Musing – Is recitation of the Shema a pledge of allegiance?

Hebraic Musing – Is recitation of the Shema a pledge of allegiance?

Why do Jews recite the Shema as a pledge at least twice a day?  First, what is the Shema?  It is a recitation of Deuteronomy 6:4–5 with a prayer added. "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.  And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.  (spoken softly) Blessed be the Name of His glorious kingdom for ever and ever.

Just as we Americans recite our “Pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United States of America”, the Jew says his pledge of allegiance by reciting the Shema every morning and evening, a minimum of twice a day.

Shema, the first word in Hebrew means “hear” in an active sense, comparable to our “listen up!” or “don’t just listen, obey.” The full first line is a confession of faith and allegiance to the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob -- “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one”. It is a defining statement, spoken clearly and boldly.

Jesus, as a good Jew, confirmed the importance of the Shema. Remember when the teacher asked Jesus which commandment was the most important?  Jesus replied by reciting the Shema: “‘The most important one,’ answered Jesus, ‘is this: 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 mind and with all your strength’” (Mark 12:29–30). In these words, Christians and Jews alike share an allegiance to the Lord God as a common, shared confession of faith.

Moses first spoke these words because the Israelites were surrounded by the false gods of other nations; and so are we. God’s people need a frequent reminder of who we serve and to whom we belong. We constantly hear the competing claims of false gods; so we need to affirm our loyalty and devotion to the one true God.

Points to ponder

Which allegiance is more important –
to the U.S.A.    or    to the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob?

How can we affirm our love and devotion for God in today’s world?

Would it help to memorize and recite a ‘pledge of allegiance’ more often?

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                                                 December 4, 2012

Author “Hebraic Insights – 95 messages exploring the Hebrew Roots of Christian faith”

Author “Biblical Marriage” (to be published in June 2012)

Weekly e-mails “Hebraic Musings”  to be added to distribution -- Yosef1@cox.net
www.InsightsByYosef.com

Shema in Hebrew:
Sh'ma Yis'ra'eil Adonai Eloheinu Adonai echad.      
V'ahav'ta eit Adonai Elohekha b'khol l'vav'kha uv'khol naf'sh'kha uv'khol m'odekha.  
(softly) Barukh sheim k'vod malkhuto l'olam va'ed.

Rabbi Eckstein of IFCJ says “In speaking the Shema, we join our voices with Jews throughout the world to assert that there is one God and to affirm that He is our God. We look forward to the fulfillment of this theological truth in the Messianic Age when “The Lord will be king over the whole earth. On that day there will be one Lord, and his name the only name” (Zechariah 14:9).”  And he points out that Deuteronomy 6:4–9; 11:13–21; and Numbers 15:41 are “… three paragraphs that have also come to be known as the Shema in a broad sense. They have been used together as a liturgy for prayer since the time of Ezra and Nehemiah. Reciting these texts in prayer expresses our commitment to loyal, undivided, and wholehearted love for God; and devotion to study God’s Word and to teach it to future generations.”