What is the Shema?
The Shema has existed since the Torah. YHWH created it just for you. Find out what this means and how this prayer can change your life.
What is the Shema?
Shema Yisrael is a prayer that God gave Moses to teach to God’s people to pray and to teach their children to pray every day. It was intended by God to pass down from generation to generation. Many believe this is a Jewish prayer to be recited by Jews only. In reading the Torah (the first 5 books of the Bible), You will learn that God intended it for all His people; the chosen, and the grafted in.
Deuteronomy 6 – “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart.
You shall teach them diligently to your children, 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. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
What is the Shema?
The Shema is a prayer passage in the Bible that is very dear to my heart and we are instructed to pass down from generation to generation. It is found in Deuteronomy 6:4-9 and it says, “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.” This scripture has been such a source of encouragement for me in my walk with the Lord since studying the whole Bible. I love it because it tells us to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, and strength- which is exactly what I strive to do every day!
The Shema is a statement of faith that is recited daily by Jewish people and Messianic followers.
God’s truth stands firm and secure throughout all time, and for God’s chosen people, this truth is embraced through the Shema. Each day Messianic followers and Jewish people come before God and declare that He is one alone, as we receive Him with love as we are reminded of His answers to all our questions. In doing so, God calls us to remember Him not just from a single scripture, but from the truths found throughout the whole Bible. Through connecting our faith to God in a daily prayer then reading back through the Bible story as a whole, God shows how each scripture is relevant to our lives today and how it has been pointing us towards our Messiah from Genesis 1:1. Let us take heart in these additional words: God is near and He brings peace when we call on His Name in faith.
The Shema affirms God’s unity and declares His love for His people
God’s love for us is undeniably true and a source of comfort. By engaging in God’s word and spending time studying the whole Bible, we will be able to understand God’s unfathomable but undeniable love for His people; Jews and Gentiles. This can help us to better appreciate God’s unity, since reading the entire narrative allows us to look from God’s point of view and understand the entire story. Studying the whole Bible brings forth God’s answers because they become relevant when viewed holistically. The truth in God’s words begins to reveal itself as we analyze and distinguish God’s infinite love towards each of us. Engaging in Whole Bible study helps affirm God’s unity as we recognize and accept His unconditional love for all His followers.
The Shema is also a prayer for God’s protection and guidance
Through praying the Shema, we seek God’s protection and guidance to shield our hearts from doubt, disillusionment and the lies of this world. When faced with the struggles of this life don’t ignore your feelings, don’t run away from your pain. Decide to listen to God instead of letting others shape your vision. Find comfort and healing by resting in God’s arms and allow him to take control over your thoughts, words and actions. You don’t have to go through tough times alone – He is with you at all times as He guides you through moments of loneliness or confusion so that you can endure them with His help. His mercy envelops us in our time of need, providing help for each particular situation.
The Shema is a reminder to put our trust in God and to obey His commands
God says in His Word that He loves us, and it is through our trusting relationship with Him that we find out who God says we are. We all need reminders to put our faith and trust in God on a daily basis, as God is the one who ultimately knows best and is always there for us in times of need. Obeying God’s commands gives us strength when we are weak, guidance when our minds are confused, and truth when answers seem hard to find. God wants us to succeed and to have confidence in who He created us to be: special children of God loved unconditionally and chosen by God for His greatest callings for us. Therefore, let us always remember that God never fails. May this be a reminder to put your trust in God’s will and stay rooted in His Word no matter what!
The Shema is an important part of Jewish tradition and heritage
The Shema is God’s loving reminder to all His followers that He is the one and only God. He desires His people to remain committed and faithful in their love, worship and obedience to Him. God gave us the Shema as a way of helping us to find protection and assurance in Him. It is through His wonderful word that we can find truth, hope, and salvation. The Shema is a call to completely adhere to God’s commandments so that each of us may benefit from everything God has promised us in His whole Bible study. It reminds us that God loves us and that reading the whole story—and not just specific parts—of the Bible helps deepen our understanding of our relationship with Him as well as gives us answers regarding every aspect of life. By committing ourselves to reciting God’s Shema devoutly, we honor God’s eternal presence and personally experience what it means when God says – “And you will be My people, And I will be your God” (Jeremiah 11:4).
The Shema is a powerful statement of faith that reminds us to trust in God and obey His commands. It is also a prayer for His protection and guidance. This ancient Jewish tradition is an important part of our heritage for all His followers and should be cherished by all who follow the teachings of the Bible. If you have not already done so, I encourage you to study the whole Bible, from Genesis to Revelation, to get firsthand knowledge of what God’s Word says. Only then can you fully understand the importance of the Shema and its place in our daily lives.
What a delightful thought!
I invite you to search the Truth yourself. Test it. (1 Thessalonians 5:21)
Please go to your Bible and study the entire story. See firsthand what His word says and what He wants to show you. I always check several versions to allow the Spirit to show me the difference and truth. I recommend you do the same.
Enjoy pondering that thought today!
God bless you