Deuteronomy 6

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TALKS FOR GROWING CHRISTIANS

Israel’s Confession of Faith – The Shema

BACKGROUND NOTES



DOCTRINAL POINT(S)

  1. God’s people are to be committed to the truth and love of God’s Person.

  2. God’s people are to be committed to the practice and teaching of God’s Word.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION

  1. Don’t test the Lord.

  2. Wear verses, not advertisements.

QUESTIONS

  1. What is a phylactery? What does one contain?

  2. What is the Shema?

  3. What is a mezuzah?

  4. Read Deuteronomy 6:10-11. How does archeology once again support the accuracy of the Bible?

  5. What is the great emphasis of Deuteronomy 6?



ANSWERS

  1. A phylactery is a small hard leather box that is strapped to the forehead and left forearm of observant Jews during worship. In the leather boxes are strips of paper or parchment contain Hebrew Scriptures, in particular Deuteronomy 6:4 the celebrated Jewish Shema.

  2. “Shema” is the Hebrew word for “hear,” the first word of Deuteronomy 6:4, “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one!”

  3. A mezuzah is a small metal or wooden box placed on the doorpost of a Jewish home. These boxes also contain the Hebrew Shema. Mezuzah is the Hebrew word for “doorpost.”

  4. When Israel came into the land they did not destroy the cities. They took over the cities and possessed these cities. The archaeological record shows a change of culture around 1400 B.C., but not a lot of destructions of cities. Only the cities of Jericho, Ai, and Hazor were destroyed.

  5. The great emphasis in this chapter is not only practicing the Law, but teaching it as well.

DISCUSS/CONSIDER

  1. The Hebrew Shema emphasizes the unity and wholeness of the Lord. The love of God is intimately associated with the truth about God. Discuss the various ways you could study more about God Himself- through His names, through His attributes, through prayers in Scriptures, to name a few.

  2. It is required and demanded in Scripture that parents be responsible for the education of their children, and that education is to be centered and focused around the Word of God. Whether you have chosen to send your children to public school, private school, or homeschool, how are you ensuring that your biblical worldview is passed on to them?

CHALLENGE

  1. The Hebrew culture encourages awareness of Scripture throughout the home and daily life through phylacteries, mezuzahs, etc. Think of a way that you could see more Bible verses throughout your day.

KEY VERSES

  • “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.” Deuteronomy 6:4-5

  • “And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. 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. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.” Deuteronomy 6:6-9

Deuteronomy, Old Testament, TalksRon ReidDEUTERONOMY 6