Kingdom Kings - Deuteronomy Series

So maybe you’ve heard it said, ‘read your bible’ so you tried the one year plan. You were faithful with the reading plan and then you came to Leviticus. You tried to read it but every time you picked up The Book it got heavier and heavier until you stopped picking it up. You gave yourself an out - not enough time, new schedule, lack of clarity in what you read and even an admission that this book didn’t seem all that helpful in your spiritual walk. All of which are understandable if this was an assignment from your High School English class to read Shakespere But this is God’s Word curated over centuries detailing His nature, His will, the meaning of life and humanity’s historical interactions with Him. Seriously, the Bible details the hidden keys to the Kingdom. Hence, the reason we are reviewing a new book each week.

This week we move to the book of Deuteronomy. Israel had Egyptians to their south, Hittites farther north and a collection of small city states all around them called Canaan. All the groups worked under a common understanding that kings made the rules, established order and kept the peace by requiring subjects (and nations) to provide tribute or be punished.

Moses wrote the book around 1400 before Christ. The book describes a time in which the Israelites are waiting to move to the promised land. It’s a book with powerful stories. As the book of Numbers highlight God’s desire for us to be obedient, Deuteronomy is about the importance of fully devoting yourself to God.

The word devotion means: profound dedication, earnest attachment to a cause, person, etc. an assignment or appropriation to any purpose, cause, etc.

As you read the book this week, look for how God’s people dealt not only with hardship, testing and doubt but also promise, hope and trust. In other words, their devotion in a world that seemingly has an entirely different set of values.

Today, I’d like to focus on the concept of devotion by jumping into the SHEMA (Sha-Ma). You can find it in Deuteronomy 6:4-5 but I’ll begin reading in verse 3 and head to 8.

3 Hear, 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 ancestors, promised you.

4 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.[a] 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 on 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.

Let’s talk about the verse 3

3 Hear, 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 ancestors, promised you.

There is an interesting error by some suggesting God’s love is contingent on our behavior. It’s usually offered by leaders trying to manipulate people for their benefit. Maybe you had a parent or a spouse who used their love for you as a weapon. They made you feel that they’d only show you love when you did what they wanted.

Please hear this - God’s love for you is not contingent on your behavior or obedience. His covenant with humanity was made before we knew what was best. God is not trying to manipulate us into doing what he wants. He is trying to help us from falling prey to a worldview that will lead to destruction.

Consequences for our actions both positive and negative are real. As you read the scriptures, whenever you read of God’s blessings or curses, remember they were dependent on the people’s action in accordance with their prior agreement or covenant with God.

Let’s jump back to the next verse

4 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.[a] 5 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.

A bible geek note before I begin with the SHEMA (SHA-MA). The Hebrew language does not have a word for “is.” There is a word for ‘was’ or ‘will be’ but no word for the present. When the Hebrew language wanted to communicate a present tense verb, they would have two nouns listed side by side.

The opening line, “Hear, O Israel,” does not simply mean to let sound waves enter your ears. Here, the word ‘shema’ means to allow the words to sink in, provide understanding, and generate a response. In Hebrew, hearing and doing are one and the same.