Shema: The Call to Pray

As we continue looking at prayer and its important in our lives, I want to look at what is often referred to as “The Shema”. This prayer is critical in the life of a Christian. Not just for theological reasons but also for how we are to live our daily lives.

Follow along as I read Deuteronomy 6:4-9.

1. Devotion: The Heart of Prayer

The beginning of the Shema acknowledges there is only one God and that God deserves our love.

Our prayer life will never exceed the amount of love we have for God. This is why we are commanded to love God with all of our being, with our heart, with our soul and with all our strength.

Henry Allen Ironside said:

No one ever lost out by excessive devotion to Christ.

Henry Allen Ironside

Andrew Murray said:

The spirit of this world is devotion to the visible.

Andrew Murray

No matter what anyone else tells you, we only have two choices in life.

We are either devoted to God or this world.

I was listening to the news this weekend. I flipped back and forth between MSNBC and Fox since their topics were about the same thing but from two radical different views. Both were using numbers to prove their points. And both were using the same numbers.

One was saying that President Trump recieved the majority of the vote, or the popular vote, while the other claimed President Trump did not receive the majority of the vote. How is it possible for the same number be used as proof of opposing views?

It is possible because each start off with the assumption their view is the correct view and therefore the numbers have to prove they are right. But what the truth is that President Trump won the vote, whichever way you wish to express it and he is the president.

The beginning of our text is critical for Christians. There are different ways the first verse can be translated.

Hear, Israel! Yahweh is our God, Yahweh is one.

The ending can also be translated, “Our God is Yahweh, Yahweh alone!”

Or it can be, “Yahweh. Yahweh our God is the unique.”

All of these ways capture some of the essence of the truth. Yahweh is Yahweh. He alone is Yahweh and He alone is one. And because of this we should “Shema” which means to hear, listen and obey.

And what we are to obey is that we must love God with everything we are. Jesus used this verse when He told us what the greatest commandment is:

Mark 12:30 NASB 2020

30 and you shall love the lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’

We are either devoted to God or to the world. Our prayer life will always follow the one we are devoted to.

Samuel Chadwick said:

Prayer is the acid test of devotion.

Samuel Chadwick

Where does your devotion lay?

2. Diligence: Teach Through Prayer

Our devotion also determines where we spend our time, or with whom we spend our time.

Years ago, back in my early days in the army when I had more hair to cut and a better memory, I went through Drill Sergeant School. In the Army, Drill Sergeants are the ones who take a civilian and start them on the process of becoming a soldier. It is a demanding job.

As a Drill Sergeant, I had to know every task that a soldier was required to do. I had to know, be able to do it and more importantly, be able to teach those tasks; some of which required me to memorize parts of books and regulations.

A good DS was able to explain a task. A great DS was able to demonstrate and explain a task. The difference between the two is their heart.

A great DS loved the Army, loved soldiers, loved their job and their life reflected this love.

We are to love Yahweh or Lord with our entire being and when we do, He possesses our hearts. Which means our lives will reflect that which we love the most but will also reflect that which we teach to others.

As Christians, others should see Christ in us and we should be able to explain what Christ means to us. But we explain by our life as well as our word. This is why it is so critical for us to love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength.

When we don’t love Him with just one of these areas then we will falter. And each of us falter at times.

How do I know? Because I have failed way too much. If not for the forgiveness of my family and of God, I would not be able to stand. And forgiveness comes from love.

Our devotion, our love directs our prayers. Our time with God through prayer and love will guide us to spend our time with those God brings into our lives, especially our children, to teach them the command to love Him.

3. Demonstration: Prayerful Reminders

As I have said, our devotion will come out in our lives.

What we love will be evident to those who watch us.

The ending of our passage talks about having these commands tied to our hands, worn on our frontlets of the forehead. It also tells us to write them on our doorposts and gates to our house.

As Duane L. Christensen writes in his commentary, all of these are “tools, designed to keep the great summary statements of the ‘Words of YHWH’ central” to each person in the community.

As Christians, we have these written on our hearts and minds for us.

The writer of Hebrews, in talking about the sufficiency of Christ in Hebrews 10, tells us that Christ died for our sins so their penalty is paid. Because we are no longer judged by our sins, we can live the will of God which was established because Christ died.

Because of Christ’s death and resurrection, the new covenant has been established and those whom God has called will have God’s laws written on our hearts and minds.

Since our sins have been paid for and we have received forgiveness for our sins; and this is complete and total forgiveness, not a partial or incomplete forgiveness, but since we have this forgiveness, there is no longer a sin offering needed. What this means is that we can live a brand new life.

The writer of Hebrews wrote:

Hebrews 10:17–22 NASB 2020

17 “And their sins and their lawless deeds I will no longer remember.” 18 Now where there is forgiveness of these things, an offering for sin is no longer required. 19 Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, through His flesh, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let’s approach God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

Because of this, we can live a new life. And this life should demonstrate our love for God and be an example of God’s love for us.

This is the example of Christ’s life.

He was devoted to the Father and therefore spent time in prayer daily.

This devoted prayer life let Him diligently teach God’s word to those around Him.

And His prayer life allowed Him the strength to demonstrate how we are to live.

This is why Christ is always held up as an example for us to live.

What or who are you following as your example to live?

Let’s pray.