Deuteronomy 6 is an important chapter in which Moses reminds the Israelites of God’s laws and commands, and teaches them how to maintain a relationship with God and pass on their faith to their children. This chapter is centered around the Israelites’ need to faithfully obey God, take His Word to heart, and teach it to their children.
Summary of Key Content
- The First Commandment and Important Lessons (Verses 1-3)
- Moses commands the Israelites to keep the commandments, laws, and ordinances given to them.
- This commandment is to enable them to live well and prosper in the promised land.
- Israel's Confession: Shema (verses 4-9)
- Shema Yisrael : The most important confession of faith in Judaism, beginning with “Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God is the only Lord.”
- First Commandment : “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.”
- Take these words to heart, teach them diligently to your children, and talk about them when you are at home, when you are walking along the road, when you are lying down, and when you are getting up.
- Tie it on your wrist, attach it between your eyebrows, write it on the doorposts of your house and outside doors, and always remember and observe it.
- Do not forget Jehovah (verses 10-15)
- When they enter Canaan, the land that God promised them, and enjoy its abundance, they must not forget God who gave it to them.
- Do not follow other gods, but fear and serve only God Jehovah.
- Keep Jehovah’s commands (verses 16-19)
- We must not tempt God, but must keep all the regulations and laws that the Lord has commanded, and do what is honest and good in the eyes of God.
- Then, God will bless and prosper them as He promised.
- Teach the law to your children (verses 20-25)
- When children ask about the meaning of the law, we must tell them the story of God saving them from Egypt and teach them that keeping the law commanded by God is our righteousness.
detailed description
1. The first commandment and important lesson (verses 1-3)
Moses commands the Israelites to keep the commandments and ordinances that were given to them. These commands are for them to obey God and prosper and live long in the promised land. This means that they will receive God’s blessings by obeying His commandments as a condition of taking possession of the land that God has given them.
2. Israel's Confession: Shema (verses 4-9)
This section begins with the Shema, a very important confession of faith for the Jews: "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might." This is the core of the Jewish and Christian faith.
These words are not just meant to be memorized, but are emphasized as life guidelines that must be practiced every day. We must diligently teach our children, and always remember and practice these words, whether at home, on the road, lying down, or getting up. You must never forget and follow these words by tying them on your wrist, affixing them between your eyes, and writing them on the doorposts of your house and on the outside gate so that they are always visible.
3. Do not forget Jehovah (verses 10-15)
When they enter the land of Canaan that God promised and enjoy its abundance, they must not forget God who gave them everything. The Israelites must remember how God saved them from Egypt and should not follow other gods, but fear and serve only God Jehovah. They warn that forgetting God and following other gods will bring disaster to them.
4. Keep Jehovah’s commands (verses 16-19)
The Israelites must not test God, but must keep all the decrees and laws that the Lord has commanded them, for doing what is right and good in the eyes of the Lord will bless them and make them prosper in the land that He has promised them.
5. Teach your children the law (verses 20-25)
Finally, Moses emphasizes the importance of teaching God’s law to children. When children ask about the meaning of the law, they should tell them how God saved them from Egypt and teach them that keeping the law that God commanded is our righteousness. This is a part that emphasizes the importance of passing on the faith and education.
conclusion
Deuteronomy 6 demands the Israelites to have absolute love and obedience to God, and emphasizes how important it is to teach and pass this on to their children. We teach that the basics of faith are to keep the commandments given by God in our hearts, practice them in our daily lives, and diligently teach them to our children. We must remember that through these practices, we can enjoy the blessings God has promised.