The Daily Nugget- The Shema Prayer

Hi All

It is so easy today to find ways of being spiritually fed, we can listen to podcasts, read teaching books and listen to worship music.These are  all good things to do but first and foremost we must be Grounded in The Word,it is our  main source of food. The ancient jews knew the importance of knowing the scriptures and today we read how they used a prayer called the “Shema Prayer” to prepare them. The Shema which literally means “hear and obey” is a foundational prayer in Judaism it is based on a scripture in Deuteronomy and is primarily a declaration of faith in the oneness of God. It's recited twice daily, morning and evening, and to this day is considered one of the most important prayers to prepare for reading,discussing and absorbing scripture. 

Be Blessed and Encouraged

The Shema Prayer

4 "Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one!   5 You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.   6 These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart.   7 You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up.   8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as frontals on your forehead.   9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.(Deuteronomy 6:4-9) 

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.  

(Colossians 3:16)

Since before the time of Jesus, Jewish believers have recited a prayer each day called the “Shema”. The prayer comes directly from Deuteronomy chapter 6 and is a way for them to commit themselves to listening to God’s word and obeying it.In fact, the word "Shema” literally means''Hear`` and  ''Obey", so it implies actions. It’s the word Jesus used when he said:-“he who has ears, let him hear,” which was his way of telling his followers to listen to his words and obey! One part of the Shema prayer says that believers should discuss God’s Word,"when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up". 

Jewish rabbis like Jesus took this literally, so they discussed and taught scripture anywhere, anytime. There’s even a story in the Gospels of Jesus teaching "all of scripture" while walking with some of his disciples along on the road to Emmaus.

Unfortunately, a lot of us today only talk about the Bible at church on Sunday or maybe in our small group. We’re too busy with the stress of work, unresolved issues at home, unanswered emails, sickness, tiredness, family pressure, and many other things to talk about the Bible during the week. But for the first followers of Jesus, learning and talking about the Bible was a natural part of everyday life.

The Bible is in its rightful place when it is first and foremost in our hearts and minds, so our aim should be to make learning, discussing and applying God’s Word a regular part of our  everyday lives.