Deu 6: "Moses sets before the people the demands of the
covenant into which the nation entered. He introduces the commandments, statutes
and judgments that would be required of them in the establishing of the Promised
Land. So he records: (1) What they must observe and do: vv 1-3. (2) Their
relationship and reverence of Yahweh: vv 4-15. (3) Prosperity promised if Yahweh
is obeyed: vv 16-25.
Moses sets before the people the importance of proper
education of the children. They had to be directed to the Word in every aspect
of life, and to bind the Law about them. The Jews were proficient in the ritual
of the Law, but forgot in the main its true application. They read v 8, and made
phylacteries out of strips of parchment on which passages of the Law were
written. These were generally enclosed in a box and bound on the forehead, and
left wrist. They were worn at prayers by the worshippers. The people literally
wrote the inscriptions of the Law on their homes, but failed to apply the
teaching personally.
Deu 6:2
YOU, YOUR CHILDREN, AND THEIR CHILDREN AFTER THEM: "We
cannot guarantee the salvation of our children by our own godly advice, but we
can ensure that our responsibilities of parenthood are fully discharged. With
the greater integration of family life which has come through the Christian
development of marriage into one man and one wife, there are ample
opportunities, especially where both partners are in the one faith, of obeying
the ancient and still valid command of Moses (Deu 6:7)" (TMD 96,97).
Deu 6:4
HEAR: Heb "shema", "to hear and understand, or to hear
with discernment." Hearing the Word must never degenerate into religious
formality or into merely a religious routine in which we do our "nod to God,"
but afterwards immediately forget Him (cf Psa 50:22). The purpose for hearing
the Word and its truth is to really know God intimately and personally, to so
understand the truths of Scripture that they become the means and guide to a
personal relationship with the Lord. We do "not live by bread alone (ie, by the
details of life) but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God." We
need to live by God's Word so that we might personally know God and put our
trust in Him.
THE LORD IS ONE: See Exo 15:11; 20:3; Deu 4:35,36;
5:6,7; 10:12; 30:6; 1Ki 18:21; 1Ch 29:10; Isa 37:16,20; 42:8; 43:11; 44:6,8;
45:5,6; Jer 10:10,11; Mar 12:29-32; Joh 17:3; 1Co 8:4-6; 1Ti 2:5; 6:15,16; 1Jo
5:21.
LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART AND WITH ALL
YOUR SOUL AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH: "O God, be thou exalted over my
possessions. Nothing of earth's treasures shall seem dear unto me if only Thou
art glorified in my life. Be Thou exalted over my friendships. I am determined
that Thou shalt be above all, though I must stand deserted and alone in the
midst of the earth. Be Thou exalted above my comforts. Though it mean the loss
of bodily comforts and the carrying of heavy crosses I shall keep my vow made
this day before Thee. Be Thou exalted over my reputation. Make me ambitious to
please Thee even if as a result I must sink into obscurity and my name be
forgotten as a dream. Rise, O Lord, into Thy proper place of honor, above my
ambitions, above my likes and dislikes, above my family, my health and even my
life itself. Let me decrease that Thou mayest increase, let me sink that Thou
mayest rise above. Ride forth upon me as [Thy Son] didst ride into Jerusalem
mounted upon the humble little beast, a colt, the foal of an ass, and let me
hear the children cry to Thee, 'Hosanna in the highest' " (AWT).
Deu 6:7
"We cannot guarantee the salvation of our children by our own
godly advice, but we can ensure that our responsibilities of parenthood are
fully discharged. With the greater integration of family life which has come
through the Christian development of marriage into one man and one wife, there
are ample opportunities, especially where both partners are in the one faith, of
obeying the ancient and still valid command of Moses: 'These words which I
command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: and thou shalt teach them
diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine
house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou
risest up' (Deu 6:7)" (TMD).
Deu 6:10
Vv 10-12: There were dangers in plenty and prosperity to equal
those in poverty and hardship (Pro 30:8,9).
Deu 6:12
DO NOT FORGET THE LORD: "Keep your mind on what you are
doing -- and esp why you are doing it. As soon as you forget you are doing it
for God, it ceases to be for God: the flesh has taken over. The motive of all we
do must be an ever-conscious love of God. True, strong love does not forget. It
cannot forget. Where there is forgetting, love is weak and imperfect. Love is
what gives value to the service in God's sight" (GVG).