Pastor Andy was out of town this week on vacation. We are thankful for our guest speaker, Bob Alcumbrack brought the message titled “ Hear, O Israel”. The Shema begins with the words, “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one” (Deuteronomy 6:4), a sentence that has shaped Jewish faith for thousands of years. It is recited morning and evening, forming the bookends of daily life, and includes three passages, Deuteronomy 6:4–9, 11:13–21, and Numbers 15:37–41. The Hebrew word Shema means far more than simply “hear”; it means to listen deeply, to understand, and to respond. It is a call not just to hear God’s voice but to obey it with the whole self. In Jewish thought, “Lord” (Adonai) emphasizes God’s kingship and authority, while “God” (Elohim) speaks of His nature and attributes. When the Shema declares “our God,” it reminds the worshiper of the covenant relationship, He is not just the God who exists, but the God who binds Himself to His people.

The heart of the Shema is the confession that “the LORD is one.” In a world filled with false deities, idols, and spiritual distractions, this was a radical declaration of monotheism. Israel was called to worship one God alone, rejecting every rival. This truth undergirds the first commandment: “You shall have no other gods before Me” (Exodus 20:3). The Shema is both the first prayer a Jewish child learns and often the last words spoken at life’s end. Reciting it twice daily fulfills the command to speak these words “when you lie down and when you rise” (Deut. 6:7), forming a rhythm of remembrance and devotion. It binds the community together, reminding them of God’s unity, His commandments, and their shared identity as His people. How is your spiritual walk?

In the New Testament when Jesus begins his answer to the greatest commandment by quoting the Shema in Mark 12:28–30, affirming its place in both Jewish and Christian faith. To confess that “the LORD is one” is to acknowledge that God alone deserves our worship, our loyalty, and our love. It is to reject every idol, whether ancient gods or modern substitutes or making anything or anyone equal to His glory. The Shema is also expressed to center our lives on the One who calls us to love Him with all our heart, soul, and might. The Shema gives us opportunity us to listen deeply, respond faithfully, and remember daily that the God who speaks is the God who saves, the God who commands is the God who loves, and the God who is one is the God who is ours. Finally, the call from God is teaching your children and continuous setting of examples. We need to fight for our kids in a way that includes our example. May we be obedient in the Shema, all for God’s glory.

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