Steve Sikes Blog
Steve Sikes Blog
Last Sunday morning, Dr. Carl Brecheen shared with us that the Hebrew word, Shema, means “hear” or “listen.” Listen to the beginning of the Shema in Deuteronomy 6:4-9:
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• You shall love Adonai your God
• With all your heart, with all your soul,
• And with all your might.
• And these words
• Which I command you today
• Shall be in your heart.
• You shall teach them diligently to your children
• And you shall speak of them
• When you are sitting at home
• And when you go on a journey
• When you lie down
• And when you rise up.
• You shall bind them as a sign on your hand
• And they shall be jewels between your eyes
• You shall inscribe them on the doorposts
• Of your house and on your gates.
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The SHEMA (pronounced shuh MAH) is the Jewish confession of faith which begins, “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one!” (Deut 6:4). The complete Shema is found in three passages from the Old Testament: Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Deuteronomy 11:13-21; and Numbers 15:37-41.
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According to Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary, “The first of these passages stresses the unity of God and the importance of loving Him and valuing His commands. The second passage promises blessing or punishment according to a person’s obedience of God’s will. The third passage commands that a fringe be worn on the edge of one’s garments as a continual reminder of God’s laws. This collection of verses makes up one of the most ancient features of worship among the Jewish people.”
In Deuteronomy 6, an inspired Moses gives at least SEVEN very good reasons why the Jews were to daily follow the Shema. Observing and obeying the Shema for the Jew was literally the difference between life and death!
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Why observe? HEAR THOU:
1. So you won’t forget the Lord who delivered you! (6:12)
2. So you will fear only the Lord your God and worship and revere Him! (6:13)
3. So you will NOT follow after any other gods! (6:14)
4. So you won’t be wiped off the face of the earth! (6:15)
5. So you won’t test God! (6:16)
6. So it may go well with you! (6:17-18)
7. So you can share your faith story of deliverance with your children! (6:20-25)
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What does any of this have to do with us today? LISTEN to Jesus in Matthew 22:37-40; “‘YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.’ This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.”
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He who has ears to hear, let him ‘SHEMA’! God is good all the time! Steve
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