The Shema (1)
Hear, Israel, YHWH is our God, YHWH is one. Deuteronomy 6:4
Hear – The Hebrew verb shama means both “to hear” and “to obey, respond.” Moses does not call the people to listen to his words. He calls the people to do what the words say. In Hebrew, I do not hear unless I respond. The same double sense of this word is applied to God when the Psalmist cries out for God to hear his plea. Of course God hears, but it is of no value unless God responds. To hear is to do something about it. To hear is to act upon the words spoken.
Since Hebrew is a dynamic, active language, this is exactly what we would expect. Torah study isn’t about recitation or regurgitation. It’s about transformation. If my life isn’t changing because of these words, then I haven’t learned anything. I haven’t heard. It is completely inadequate to store away information, even theological information, in my cognitive vault. Action is the only measure of successful listening.
Only a moment’s reflection verifies that this is what we really want with our own words. What is the point of speaking, speaking, speaking if no one acts upon our proclamation. Do we really think our children are listening to us when their behavior ignores our admonitions? Does our boss believe we have incorporated his direction if we don’t make any changes in our actions? Do you think God is interested only in a checklist of correct information? Of course not! If we expect more than intellectual assent, don’t you think He does too? The problem was never about hearing. It was about responding.
This raises a more difficult issue. Now that we know God expects us to act on His words, the next question is “What does He say?” Heschel is absolutely right. Belief is not about deriving divine principles or producing heavenly abstractions. To believe (a verb) is to remember. It is to remember what God did and what He demands. If my life is determined by my response, I must know what God is asking of me. The most important question in all of my life is this: “What does God demand of me?” If I can’t answer that question, I am not able to hear for hearing is the response required by the question. That’s why the Shema is not Deuteronomy 6:4. Deuteronomy 6:4 is the introduction to the demand. It is the call to respond, but it is not the content of what I am to hear. Shema yisrael, YHWH Eloheinu, YHWH ehad is not what I must do. It is the framework that surrounds what I must do. Deuteronomy 6:4 establishes the reason why I must hear and obey. There is a God. His name is YHWH. He is the only God. And the fact that He is God is the reason why I must respond to His demands.
It is useless to read His words without committing myself to do what they require. It is worse than useless. It is blasphemy, disobedience and sin. It is pointless to call myself a follower and ignore the behavioral changes He demands. It is worse than pointless. It is self-defeating. So, begin with the invitation to His demands, but do not stop there. Don’t open the envelope and leave the letter inside. It’s time to take up what follows.
Topical Index: Shema, hear, obey, respond, Deuteronomy 6:4
Deuteronomy 6:4 …. YHWH is one.
2 Corinthians 4:4 …. the god of this world (YHWH) has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the IMAGE of God.
Genesis 1:27 God created MAN in His own image, in the IMAGE of God he created him; male and female he created them.
Seems to me we have three different concepts in the passages above:
1. YHWH (one God)
2. Christ, a man created in the image of God (not God)
3. MAN created in the image of God (not God)
The identity of “WHO” the Christ is , is truly a matter of life and death. This is only revealed by the Father as it was with Peter. Man had not revealed this precious foundational gem. When God who is ONE looked upon the earth and saw that no man was worthy or no man was in a place to be found acceptable, God Himself put on the form of a man” God with us”. When we see Jesus, we see the Father. God in bodily form. If we reject the Christ as being God, then we are in one sorry mess. I may not understand all the Hebrew ways but this is of importance here as it is the identity of Christ that divides the followers of God to those who are simply coming along side of or instead of the genuine. I can not be moved from this as this is truth.
“I may not understand all the Hebrew ways”
Hi Carol,
I don’t understand the Hebrew ways either, I’m just reading the different English translations.
My assumption is that Paul is trying to teach us who Jesus is.
And Paul says that Jesus is an image of God.
An image of God is not God.
