Resources Deuteronomy 6 : 4 - 19 - The Lord our God, the Lord is one I find it quite incredible at the speed in which this nation of ours is moving further and further away from God and His word. It seems that at times we have our foot on the acceleration pedal and we're heading down a fast road to spiritual destruction. I find myself becoming angry when I see and hear what is happening in this country, the ignoring of the majority wishes; the pandering to vocal minorities; the excesses of human rights issues; the increasing number of murders amongst children and by children; the moral and spiritual decline. Pick up your newspaper, listen in on radio or TV debates. Here the emptiness of sin, personal responsibility, love and the need for love, God ( unless it's a swear word ). These are not intended to be political statements, they are cross party failures. We could bring a lot of these issues much closer to home as we major in on the failure of the 'church' and then such issues as personal responsibility in many of these areas of our own pride, selfishness comes to the for. Why the depressive ( but real ) picture? Well .... Israel as a nation was about to embark on a great new beginning. For the last forty years they had been wandering around a desert. God had freed them from captivity in Egypt, but owing to their failure as a nation to trust God - they had been left ( but not alone ) in the desert. ( Remind earlier reading Deut 4 : 32 ff - particularly 34 ) Moses was soon to die, he would not be allowed to enter into the new country that God would provide for them. Deuteronomy is if you like, a major farewell speech to the people. It is a repeat of the previous law books ( Exodus, Leviticus and Numbers ) in many accounts. It is given to a people who where children or unborn when they had come out of Egypt. It was to a whole new generation. Hence, perhaps the repetition ( Deuteronomy means - 'the second law' or 'the repetition of the law' ) Moses's farewell speech, was to prepare the people for what was ahead, it was a renewal of the covenant - it is written to show the love relationship of God to his people. Deuteronomy calls for total commitment to the Lord, to worship, serve, honour, love, obey Him. Matthew Henry in his introduction to this book says 'The wonderful love of God to his church is set forth in this book; how he ever preserved his church for his own mercies sake, and would still have his name called among them.' This message from God, to the people, through Moses was critical because they were entering in to a new and never before experienced of their lives, personally and as a nation. They had never before lived in a land that they were able to call 'their own.' So to our text .... Deut 6. Three Statements : The Lord our God, the Lord is One Love the Lord Remember the Lord 1) The Lord our God, the Lord is one.   Deut 6 : 4 This opening statement is known as the Shema ( v 4 - 9 ). It has become the Jewish confession of faith, recited on a daily basis. Moses pleads with the people to 'Hear' .... he does this on numerous occasions. It stresses the importance on what is coming next. Listen to this you people, make sure you hear what I'm going to tell you. 'The Lord our God, the Lord is one' Jehovah, the Almighty God is the only living and true God; he only is God, and he is but One God. Do not desire any other. The people were about to enter a land were the worship of many God's was practised and encouraged. Not quite a god for everyday or every purpose .. but at times it would and did border on that kind of ideology. No Israel, you must ensure that as you enter this new land that you don't get mixed up in the worship of other gods, you don't follow the practises of other nations, so much so, that you should destroy them and their gods, so you will not turn away from me. ( See chap 4 ) Don't worship the things you see in the heavens, don't fashion for yourselves idols out of things that you see on earth, man, woman, animals, fish, bird. Don't be enticed in to bowing down before any of these. As for you, I am God. I put the earth and the heavens in their places, I created man. It is me you are to worship. The creator. The Lord our God. If we follow the story through, we will find how often the Israelites got it wrong - just like us. Just like us, they made a mess of things. Are we able to say 'The Lord our God?' Have we replaced God with another? Have we made God in to what we want him to be? Have we in our so called modern, educated, enlightened age replaced God with our own ideologies, philosophies. watered him down so he fits our bill, blame him when things go wrong so we don't have to face up to responsibility? Israel, you are about to enter a new phase in your existence; know this: People of OPBC; know this: 'The Lord our God, the Lord is One.' 2) Love the Lord your God.   