introduction
: The Shema
the Shema is the centerpiece of the daily morning and evening prayer services and is considered by some the most essential prayer in all of Judaism. An affirmation of God’s singularity and kingship, its daily recitation is regarded by traditionally observant Jews as a biblical commandment.
Deuteronomy 6:4, ‘Hear O’ Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is One.’
She-ma yisrael, adonai eloheinu, adonai echad
It is customary to recite the Shema, or a portion thereof, immediately before bedtime, and when one’s death is believed to be imminent. It is also a custom to cover one’s eyes while reciting the Shema.
Shema
=
Hear / Listen
The Shema is laying as its foundation 2 things:
For Purpose of understanding Lordship and Kingship
The purpose is that one might
know
,
remember
, and
remain
.
Shema = teaches the singularity – Lordship
Lordship
(adoni)
One can only have one Lord!
Love one or despise the other.
Biblical examples of decisions about Lordship
Shema – teaches kingship
El
– is supposed to be all-encompassing, in everything, everywhere, at all times. He who is, who was, and is to come is the phrase that should come to mind when thinking of Elohim in the Jewish sense. One being, in everything everywhere all the time. No part or partners, just one giant expanse that covers all in present, future, and past tense.
Adoni
–
Adoni
is the plural of
Adon
, meaning ‘Lord’, ‘Master,’ ‘Owner.’
Eloheinu
– God / King – The singular of Elohim is: Elo’ah, which can use to stress the Oneness even more than the seemingly plural
Elohim
As their can only be one God, there can only be one King.
Adonai
is adapted from Strong’s Reference #113 ‘adon {aw-done’}; from an unused root (meaning to rule);
sovereign, i.e. controller
(human or divine). In the KJV, it is translated lord, master, & owner. We see that there are kings whose name used adonai as part of their name. An example of this is in Joshua 10:1, where there was a king named Adonizedek. He was a king of Jerusalem prior to Israel’s conquest of that town.
Elohim
is Strong’s Reference # 430 and is plural of HSN0433;
“gods”
in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative.
Application
: In this world, there are many Gods / Lords.
But the God / Our God which is the one to whom our attention is the one and only great Lord of Lords and King of Kings!
The remainder of the Shema prayer is taken from three biblical sources
:
Bible source #1 -Deuteronomy 6:5-9
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. Take to heart these instructions with which I charge you this day. Impress them upon your children. Recite them when you stay at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you get up. Bind them as a sign on your hand and let them serve as a symbol on your forehead, inscribe them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.”
The first verse of the Shema is considered the essential declaration of the Jewish faith — the Lord is our God, the Lord is one. The Lord (only Lord)
Word “God” is so sacred and holy that they are not even allowed to pronounce of actually when they do spell it they will spell it G_D.
The passage that follows details the particular ways in which that faith should be lived: Love God with all of your being, teach it to your children, recite it when you wake and lie down, bind it as a symbol on your body
.
Called to Love: With all of
2.Pass Down
Transition
: The second bible source read/referenced is
Bible source #2
–
Deuteronomy 11:13-21
“
If, then, you obey the commandments that I enjoin upon you this day, loving the LORD your God and serving Him with all your heart and soul, I will grant the rain for your land in season, the early rain and the late. You shall gather in your new grain and wine and oil— I will also provide grass in the fields for your cattle—and thus you shall eat your fill. Take care not to be lured away to serve other gods and bow to them. For the LORD’s anger will flare up against you, and He will shut up the skies so that there will be no rain and the ground will not yield its produce; and you will soon perish from the good land that the LORD is assigning to you. Therefore impress these My words upon your very heart: bind them as a sign on your hand and let them serve as a symbol on your forehead, and teach them to your children—reciting them when you stay at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you get up; and inscribe them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates— to the end that you and your children may endure, in the land that the LORD swore to your fathers to assign to them, as long as there is a heaven over the earth.”
2.
Promise
a.Provision
b. Protection
Transition:
The third bible source used after reciting verse 4 is
Bible verse #3
Numbers 15:37-41.
Numbers 15:37-41
The LORD said to Moses as follows: Speak to the Israelite people and instruct them to make for themselves fringes on the corners of their garments throughout the ages; let them attach a cord of blue to the fringe at each corner. That shall be your fringe; look at it and recall all the commandments of the LORD and observe them, so that you do not follow your heart and eyes in your lustful urge. Thus, you shall be reminded to observe all My commandments and to be holy to your God. I the LORD am your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt to be your God: I, the LORD your God.
Application
: Isn’t this why we have huge crosses and paintings of Jesus in our living room?
Conclusion:
From what I have studied, after the Shema is recited and considered (In Temple, especially High Holy Days) ….
Prayers Concluding Recitation on Holy Days:
Blessing One
: (Longer than the part I share with you right now)
Praised are you, Lord our God, King of the universe, creating light and fashioning darkness, ordaining the order of all creation
.
Our Rock, our Redeemer, our King, Creator of holy beings, You shall be praised forever.
Blessing Two
:
Revelation
(Again longer than listed)
For their sake graciously teach us, Father, merciful Father, show us mercy; grant us discernment and understanding. Then will we study Your Torah, heed its words, teach its precepts and follow its instruction, lovingly fulfilling all its teachings. Open our eyes to Your Torah,…
Blessing Three
:
He is eternal and His glory is eternal; He is God for all generations. His sovereign throne is firmly established; His faithfulness endures for all time.
His teachings are precious and abiding; they live forever.
2 Questions
:
“Have you heard/Listened”
“Will you Submit/Follow”
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