What does this passage tell you about God?
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2 comments:
Deuteronomy 6 is perhaps the most beloved Jewish prayer in the bible. This passage, starting in verse 4 was said to be the first thing on a Jews lips in the morning and the last thing at night. It was also said that this prayer, the Shema (sha-ma), was the last thing on a dying Jews lips.
So what can a prayer that meant everything to Israel, mean about God. Well it teaches us the most important things in life. It teaches us exactly how God wants us to view him and respond to him.
"Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength."
God is the only God, he is One! Because He is the only God, it is assumed that you would give nothing less than all your heart, soul and strength to serve him.
"These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children."
What God is telling them is so important that is should be, not only burned into their hearts (which is the reason they recited it twice a day), but it should also be impressed upon their children.
There is an old Jewish saying that talks about how we should be teaching our Children about God, even before they are out of the womb. It should be of the utmost importance. We can see, in the Bible, when this doesn't happen, the result is an evil and disobedient age.
It goes on to say...
"Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up."
In this light we can truly see how God views his relationship with us. He is not just some distant relative that we can think about from time to time and visit here and there. He is GOD! He wants to be intertwined in everything we do. This passages encompasses all aspects of a middle-eastern life. When you are sitting at home. This would anytime after you get up and before you to to work, probably around the breakfast table. Then when you walk along the road, which took up a fair amount of time because it was their main source of transportation. This was the time that most would either be on their way to or from work. Depending on if they were alone or in a group, they should be thinking/talking about these things. And lastly, when you lie down and when your rise. The only time it doesn't speak of doing this, is when you are sleeping.
Sometimes all these expectations of God can seem overwhelming and cumbersome, especially when your not doing them in the first place.
If we can get into the habit of thinking, remember and talking about what God has done in our lives, I know it would not be a hassle to live this way, it would in fact, become who we are as a people.
Wayne Wright said...
God has expectations for us in this passage. He says:
1. We must fear Him
2. He wants no one or anything to rival our love for Him - Luke 14:26/Matt. 10:37
3. He expects parents to pass on commands and teachings to their children
God really loves me, but He expects obedience. This sounds like the description of a loving Father. God is AWESOME.
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