Deuteronomy 16:16

Deuteronomy 16:16 says, Three times in a year shall all thy males appear before the LORD thy God in the place which he shall choose; in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles: and they shall not appear before the LORD empty:  Moses said that the males of the people of Israel were to appear before God three times a year in the place that He would choose.  This was the feast of unleavened bread, the feast weeks, and the feast of tabernacles.  Moses also said that they were not to appear empty handed.  Though I believe this meant without their tithes and offerings, we should never appear before God empty of faith, and as followers of Christ we are constantly before Him because of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.  Verse seventeen adds, Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the LORD thy God which he hath given thee.  In addition to their tithes, they were to bring offerings as they were able, according to how much God had blessed them.  We should also give according to how God has blessed us and not to satisfy some legalistic requirement.  Verse eighteen states, Judges and officers shalt thou make thee in all thy gates, which the LORD thy God giveth thee, throughout thy tribes: and they shall judge the people with just judgment.  Moses said they were to appoint judges to judge the people in disputes between the people, and they were to judge them with just judgements.  We also need to appoint judges today who will judge fairly, and pray for them as they do so.  We should never seek nor want special favors in judgment between others and us, but should always want fair judgment.  Verse nineteen adds,  Thou shalt not wrest judgment; thou shalt not respect persons, neither take a gift: for a gift doth blind the eyes of the wise, and pervert the words of the righteous.  Moses said that the judges should not pass judgment based on who the person was, and that judges should never take gifts, because gifts blinded the eye of the wise and perverted the words of the righteous, We need judges today who are not influenced by who a person is, and we certainly need judges who aren't influenced by gifts.  Verse twenty declares, That which is altogether just shalt thou follow, that thou mayest live, and inherit the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.  Moses said that the people of Israel were to altogether follow that which was just, so that they might inherit the land which God gave them.  Though the land was a free gift from God, their keeping it was based on their keeping their covenant relationship with Him.  Though as Christians, our inheriting our home in heaven is a free gift from God, and we will never lose it, it is still based on putting our faith in Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, and we should always do our best to live in accordance with our covenant relationship with Him.  Verse twenty-one adds, Thou shalt not plant thee a grove of any trees near unto the altar of the LORD thy God, which thou shalt make thee.  Moses said that they were not to plant groves of trees near the altar of the Lord their God.  This was sacred ground and not to be used for material purposes.  We should never allow commercial things to enter into the areas that we set aside to worship God today, namely the church building.   Verse twenty-two continues, Neither shalt thou set thee up any image; which the LORD thy God hateth.  Moses also said they were not to set up any images or idols, which God hated.  This is still true today, and I believe this means even images attempting to represent God.