Deut 6 : 5 Love him with your whole being; heart, soul and strength. Love him, who he is, what he says, in such a way that they permeate your whole life, teachings, sleeping hours, waking hours. Etch Him on your hearts - it is not for intellectual learning only - it is a life experience, relationship of love with the Lord Almighty who loves you. This early picture to the Israelites of the new covenant of love, fulfilled in Jesus is clearly stated here. Writing hundred's of years later, Jeremiah reaffirms this 'new covenant' ( See chap 31 : 33 )This is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after that time .... 'I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.' Jesus said to love God is the first and greatest commandment - loving God must have at it's root obedience. The Apostle John reminds us in his first letter … Our love for God is not passive - it must be active; it must be a love that is not just words only but actions; not just words but in truth. This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome... We have the capacity for love - because God first loved us. Israel, you are about to enter a new land. Love me. Love me with your whole being. Love me from your heart. Love me in sincerity and in truth. Love me above all else and others. Love me with your understanding. Israel, may your love for me be an entire love. If we follow the story through, we will find how often the Israelites got it wrong - just like us. Just like us, they made a mess of things. Is God the one we love? Have we forsaken our first love? ( Church at Ephesus ) Has your love for God grown distant, cold? Israel, you are about to enter a new phase in your existence; know this: People of OPBC; know this: 'The Lord our God, the Lord is One.' 'Love the Lord your God heart, soul and strength.' 3) Remember the Lord.   Deut 6 : 12 'Be careful that you do not forget the Lord, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.' 'I' says God 'am going to deal with you in grace. I am going to give you Israel, land that you don't deserve, cities that you haven't built, food and drink supplies that you have not planted or laboured under. I will provide you with things to eat and you will be satisfied.' Remember Israel - everything I have done for you in the past and everything I will provide for you by grace ( undeserved and unearned ) in the future. My favour is upon you. Remember the Lord. Israel, you are going to come under all kinds of temptation, your condition will be far more prosperous than you have ever experienced, guard against pride, forgetfulness, materialism, guard against the exalting of self and self belief to the exclusion of God. Hear what I am saying to you Israel ..... ( Chap 8 ) .... Remember how I fed you and kept you in your desert wanderings for 40 years? the food, the drink, the clothing, the protection. Remember this Israel, when you are living in the land I will provide for you. A land flowing with milk and honey, a land with streams and pools of water, springs flowing in the valleys and hills. Wheat and barley, vines and fig trees, grapes and pomegranates, olive oil, bread a plenty. Remember to praise the Lord, remember to give thanks to God, remember it is God who gives you your wealth and ability to produce wealth. Remember my gracious hand and favoured hand upon you Israel. If we follow the story through, we will find how often the Israelites got it wrong - just like us. Just like us, they made a mess of things. They forgot the Lord and all his benefits. They turned their backs on God and started to commend themselves for the provision of their own hands. They forgot to rely on the God who had never let them down in the past. They stopped trusting him. How about us ..... ??? Israel, you are about to enter a new phase in your existence; know this: People of OPBC; know this: 'The Lord our God, the Lord is One.' 'Love the Lord your God heart, soul and strength.' 'Remember the Lord.' The warnings given to the people of Israel, by Moses, were repeated time and time again through the judges, kings and prophets that God raised up. Israel faced many bitter trials .... but they were there to prove them, to do them good, to draw them to God, to make them more like God. Israel as a nation failed to heed God's warnings, take note of them or even learn from them. Warnings and reminders that went unheeded resulting in awful judgement upon the people. We are no different from Israel. As a nation look at ourselves - how we have strayed. How we have failed to know this : 'The Lord our God, the Lord is One.' 'Love the Lord your God heart, soul and strength.' 'Remember the Lord.' As individuals here this morning, ask yourself the same questions ... have I failed. The answer is overwhelmingly, yes, yes and yes again. Individually then, we have a responsibility to come back to God, seeking forgiveness and mercy at his hand. God knew of Israel's sin and failure and ours before it ever happened. He made a way back to him possible through the blood of Jesus. ( blood sacrifices / Jesus – cross ) We have laid before us the challenge form Deut 30 : 15-16; 19-20. The offer of life or death. Love and obedience leads to life. Sin and disobedience leads to death. Now choose life – for you and your children. Hold fast to him. He is our life! Back to top of page

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