Well done, one of the best explanations I have read in about 20 years of walking out this journey with my Abba. I think a really good picture of this is found with the service (‘avad) of the Kohanim (priest). When the blood was put on Aharon and his sons right ear, right thumb and right foot gives us a picture of the Shema; hear, do (obey) and walk it out (serve). Another picture that comes to mind is the bond servant (Shmot, Exodus 21:6), you do not become a bond servant by standing around thinking about things and doing half way jobs when the master needs work to be done and done well, are we faithful servants? Are we not to do the job (service) with love and adoration for your master who takes care of your needs. By reciting the shema in the morning and evening prayers, helps to remind us of our purpose to serve our Adonai. I know there are times I need to be reminded of this.
Blessings & shabbat shalom
When considering who Christ is, and drawing upon English translations, I have cme to the point of not trusting any of them. Of course, being neither a reader of Hebrew or Greek, I am left scrambling, seeking to “hear” so that I might do. However, not taking the “translations” offered to me too seriously I think has freed me to hear better.
Yes, removing the audio filters always produces a clearer signal.
Those few days at MISD Evansville with you really opened my eyes. I am glad you are buttressing the same point here again. Two weeks ago I challenged my members to stop preaching to people but rather live in such a way that their neighbors would want to know what makes them different. What is the purpose of hearing the WORD when you are not willing to live by the WORD?
The shema says clearly that there is only one God. It is foundational to the Jewish faith. Christians struggle to reconcile the concept of the Trinity with Jewish monotheism. Some early non-canonical writings suggest that the early Jewish followers of the way believed that Yeshua was naturally born. They believed that Yeshua became Divine at his baptism when the Holy Spirit descended on him. This approach avoids the idea that the God of the universe was a baby and did “baby things.” We should admit the tension between the one God affirmation contained in the shema and the three in one approach used to explain the Trinity. If we are going to connect to our Hebraic roots, the oneness of God will be an issue that we will contend with.
Of all the many words brother Skip, you have written about, and of all the words contained within the living Word(s) of G-d- this word “Shema” has got to be the “top of the heap.” It is such a special word, so special it is mentioned in the prayers of G-d’s chosen people every day round the world. -“Shema”- “listen and obey”. This is “faith” in a nutshell. “Faith” in its’ purest form. Hear what G-d says. -Do it. Is there any stronger way to say this?
The mother of Yeshua said unto the servants- “whatever this man says unto you- do it.” (John 2.5). Come on people.. there’s no quibbling hear.. He is LORD! We should do whatever He asks.
For instance, (just randomly picking one)- “love one another with a pure heart fervently” (1 Peter 1.22). Is this verse found in G-d’s word? (I just quoted chapter and verse). -Should we do what His word asks? Is this particular verse a “command” of the Christ?
“Be followers of G-d as dear children, and walk in love.” (Ephesians 5.1-2). Have you ever considered this to be G-d’s will for your life? Would it please our Abba if we were to “hear and obey” this particular verse? (but wait.. there’s more- lol!)
“Every word of G-d is pure.” From Genesis 1:1 thru maps- “it’s all good!” Old Testament, New Testament, Jeremiah, Philippians, Leviticus- every word of G-d is pure.
“Believe on the LORD Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16.31). Are we today supposed to “shema” this? “Hear and obey?”. – I believe a thick book could be written concerning the “shema.”
Hearing and obeying YHWH is- as the young people say- “where it’s at!” The quaility of our “hearing” will determine the quality of our lives. Why do I say this? Because “faith” comes by hearing (shema) and hearing (shema) by the word(s) of G-d.” And.. as we know- without faith (hearing and obeying/- shema) it is impossible to please G-d.
“Hear what He says. Do it. (and then.. -be blessed!)
For our “blessing” occurs when we are doing what is pleasing unto Him!
