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”
But Others – When All Else Seems to Fail
Hebrews 11:35b-40 Introduction: I started the year with Immanuel, God with us, then last week, ‘Getting Rid of Stuff’, and now I will spend the next two weeks to speak to you about the role of Faith in our lives. 11:1-2, ‘Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen: it gives…
Presence and Activity of Faith
Hebrews 11:1-2, 33-35 Introduction: I started the year with Immanuel, God with us, then last week, ‘Getting Rid of Stuff’, and now I will spend the next two weeks to speak to you about the role of Faith in our lives. 11:1-2, ‘Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen: it…
Getting Rid of Stuff
Introduction: ‘Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. 2 We do this by…
It’s All Good
Romans 8:31-39 Introduction: Last Sunday we gathered around this altar as we called on Immanuel. 8:31, ‘What can we say about such wonderful things as these? God works all things together for good—both His good and our good. As God is glorified, His people benefit. In Romans 8, Paul contrasts a life lived in selfish…
Christmas Presence
Matthew 1:18-24Introduction: Emmanuel – God with Us Jesus = ‘for he will save his people from their sins.’ List / describe some of the diverse people whom He saved: Application: What Jesus’ presence can do? Inner peace: Experiencing Jesus’ presence can bring a deep sense of calm and serenity even amidst turmoil. Healing power: Believers…
Christmas Persecution
Matthew 2:1-21 Introduction: Part 2 of my Christmas Series. Last week Christmas prophecy. This week let me look at what I’m calling Christmas Persecution. Question: That doesn’t sound like a good title or theme, does it? At the heart of what I want to say or communicate is that Christmas came and comes at a…
The Child of Promise
Introduction: My three-week Christmas messages begin with a prophecy about a Christmas to come. Scholars believe that Jesus fulfilled between 300 and 570 prophecies in the Old Testament: Scholars estimate that there are between 200 and 400 prophecies in the Old Testament that Jesus fulfilled as the Messiah. Some scholars believe there are more than…
The Joy of Happiness
I Thess. 5:18 Introduction: Last week I attempted to share and sort out the difference between thankful and grateful and how they are found among the abundant blessings we have from the Lord. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, ‘Always be joyful (Rejoice always). 17 Never stop praying. 18 Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s…
Thankful, Grateful and Blessed
Introduction: Thanksgiving – ‘It’s the most time of the year.’ Grateful and thankful are close synonyms that can both some differences between the two: One is active and the other is passive. State of being Gratitude is a mindset that’s a part of who you are, while thankfulness is the expression of that feeling. Focus…