Hear

“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.” ~ Deuteronomy 6:4

Deuteronomy 6:4-9 is known as the Shema. Shema is a Hebrew word that means “hear.” The Shema is the first Bible passage a Jewish child memorizes. It is a call to understand that God is unique and the only authority for life. The Shema calls God’s people to listen to what God says and realize the importance of God’s words. The Shema speaks to the past, present, and future. In its words, we are called to love God with all our heart, soul, and might. It is a call to surrender to God’s will with our entire being and to commit to passing on the teachings of God to the next generation. These are the words of Moses to a people who are about to go into the Promised Land. A reminder of the presence of God and their identity as His people.

As the Book of Deuteronomy opens, we find God’s people on the Plains of Moab, just north of the Dead Sea and east of the Jordan River. It is here that Moses looks at a generation of people who grew up wandering in the wilderness. It is a people one generation removed from the memory of Egyptian slavery. It is a group of people who need to be reminded of their story.

Deuteronomy means, “second-law.” Moses tells the second generation about the Law of the Lord. He defines their identity and purpose as he describes how God has led them to this moment. Moses reminds the people of God’s love and faithfulness as he helps prepare them to experience the fulfillment of God’s promise. This second telling of the Law is intended to bring God squarely to the forefront of the people’s awareness. Their future is shaped by their past, and it is in this moment that they remember that they are God’s people so that tomorrow they can walk in the Promised Land.