The Shema

The children in The Chosen quote for Jesus the verses we reflect on today. It begins with "listen”.

Over and over again as the Israelites read or spoke this text together, they reminded each other that God is "One”.

But what does that really mean?

Does that have to do with the Trinity? And how God is perfectly "One"?

The statement "The Lord, our God the Lord is One" can also be interpreted as "The Lord, our God, the Lord is the ONLY".

The point is that God is unique in His "kind." There is only one of Him. He is the Supreme, the ONLY Powerful One. The Absolute Ruler above all. The Only One worthy of our worship.

That's God!

It is good for us to understand this text within the context. The nations around Israel had a "god" for everything: the harvest, the weather, the sea, the land, fertility, prosperity - you name it. A god for every area of life.

So for Israel, that had to be completely different. One God for everything, one focal point for all worship. Do you sense anything about how radically different that was from the ways of the peoples around Israel?

Monotheism instead of multi-theism. Focus on one picture of God instead of a fragmented picture of God.

There is much more to say about the Shema, but for now, let’s make the bridge to our own lives. Do we also pray to one God? Do we put our trust in "the One", or do we actually have many other "gods" in which we put our trust? What does that look like for you?

Take the following questions to think about:

• Thinking back to the Shema, how do you see God? Is He the "Only One" in your life?
• What other "gods" are there in your life that you rely on?

Prayer

"Lord, You are the Only One and I want to serve You alone. Will You help me focus on You, honor You, and include You in everything that happens in my life? Thank You, Lord. Amen."