GOD IS – ONE LORD!

GOD IS – ONE LORD!

Deut 6:4-5

4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:

5 And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.

           These words form the “Shema” (“hear”) in the Jewish services. Hear, O Israel: this worth your undivided attention. Used daily in both the morning and evening rituals, the Shema became a primary doctrine of Judaism. When marching through the wilderness on the way to Canaan, the words rang out as a testimony and a reminder that the Jews worshipped only one God and not idols. Not only is Jehovah one Lord and not many but He is the ONLY God. There is no other gods with Him or beside Him. He is absolute God and this eliminates the possibility of any other gods.

           These words were written on bits of paper and placed in tiny containers attached to doorposts. Jews would kiss their hand and then touch the door upon entering. These are the words that were embroidered onto their sleeves and worn as phylacteries on their foreheads. The first and last letters would be written very large. The idea is that these words were always before them; always within sight just above their brow. The Jews did this in response to the following verses.

Deut 6:6-9

6 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:

7 And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.

8 And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes.

9 And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.

           The only reasonable and appropriate response to this one Great God is to love Him with all your heart, soul and mind. The result is that we should love our neighbors as ourselves. When asked what was the greatest commandment Jesus responded with the Shema.

Mark 12:29-31

29 And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:

30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.

31 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.

Dear Lord, today help me to love you supremely and to love you only as God and let that love overflow upon my neighbors. AMEN