Reflections on the Shema - Part Schteim

Before I head off to Frankfort, IN for three days of Wesleyan Church History class, I thought I should get in one more reflection on the Shema. In my previous post, I talked a little about the oneness (or unity) of God as reflected in verse 4. Beginning in verse 5, we encounter the first of a series of repetitions - "You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might" (NRSV).

וְאָהַבְתָּ, אֵת יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ, בְּכָל-לְבָבְךָ וּבְכָל-נַפְשְׁךָ, וּבְכָל-מְאֹדֶךָ

Reading literally in English: and / love / you / the Lord / of you / with all / heart / or you / and / with all / the soul / of you / and / with all / the strength / of you. We have the repetition of the phrase “with all” followed by the sequence: heart, soul, and strength. So a good reflective question to ask is, what is the intent behind this series of repetitions? Checking outside sources the word we translate as "soul" can also refer to one's household. And the word we translate "strength" not only refers to one's physical strength but material strength as well. So, with this in mind, the sequence of heart-soul-strength may very well be an inside-out principle showing God's people how to return his love. Moses may then have been indicating that God's children's love should move in to larger circles - beginning in the heart, moving in to the family, and following in to the household/town. What a beautiful way to express one's love for God! We'll encounter this repetition again. Till next time.