Listen
DECEMBER 12, 2007 (WEDNESDAY) – The Israelites were given some instructions that became a permanent part of their faith:
“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. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.” (Deuteronomy 6:4-7 NIV).
The devout Jewish people followed these rules to the letter. They wore phylacteries as necklaces and armbands, pouches containing copies of these verses, known as the “Shema,” a very important word in Judaism, meaning “Listen!”
Jesus did not hesitate to quote these verses when asked which is the greatest commandment:
“One of the teachers of the law .. asked him, ’Of all the commandments, which is the most important?’ ‘The most important one,’ answered Jesus, ‘is this: ‘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 mind and with all your strength. The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.’” (Mark 12:28-31 NIV)
There we have it: the Old Testament and the New Testament both tell us what should be important to us. Shema! Listen!