LOVE
Deuteronomy 6:1–9, 20–25
Israel is on the edge of the promised land, and Moses is giving final instructions before they cross over the Jordan River to possess it. The central message: God’s people are called to love Him fully and to pass on His truth to the next generation.
Moses reminds Israel that the commandments, statutes and ordinances are given for the purpose of shaping their life in the promised land. God promised that His people would prosper and increase greatly in Canaan.
This echoes His promise to Abraham that his descendants would outnumber the stars (Gen. 26:4). However, there would be expectations concerning His people. Obedience is not merely duty; it is the path to life under God’s blessing. The phrase “so that you may prosper and multiply greatly” underscores that covenant obedience is tied to covenant blessing.
Fear of the Lord (1–3)
Moses instructed the Israelites to follow God’s commands. Following His statutes would demonstrate their fear of the Lord. The word “fear” is not to be understood as being frightened or scared of something but should instead be understood as holding something in reverence or awe. They were to remember God’s commands and obey them because of who God is, what He has done and what He could do should they become disobedient in their love for Him.
Devoted (4–9)
These verses emphasize what has become known as the “Shema,” the confession of Israel’s faith. “The LORD is One” emphasizes God’s uniqueness and exclusivity; Israel must worship Him alone. The Lord alone is God; there is no rival. They were to love Him with heart (affections), soul (life) and strength (resources).
God wants complete devotion, not half-hearted faith. God’s Word must be internal (“in your heart”) and external (taught and lived out). Parents are commanded to teach children diligently — whether sitting, walking, lying down or rising up. Faith is passed on not just in formal instruction but in the daily routines of life. The commands to bind them on hands and forehead and write them on doorposts and gates stress a constant remembrance. Later Judaism would practice this literally with their phylacteries and mezuzot, but the primary intent of the command is symbolic — God’s Word must saturate life, identity and household.
Righteous (20–25)
When asked by their children about the meaning of God’s statutes, the Israelites were to share what God had done for them in the past and how God led them to the land promised to their ancestors.
Faith is sustained through continual remembrance and intentional transmission to the next generation. Our future of faith depends on intentional remembrance — teaching and living out God’s Word in our lives on a daily basis.
Children will naturally ask, “What do these laws mean?” The Israelite parents are to tell the story. The answer begins with God’s saving work: “We were slaves of Pharaoh in Egypt, but the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a strong hand.”
The commands are rooted in redemption and were for their prosperity and preservation. They would be counted righteous if they followed God’s ordinances.
By Darrell Nimmo
Retired Baptist pastor living in Goodlettsville, Tennessee
