The Shema & How Deuteronomy is laid out

Today's readings are from Deuteronomy 5, 6, 7.

Reading through this section makes us realize what is going on in this "second law" giving. It is not that there is something revised, nor something given that hadn't been given before. The word that best describes what is happening in Deuteronomy is "expansion".

In chapter 5, what we call the "ten commandments", the "Decalogue" is restated. This is the covenant that Israel entered into with God some 40 years before at Mt. Sinai. As this new generation - of which many had been at the mount with their parents - gets ready to enter the land, it is important to "renew" the vows of that covenant. What follows then in Deuteronomy is the covenant restated, and, the expansion on what each of these statements mean.

So, chapter 6 opens with what it means to say "we will have no other gods..." The words are the core of Judaism, and the core of us as Christians, since Jesus reminded us that these are the most important words of the law.

"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 on 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."

What follows reminds them and us of why this is so central. We put our faith in God as one, in essence, and one as person, because the habit is for people to create other things to worship. It might be "a god", an idol, carved out of wood or stone; or "a god" might be a material possession, a hobby, a career, a political ideology, or even a religion. When any other object, or thing, becomes more important than our relationship to God it is a god.

When they would come into the land, that temptation would be all around them; but at the same time, it would cause them to lose sight of the real blessing - that God had given them the land as a possession, an inheritance, and it was this that should never forget. We must not forget the blessings we've received. It may be fashionable to say "I've earned it", and in fact, even correct to say "I've worked really hard"; but if we lose sight of God we forget that it was he who gave us the knowledge, the skills, and the talents to do what has made us gain in wealth and possessions. This is crucial not only for us, but also for our children. To them, we teach everyday. We teach them that God is our hope and our strength. To him belongs faith, love, obedience to his word, because he has redeemed us. Moses says to them and us, that to our children...

"tell him: 'We were slaves of Pharaoh in Egypt, but the lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand.'"

We were slaves...not just in Egypt, but yes, in Egypt and God is the God of redemption and freedom.

The rest of the reading in chapter 7 goes on to make application to their journey of entering into the land and conquering it. While we can focus on the various commands to conquer it "completely", what strikes me is the covenantal aspect of that.

"The Lord did not set his affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples. But it was because the lord loved you and kept the oath he swore to your ancestors that he brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the land of slavery, from the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt."

As you finish reading realize that all of these commands make the application of "we should have no other gods before us".

Peace








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