Love God

Our text this morning is from the great Jewish prayer called the "SHEMA" Perhaps Jeremy and Bro. Philip heard this prayer at times while they were in Israel.

It is memorized as a child and recited at least three times a day. Morning, evening and right before retiring for bed. It is traditionally the last thing said on a Jewish persons lips before death

In its entirety, the Shema consists of three paragraphs: Deuteronomy 6:4–9, Deuteronomy 11:13–21 and Numbers 15:37–41.

We will just concern ourselves this morning with the first two sentences found in Deuteronomy 6:4-5

Deuteronomy 6:4-5 (KJV)

4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:

5 And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.

A Jew will cover his eyes with his right hand and say…

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Deuteronomy 6:4-5 (KJV)

4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:

5 And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.

I am not going to spend a long time on the first part - but God is trying to tell His people that He is the Only God singular. Not one of many gods. Now this does not confuse our theological doctrine of the Trinity.

The doctrine of the trinity does not teach that we worship multiple gods, but one God in three entities.

That is hard for you to understand??? Me too!!!

Possibly the best way to think of it is in the terms that Jesus used - Jesus says, "I and the Father are ONE" and in another placie, "If you have seen me you have seen the Father. For I am in the Father and the Father is in me" He goes on to teach that if they had really loved and worshipped the Father, they would love and worship Him because "the Father dwelleth in Me"

Paul tells us that Jesus "thought it not robbery to be equal with God."

Now we are not talking about just a relationship here, Jesus is referring to his oneness as in the deity. That The Father is God, and that Jesus is God.

What makes Jesus God is just flesh. God in flesh - "Here oh Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one! Beside him there is no other!!!

We don't serve a committee of gods. One God.

When the Father God wanted to come to us - He came in the person of Jesus Christ

Perhaps the best way to describe it is when you get a glass of water, put some ice in it.

Try to figure out which one of them is H2O

The ice is in the water, but you can also see the water is in the ice.

Then take your glass of water over to the stove and boil it.

God is one.

We are next commanded to "LOVE this God with all our heart, soul and strength"

Now I was just a little boy when my grandparents passed away. I don't even remember them at all. But I have watched my boys with their grandparents.

One of the first thing that happens when we go and visit them. Is Grandma (both of them) will usually say to them, "Come here and give me a hug"

Now While they are told to do it, and sometimes it might take a little convincing if they haven't seen them in a while - it isn't usually because they don't love or appreciate them, it is because they don't know them real well.

But here God tells his people - Love me - He demands their love, commands it. The command to love God is found at least 12 times in the book of Deuteronomy alone. and many more times throughout the Bible.

The totality of the law is comprehended in this one demand- to worship the one true God and to love him (Deut. 6:4-5). Love, however, is more than mere affection or devotion. Love always appears in association with some activity: walking in his ways (10:12), keeping his commandments (5:10), obeying his voice (13:4). Love thus demands that the person engage in practices that demonstrate covenant fidelity. (Dumbrell, 58).

Not only in the Old Testament but also in the New Testament.

KJV Matt. 22:37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

KJV Mk. 12:30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.

KJV Lk. 10:27 And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.

Jesus preached, "If you love me, keep my commandments."

KJV 1 Jn. 5:2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.

KJV 1 Jn. 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.

“Love for God is not an emotional experience so much as a moral commitment.”

KJV Jude 1:21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

Jude 1:20-21 (KJV)

20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,

21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

Deuteronomy 6:4-5 (KJV)

4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:

5 And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.

If we just take this verse it sounds strange, complicated, even somewhat like a tyrant.

I have read many stories of forced wives who have escaped or were rescued. I would have to think that would be one of the most miserable ways to live.

But this is not the relationship that God is setting up with his people.

He is saying LOVE ME - making all kind of laws, commandments, and rules

but look at what he has already done for them.

"As I sat in the seminary classroom, the professor asked us when God gave the Israelites the Ten Commandments. My attitude was, "Who cares? Just give us the answer because it will probably be on the test." Then he dropped an unforgettable insight into my life. He said, "It was after God clearly demonstrated His existence and care for them. It was after He repeatedly demonstrated His love and protection for them, watching over them like a mother over her precious little ones. Only after all of that did God give them the Commandments. Therefore, His message was that the Ten Commandments were a gift of love to the people."

From that day forward, every shred of inclination to resist what God wanted for my life simply dissolved, and it has never returned. What God wants from me is what's best for me! Why should I ever again resist what God wants for me?"

David A. Case and David W. Holdren, Wesleyan Bible Commentary – 1-2 Peter, 1-3 John, Jude, (Indianapolis, IN: Wesleyan Publishing House, 2006), WORDsearch CROSS e-book, 238.

He has made a covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob - not with Moses or the children of Israel - He chose them, they did not have to hunt him out. He came to them.

Isn't it wonderful - when we had no way to get to God - that "HE CAME TO US" That great gulf between man and God Jesus came down and picked up his cross and built a bridge that we could get to God.

PRAISE THE LORD - HE MADE THE WAY, HE BUILT THE BRIDGE, HE SO LOVED THE WORLD

This is why God can say - "Have no other gods before you" Because I am the only God and I love you, I cherish you, I will do whatever it takes to help you"

KJV 1 Jn. 3:16 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

KJV 1 Jn. 4:16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.

1 My Jesus, I love thee, I know thou art mine;

for thee all the follies of sin I resign;

my gracious Redeemer, my Savior art thou;

if ever I loved thee, my Jesus, 'tis now.

2 I love thee because thou hast first loved me

and purchased my pardon on Calvary's tree;

I love thee for wearing the thorns on thy brow;

if ever I loved thee, my Jesus, 'tis now.

3 I'll love thee in life, I will love thee in death,

and praise thee as long as thou lendest me breath,

and say when the deathdew lies cold on my brow:

If ever I loved thee, my Jesus, 'tis now.

4 In mansions of glory and endless delight,

I'll ever adore thee in heaven so bright;

I'll sing with the glittering crown on my brow:

If ever I loved thee, my Jesus, 'tis now.

Psalter Hymnal, (Gray)

From <https://hymnary.org/text/my_jesus_i_love_thee_i_know_thou_art_mi>