Deuteronomy 6:4-6 has been well-known by the people of Israel since God gave Moses the words. Verse 7 tells the Covenant People, “Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders.”
The Lord told His Chosen people to speak these words each morning and evening as a declaration of their faith in Him. Many observant Jewish men (including boys after their Bar Mitzvah) wear phylacteries, which are two small leather boxes containing scriptures from the Torah—the first five books of the Bible—with straps attached. One is laced around the head to cause the box to ride on the forehead while the other is laced around the arms to place the box of scripture on the hands. A literal, visual obedience to the command of the scripture.
This declaration of faith is huge! When I make this declaration, I am completely removing myself from the throne of my life. I am saying that God, YHWH, is God alone. No other.
Now, don’t get all caught up thinking this means Jesus and the Holy Spirit aren’t God or that the concept of the Trinity isn’t real. The word we see translated as “one” is more likely meant to mean “unique.” As in, “The Lord is our God, the Lord is unique.” As in, one of a kind. As in, there is no other like our God. There is nothing and no one who can compare to our God. He is real. He is perfect. He is all-knowing. He is love. He is all-powerful. He is sovereign. He is.
Believing that our God is a triune God is not saying He is three gods in one. No. It is say that BECAUSE He is a triune God, there most certainly is no other like Him. He is superior and He is incomparable.
God expects His people to give Him wholehearted loyalty. We’re to see him as the sole object of our affection. We are to view Him as the One. The only One worthy of our love, devotion, and worship.
Why say the words morning and evening? Simple. We’re leaky vessels. Forgetful souls. Once we get out on our own, we start thinking and behaving like we’ve got this. Whatever “this” is, we’ve got it. We’re good on our own. We can handle whatever comes our way. Except, we can’t. We can’t even take a breath without the Lord supplying the oxygen and the pulmonary system to do so.
By starting our day with this faith-building declaration, we set our thoughts on God, recognizing Him for who He is and ourselves in comparison to Him. When we end our day with this precious truth declaration, our minds and souls rest, knowing that this is the God who watches over us.
What would change in our lives if we repeated these words as we start and end our day? If we kept this truth first and foremost in our minds and on our hearts?
Our God IS unique. Let’s praise Him who is worthy of all honor, glory, and worship.
Coffee, Bible, Journal.
