~ Lessons From Phylacteries ~
“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 upon 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. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your
foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates” (Deuteronomy 6:4-9, c.f. 11:13-21 and Numbers 15:37-41).
Background ~ This
passage is considered by many theologians to be the greatest theological
statement in the Scriptures. It begins with “Hear, O Israel” which is known as
the Shema (literally “Hear Thou”)—a traditional Jewish confession of faith. The
complete Shema comes from a combination of passages.
Many
religious Jews use leather straps to tie a small leather box containing this
Scripture collection to their wrists and/or their foreheads. Likewise small
containers with the Scripture are attached to door frames and gates. These
containers with Scripture are known as phylacteries. The leather is from clean
animals. Phylacteries are readily seen when visiting Israel.
Consider
six things—in three related pairs—which this portion of Scripture teaches.
First Pair
One: Internal Control ~ “And
these words which I command you today shall
be in your heart” (v.6). God’s Word should be a integral part of your
being. For some this may require the discipline of memorizing Scripture. For
others it may involve regular reading of the Word of God. Others may gain much
by meditating on passages or studying Scripture in depth. The key is that the
words of God are internalized.
Two: External Control ~ “You
shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when
you lie down, and when you rise up” (v.7). The key is that God’s Word is
internalized to the point it controls your daily actions and overall
lifestyle.
Second Pair
Three: Control Your Work ~ “Tie
them as symbols on your hands” (v.8a).
Hands symbolize your work whether performed at home, in private enterprise, for
a non-profit organization, as a government employee, or whatever you do.
Four: Control Your
Thinking ~ “Bind
them on your foreheads” (v.8b). Foreheads
symbolize the thought life. Thinking should be under control when you are alone,
with your family, in social events, within the community, and in your career.
Third Pair
Five: Control Your
Private Life ~ “You shall write them on the doorposts of your house” (v.9a). Door frames represent
entering private life behind closed doors—not visible to the public.
Six: Control Your Public
Life ~
“Write them… on your gates” (v.9b). Gates symbolizes public life where actions
are visible to the public.
summary: The
emphasis in all three pairs is on complete obedience in all areas of life!
The proper
response to God as revealed in His Word is to love Him! “We love Him because He
first loved us” (1 John 4:19). If we truly love Him we will love those around
us.
Matthew
records an incident where a Pharisee tested Jesus Christ by asking Him a
question. Here is the account: “‘Teacher, which is the
great commandment in the law?’ Jesus said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with
all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great
commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as
yourself.’ On these two commandments
hang all the Law and the Prophets’” (Matthew
22:36-40). It has often been noted that these two commandments summarize the
first four of the Ten Commandments.
the ultimate tests: Do you consistently give God control both internally and
externally? How about your thought life and your actions—are they under His
control? Are your private and public lives constantly under God’s direction and
control?
~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW
