3 Break down their altars and smash their sacred pillars. Burn their Asherah poles and cut down their carved idols. Completely erase the names of their gods!
4 “Do not worship the lord your God in the way these pagan peoples worship their gods.
5 Rather, you must seek the lord your God at the place of worship he himself will choose from among all the tribes—the place where his name will be honored.
6 There you will bring your burnt offerings, your sacrifices, your tithes, your sacred offerings, your offerings to fulfill a vow, your voluntary offerings, and your offerings of the firstborn animals of your herds and flocks.
7 There you and your families will feast in the presence of the lord your God, and you will rejoice in all you have accomplished because the lord your God has blessed you.
8 “Your pattern of worship will change. Today all of you are doing as you please,
9 because you have not yet arrived at the place of rest, the land the lord your God is giving you as your special possession.