Deuteronomy 6:4-9 “Keep These Words"
We all have a daily liturgy. We have rhythms and habits that shape our day. And this daily liturgy forms or malforms us. Here in Deuteronomy, the people of God are given a gift. There is a guiding priority - we are to love God with every part of our being. The Lord is to be our only god; we are not to idolize other parts of our life. And coupled with that priority is guidance on how to keep the commandment to love God - make the commandment a visible, verbal, lived part of our daily life. This commandment is to guide our daily liturgy. Later in scripture, when Jesus is asked what the greatest commandment is, he recites this one - and takes it further, saying that tied to this commandment to love God is love of neighbor. According to Jesus, this is it. This is how we are to live our lives. Love of God and of others is to shape our daily liturgy.
Read It
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Hear, O Israel: The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might. Keep these words that I am commanding you today in your heart. Recite them to your children and talk about them when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you rise. Bind them as a sign on your hand, fix them as an emblem on your forehead, and write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
- Deuteronomy 6:4-9 |
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Memorize It
“Hear, O Israel: The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might.” - Deuteronomy 6:4-5
Do It
Do exactly what the scripture says! Recite these words to your children. Find a place for these words in your family’s daily liturgy, at home and away from home, when you wake up and when you go to bed. Make bracelets with these words on them. Make a sign with this passage and put it by doors in your house (this is called a Mezuzah, and many Jewish families have these). If you want to really have some fun, write them, put them in a box, affix it to a headband, and wear it on your forehead.
Make a Mezuzah: Here are ideas of ways to make your own family Mezuzah to post by your door.
Parents: Think about what your family’s daily liturgies are, and what your personal liturgy is. What are the little tweaks that can help your habits and routines form you in the way of Jesus? If you’re not sure where to start, examine your first and last ten minutes of the day. Try adjustments and see if this beginning and ending can have an effect on the rest of your daily life.
Make a Mezuzah: Here are ideas of ways to make your own family Mezuzah to post by your door.
Parents: Think about what your family’s daily liturgies are, and what your personal liturgy is. What are the little tweaks that can help your habits and routines form you in the way of Jesus? If you’re not sure where to start, examine your first and last ten minutes of the day. Try adjustments and see if this beginning and ending can have an effect on the rest of your daily life.
Pray It
God, you are our Lord. Help us to love you completely, as you also love us. Show us the way to living our lives in a way that helps us grow in your image, that helps us love others and love you. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Explore It
Learn more about habits - how they work and how to change them.
