Musing – To whom is the Bible saying “Hear, O Israel”?

 

Hebraic Musing – To whom is the Bible saying “Hear, O Israel”?

The phrase “Hear, O Israel” appears 6 times in the Bible.  Many understand that today’s new spiritual “Israel” is the population of Believers.  If so, how are we believers to understand these six Bible verses?

“Hear, O Israel, the decrees and laws I declare in your hearing today. Learn them and be sure to follow them.” Deuteronomy 5:1 NIV   Do the words “Learn them and be sure to follow them” apply to us today if Israel means “all His people”?    Who are “His” people?

“Hear, O Israel, and be careful to obey so that it may go well with you and that you may increase greatly in a land flowing with milk and honey, just as the LORD, the God of your fathers, promised you.” Deuteronomy 6:3   Does this mean that if we are careful to obey the Lord, we will be blessed with a promise of wealth?  Interesting prosperity message worth pondering!

“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  The first part is the infamous "Shema" prayer that the Jews are taught to recite at least 3 times a day.  Could this become our daily prayer also?  Is it just for Jews, or might Christians also adopt this custom?  Try it, you’ll like it.

“Hear, O Israel. You are now about to cross the Jordan to go in and dispossess nations greater and stronger than you, with large cities that have walls up to the sky.  The people are strong and tall—…”  Deuteronomy 9:1-2   Is the Lord promising to provide us with the strength to stand up against our enemies?  Seems we are to fear the Lord, but not man.   Which definition of “fear” am I referring to?

“Hear, O Israel, today you are going into battle against your enemies. Do not be fainthearted or afraid; do not be terrified or give way to panic before them.  For the LORD your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory.” Deuteronomy 20:3-4   Does the Lord have your back today?  Are we to call on Him to fight our battles?

When Jesus was asked which commandments is most important, He answered “The most important one, “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. The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:29-31   How well are we abiding by these two commandments that Jesus said are most important?  Who is our neighbor?

In the book of Genesis, God promised Abraham: “To your offspring I will give this land.” Genesis 12:7   Are we believers the offspring of Abraham?   Are we living in the new Spiritual Israel?

And in Genesis 32 Jacob wrestled, or struggled, with God and his name was changed to Israel.

Israel is mentioned 1,726 times in the Bible and Jerusalem 785 times.  The state of Israel, established in 1948, acts as a literal fulfillment of various prophecies.  “Hatikvah” – Israel’s national anthem means “the Hope”.

 Points to ponder

Are we/you the new Israel, a Spiritual Israel?

Should we or might we also recite the “Shema” daily?

Do you and I know enough about the significance of today’s Israel?

What does the God want us to know about “Israel”?

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd            January 13, 2026

Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith” 
“Biblical Marriage”   Weekly “Hebraic Musings”