It has been mentioned in our blessing book, something about the “simplicity” found in Christ. (2 Corinthians 11.3) Remember the words of Yeshua- “I do always those things which please the Father”. Was Christ the most obedient “man” who ever lived? Yes. Why? Because He (Yeshua) was showing us (by example) how we should live- In obedience to the revealed words of YHWH.
And what my dear friends is the “consequence” of obedience? Yes sir/ yes m’am- “blessing!”
We are most like the Christ when we “hear and obey!” Ahmein!
“Shema, O Israel!” “Hear and obey!”
Thanks Carl. Shema is right at the top, as you suggest. DId you notice that the central issue in the conversation with the serpent is the separation of shema into two different actions – hearing and then (maybe) obeying. By inserting a pause, the serpent is able to disassemble shema.
I never noticed this, Skip. But, now that you point it out – it seems so obvious! Right in front of my eyes all along, and I never SAW it. There is so much in the Word that I still need to HEAR and OBEY.
Earlier this week, I was thinking that I need to re-teach the Shema to the girls in my class. I just did not know what else to bring to the lesson. Now I do. Thanks for this.
“Selah”- the pregnant pause.. or as I like to call it..- the pause that refreshes! (stop, and think about that!). If we may focus the telescope of time back to the garden and study the methods of our Enemy- we see the element of “doubt” introduced to the original pair. Listen again to the words of the Twister- “hath G-d said?”..- did G-d really say that?- surely- G-d would not be so “unfair”, or “restrictive” or “limiting” (enter your own vivid imagination’s rebellion here…).
Yes, brother Skip, this is where our great, great- not-so-great granparents “messed up.” I can’t be too hard on them though- I’ve done the same thing my self, over and over. I have been “exposed” to the words of YHWH yet for some hard-headed/hard-hearted reason, never really “heard” them until slowly, but surely as a hammer that breaks the rock into pieces, His life-giving, life-sustaining words find their way into our innermost being as a sharp two-edged sword, and slice and dice our souls, leaving a blessed impregnating seed to grow within us.
We may “fast-forward” to the temptation of the second Adam by Hasatan- (he had no idea who this “man” was!- ha!) and “see” three times the answer of the Son of man, to the Twister, “it is written.” Isn’t this a Hallelujah moment! -for we (today) may do the same thing as our Master did, and that is to open up G-d’s word and “remember” -“it is written”.
I’m not one to tatoo myself as is popular among some today, but if I had a “tat”, “what saith the scripture” would be among my first choice, as an aid in “remembering” the word(s) of the LORD.
Bless His name, brother Skip, -along comes the Holy Breath and “reminds” me of John 14.26: “But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.”
We DO have Someone living within us to aid and abet, to guide and to gladden, -Someone to comfort and calm us, the blessed Breath of G-d. Ahmein!
By faith- Abraham obeyed G-d (and went). Yes, brother Skip- action! YHWH said “Get up and go” and how did Abraham “respond?” He got up and went! Obedience!
And again (and again) Yeshua said, “my meat is to do the will of Him who sent me.” (John 4.34)
Should this not also be out heart’s desire? – to do the will of Him who sends us?
Yeshua, the obedient servant, is our Example and Examplar. This is our clearly defined role as we enter into our communal and familial relationships today. This is both our clearly defined role and is also our clearly defined goal- learning how to serve,worship, work and love- (avad).
And as we go our way and go about our day, let us remember our Helper, ever present, ever near to whisper (to those who have ears to hear!)- this is the Way, walk ye in it!
And yes, brother Skip.. we do need to remember- we are His! We are His by right of creation. (It is He who has made us and not we ourselves) and we are His because of His redemptive act displayed so vividly at Calvary. We have been bought with the precious blood of Christ,as of a Lamb without blemish and without spot. We are His! Hallelujah!
ONE!
“I and the Father are one.” John 10:30
BUT!
“…and lean not on your own understanding;” Proverbs 3:5
FAITH!
“And without faith it is impossible to please God,” Hebrews 11:6
PERIOD!