The Way
Hear, O Israel
Words to engrave on the heart and write on the doorposts
Story
In the land of Moab, east of the Jordan, the forty years in the wilderness were almost over. Across the river, where Moses raised his hand to point, the palm groves of Jericho could be glimpsed in the distance. The new generation, born and raised in the wilderness, gathered one by one and sat down before their aged leader. Moses looked around at them and began to speak. When you enter that land, there are words you must keep. With the last of his strength he gave them those words.
Hear, O Israel. The Lord our God is one. Love him with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your strength. Engrave on your heart these words I speak to you today. Tell them to your children again and again, when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them on your wrist as a sign and bind them on your forehead, and write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
Then Moses' voice grew stern. When you have great and fine cities you did not build, houses full of good things you did not fill, wells you did not dig, vineyards and olive groves you did not plant, and you eat your fill, be careful. Do not forget the Lord who brought you out of the house of slavery. And one day, when your children ask what these words mean, answer them like this. We were Pharaoh's slaves in Egypt, and the Lord brought us out of there with a mighty hand.
Walk this scene on the map →God's Words
Hear, O Israel. The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your strength.
Keep these words I give you today in your heart. Repeat them to your children, and talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you lie down and when you get up.
Then be careful. Do not forget the Lord who brought you out of Egypt, the land of slavery.
The sayings are fresh renderings of the original meaning in today's language. Text: Deut 6:1–25
Background
The Hebrew word Shema, meaning hear, became the name of this confession. Jews still recite these words morning and evening and fix small cases containing scripture to their doorposts. Jesus named Deuteronomy 6:5 the greatest commandment, and he quoted this chapter during his testing in the wilderness.
Pause and Reflect
Even when life is comfortable, do I remember God and love him?