Deuteronomy 6
Deuteronomy 6 emphasizes the centrality of God's commandments in Israel's daily life, stressing the importance of loving God wholeheartedly. It introduces the "Shema," a key declaration of faith in the Jewish tradition, calling for complete devotion to the one true God. The chapter also instructs the Israelites to pass on their faith to future generations and warns against forgetting the Lord amid prosperity.
Deuteronomy 6:1-3 (NKJV)
1 "Now this is the commandment, and these are the statutes and judgments which the Lord your God has commanded to teach you, that you may observe them in the land which you are crossing over to possess,
2 that you may fear the Lord your God, to keep all His statutes and His commandments which I command you, you and your son and your grandson, all the days of your life, and that your days may be prolonged.
3 Therefore hear, O Israel, and be careful to observe it, that it may be well with you, and that you may multiply greatly as the Lord God of your fathers has promised you—a land flowing with milk and honey."
Moses lays out the purpose of God's commandments: to instill reverence and obedience among the Israelites and future generations. Obeying these commands would lead to prosperity and longevity in the Promised Land. The promise of abundant life in a "land flowing with milk and honey" reinforces the blessings tied to their covenant with God. It is a call to faithful observance, ensuring not just personal but communal well-being.
Deuteronomy 6:4-5 (NKJV)
4 "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one!
5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength."
This passage introduces the Shema, a declaration of the oneness of God. The command to love God with all one's heart, soul, and strength reflects the total commitment and loyalty God desires from His people. This love is not merely emotional but includes obedience and devotion in every aspect of life, symbolizing an all-encompassing relationship with God.
Deuteronomy 6:6-9 (NKJV)
6 "And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart.
7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.
8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes.
9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates."
Moses urges the Israelites to internalize God's commands, not merely observing them outwardly but embedding them deeply in their hearts. Parents are instructed to teach God's laws consistently to their children, integrating them into daily conversations and routines. The practice of binding these laws on their hands, between their eyes, and writing them on doorposts serves as physical reminders of their constant commitment to God’s teachings.
Deuteronomy 6:10-12 (NKJV)
10 "So it shall be, when the Lord your God brings you into the land of which He swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give you large and beautiful cities which you did not build,
11 houses full of all good things, which you did not fill, hewn-out wells which you did not dig, vineyards and olive trees which you did not plant—when you have eaten and are full—
12 then beware, lest you forget the Lord who brought you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage."
Here, Moses warns the Israelites of the danger of complacency. As they enter the Promised Land and enjoy blessings they did not labor for, there is a temptation to forget God's deliverance and His commandments. This warning is a reminder that their prosperity is a result of God's faithfulness to His covenant promises, and they must remain mindful of their dependence on Him.
Deuteronomy 6:13-15 (NKJV)
13 "You shall fear the Lord your God and serve Him, and shall take oaths in His name.
14 You shall not go after other gods, the gods of the peoples who are all around you
15 (for the Lord your God is a jealous God among you), lest the anger of the Lord your God be aroused against you and destroy you from the face of the earth."
Moses commands exclusive devotion to God, reminding the Israelites that their allegiance must not waver to the foreign gods surrounding them. The Lord's jealousy here refers to His demand for undivided worship. If they turn to idolatry, the result would be divine judgment. This warning reinforces the seriousness of maintaining faithfulness to the covenant relationship with God.
Deuteronomy 6:16-19 (NKJV)
16 "You shall not tempt the Lord your God as you tempted Him in Massah.
17 You shall diligently keep the commandments of the Lord your God, His testimonies, and His statutes which He has commanded you.
18 And you shall do what is right and good in the sight of the Lord, that it may be well with you, and that you may go in and possess the good land of which the Lord swore to your fathers,
19 to cast out all your enemies from before you, as the Lord has spoken."
The reference to Massah recalls the Israelites’ earlier rebellion when they doubted God’s provision. Here, Moses instructs them not to repeat such disobedience but to faithfully follow God's commandments. By doing so, they would experience success in the Promised Land, where God would drive out their enemies. Obedience is linked to their victory and continued prosperity in the land.
Deuteronomy 6:20-25 (NKJV)
20 "When your son asks you in time to come, saying, ‘What is the meaning of the testimonies, the statutes, and the judgments which the Lord our God has commanded you?’
21 then you shall say to your son: ‘We were slaves of Pharaoh in Egypt, and the Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand;
22 and the Lord showed signs and wonders before our eyes, great and severe, against Egypt, Pharaoh, and all his household.
23 Then He brought us out from there, that He might bring us in, to give us the land of which He swore to our fathers.
24 And the Lord commanded us to observe all these statutes, to fear the Lord our God, for our good always, that He might preserve us alive, as it is this day.
25 Then it will be righteousness for us, if we are careful to observe all these commandments before the Lord our God, as He has commanded us.’"
This passage underscores the importance of passing on the history and meaning of God's commandments to future generations. When children ask why these laws matter, parents are to remind them of God's mighty deliverance from Egypt and His faithful promises. The commandments were not arbitrary but designed for the people’s well-being and to preserve them in righteousness. Observing God's laws leads to life and blessing.