GOD’S FORMULA FOR LIFE

In 622 BC an ancient scroll entitled the Book of the Law was found during repairs in the temple at Jerusalem. This discovery was made during the reign of Josiah

He became king when only eight -years -old, and he reigned from 640-609 BC. He wanted to restore the nation’s high standards of worship and behaviour. The people had fallen short on both counts. Put into historical context Judah by this time was merely two remaining tribes from the twelve led by Moses into the Promised Land.

Also, Josiah’s reign was less than fifty years before the fall of Jerusalem and the beginning of the Babylonian Captivity (583 BC). This Book of the Law is generally accepted now, although not proven, as the Old Testament book of Deuteronomy. The book of Deuteronomy is replete with Jewish laws and regulations. But certain passages contain sublime literature full of visionary thoughts. One such passage is the great Shema.

This passage is so exalted and august that it is worth reproducing.“Hear, O, Israel, the Lord our God is one Lord, and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might” (Deuteronomy 6.4-5).

This passage became known simply as the Shema, the word ‘shema’comes from the Hebrew word‘shamah’,‘to hear’. Shema is the imperative form of the word ‘Hear, O Israel”. The Shema is not a statement of faith, rather it is his injunction placed upon the Jewish nation by God. Every male Jew was obliged to repeat the Shema in the morning and in the evening.

It was his acknowledgement of the sovereignty of God over and within his life.

Jesus himself would no doubt repeat the Shema. For Jesus this would not be empty repetition, but rather a means of entry into a closer contact with his Father God.

But there was one occasion when Jesus actually quoted the Shema (Mark 12.28-34). The religious authorities had been arguing with Jesus over petty issues. But one scribe realised that Jesus was debating discretely and wisely. He then asked Jesus: “Jesus, which commandment is greatest of all? Jesus replied by quoting the Shema:“Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and strength.”Then Jesus volunteered the second commandment:“The second is this, You shall love your neighbour as yourself.” The scribe then replied to Jesus in a mature and thoughtful manner.“Jesus, you are right, and to follow these two commandments is far better than any form of artificial religion.”Jesus, realising that the scribe was being earnest and sincere, replied:“You are not far from the kingdom of heaven.”

We would put it:“You have hit the nail on the head.”

This incident clearly highlights Jesus’foundation for life. First decent and thoughtful behaviour towards our fellow men and women. But such behaviour is founded upon, inspired with, and driven by respect and obedience to God. These two dimensions in our personal self-awareness are inseparable. We cannot truly worship and honour God if human conduct does not match our worship. Nor can we properly conduct ourselves with others unless our conduct be firmly secured in the eternity of God.

This formula for life found in the Shema is genuine and strong. The strength contained in the Shema was revealed in the most unlikely place. Elie Wiesel was a 17-yearold teenager when he went to Auschwitz. As soon as he arrived he lost his mother and sister to the gas chambers. He himself survived Auschwitz. After the war he wrote a demanding book called Night for which he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. In that book Wiesel wrote that in Auschwitz the Shema of Israel and the Lord’s Prayer of Christianity were repeated day and night.

Even in that death camp brave souls simply refused to surrender their trust in and commitment to the God of their salvation.

“I, I am the Lord and beside me there is no saviour”(Isaiah 43.11).