Deuteronomy 6: 1-8 1 These are the commands, decrees and laws the LORD your God directed me to teach you to observe in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess, 2 so that you, your children and their children after them may fear the LORD your God as long as you live by keeping all his decrees and commands that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life. 3 Hear, O Israel, and be careful to obey so that it may go well with you and that you may increase greatly in a land flowing with milk and honey, just as the LORD, the God of your fathers, promised you. 4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. 5 Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 6 These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. 7 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. 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.
The book of Deuteronomy is sermons or speeches given by Moses. This book is considered to be part of the Law or the Pentateuch (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy). All Jewish boys were expected to have learned by memory all 5 books by the age of twelve. I can’t even imagine memorizing those books of the Bible. I have a hard enough time remembering where I put my purse or shoes.
The title of the book literally translated means “this second law.” Most of the book is Moses restating what God had given him before the nation crossed into the Promised Land after wandering in the wilderness for forty years. This makes perfect sense, any leader would want to remind the old and inform the young of the covenant and guidance of God for the people before achieving the goal. This particular book played an important role in the development of the Hebrew religion and way of living. Jesus was very familiar with this book and quoted from it often.
Chapter six is a part of the section of Deuteronomy which is titled by most scholars as “The Ten commandments.” Verse 2 sums up the content of the entire chapter. Reverence for the Lord expresses itself in keeping all the commandments … all the days of our lives and teaching our children to do the same. Verses 4 and 5 are part of what is called the Shema (Hebrew for “hear”). This is the creed of Judaism. Either “The Lord our God is one Lord” or “the Lord is our God, the Lord is one” is a valid translation. In the Hebrew the Lord in this verse is Yahweh, which the Jews regarded as too sacred to be pronounced and so substituted the word Adonai, “my Lord.” The wording in verse 4 declares that the Lord is God, the only God and is the same everywhere. The word one is not inconsistent with the Christian doctrine of the Trinity. God is regularly in the plural form in the Hebrew Scriptures and IS here as well. This proclamation of God is followed by instructions to love God. Only in Deuteronomy of all the Pentateuch do we find this thought process of faith with love and it is found 10 times. This love includes every part of our being – physical, emotional, mental and spiritual. When asked for the first commandment Jesus answered with the Shema followed by Leviticus 19: 18 and is considered the primary aspiration and/or requirement of all law.
Verses six and seven declare this law to be in one’s heart and to be taught to the children. We are to be a people devoted to thoughts of God, to see His work and His Spirit in and through out our daily living. God’s activity in our lives is to be so evident that it is natural to teach it, speak it and live it from morning to night.
There is a difference of opinion among scholars as to whether the Hebrews literally tied the law to their body. We do know that during Jesus day, some of the more religious did use little leather cubes on straps attached to their left hand or forehead which contained Exodus 13: 1-10; 13: 11-16; Deut. 6: 4-9 and 11: 13-21 before morning prayers. They were called tephillin (prayers) or phylacteries (a means of protection). Also the Jews put a metal or glass case and fix it to the right-hand doorpost of the outer entrance of every dwelling room in the house. This was called a mezuzah (doorpost). When Jesus gives a negative reference to those who wear the phylacteries he is not because they wore or displayed them but because they did it with an attitude of “I am more religious than you are.”
Today Jewish people still use the Mezuzah. I went to the website Mezuzah and found this info. “In ancient biblical days over 3000 years ago, God commanded the Jews to place the doorpost amulet on their door. You can find this passage in the book of Devarim (Deuteronomy): “Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates”. What is the logic behind this? The doorpost amulet is there to remind you that God is always present in your life. That you should keep God's words constantly in your mind and in your heart. By doing this it will also assures you of God's blessing if you fulfill his commandments. By placing the doorpost amulet on your door, your home will be identified first and foremost as a Jewish home. But more then this, it's believed that it will protect the loved ones living in your home from evil. It's customary to check the parchment for any damages or defects if a problem arises in your home. The mezuzah is made of a rectangular piece of parchment inscribed with verses from the Book of Devarim. Looking at the parchment, you will see the name "Shaddai" inscribed on the outside, often accompanied by the words "The Lord our God the Lord" in a cryptogram. The parchment is rolled so that the name Shaddai is visible. Then it is placed in a case which is affixed to the doorpost.”
We can summarize this little section of chapter six to be that Love for God, including His law, is to be all consuming, “upon our hearts”. We are to consider it so important that we pass them on to the next generation in any way we can. The Word of the Lord is to be a conversation piece at all times almost approaching a preoccupation. We are to take it internally then show it externally. I guess the question then is, “how am I fulfilling this teaching in my life and my home?” Am I doing all I can to learn all I can about God so that I can love Him fully? Do I love him in all areas of my life – physical, spiritual, emotional and mental? Does everything wrap around God, even the day to day stuff? How am I passing on this love and knowledge to the next generation? How does my external behavior show my internal love for God?
Information from “Handbook on the Pentateuch” by Victor Hamilton and “Beacon Bible Studies – Genesis – Deuteronomy” by
