who for some reason haven’t seen the value of the gathering together of the people of God. If there is some way I can assist them, to see what Thou dost expect, bring it clearly to my mind that I may act in a Christ-like way to help them. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.”