There is an ancient Jewish prayer called the Shema. This prayer is recited day and night, when waking up and when going to bed. It is often the first prayer children learn. It is prayed in moments of distress or devotion. It is also prayed at the moment of death. This prayer is embedded into the very rhythm of the Jewish faith. The first few lines, which come directly out of Deuteronomy 6, are as follows:
HEAR, O ISRAEL: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart.
Sounds familiar, doesn’t it?
I am the Lord your God
Have no other gods before me
Forsake all others
I am who I say I am
Love the Lord your God
These themes are interwoven throughout Scripture and throughout the life of Jesus Christ.
There was a moment early in my walk with Jesus when I wanted to know Him more intimately. Jesus was a Jew, so I thought if I learned more about the Jewish faith, I would come to understand Him more. Little did I know, this thought would fundamentally shape the way I studied Scripture. Thus began my very nerdy, and in my opinion exciting, journey into the Old Testament. I am by no means an expert and have so much more to learn. But as I began to understand Jesus through the lens and cultural context in which He lived, the Old Testament became a treasure trove of connection and insight. Prophecy fulfilled, symbolism taking on new meaning, language shaping culture. It is an unending pool, and I love to swim.
The more I studied, the more I heard God’s voice echoing through all of Scripture: “Come and know me.” It has always been the Father’s invitation.
What would it look like to love God more deeply today? May the adventure of a life with God grow our love for Him.