“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is One.”— Deuteronomy 6:4

We live in a world that divides everything.Faith from work.Worship from justice.Belief from behavior.

The Shema was given to confront that fracture.

It is not simply a statement of belief.It is a discipline for living in reality—a daily refusal to divide what God has made one.

“Hear” — Truth Begins With Listening

The verse begins with a command:Hear.

It does not begin with belief, doctrine, or argument. It begins with attention.

Before people can act justly, worship faithfully, or lead wisely, they must first learn to listen—to God, to others, and to reality as it truly is.

This is why the verse begins with hear, not believe.

Faith without listening becomes ideology.Power without listening becomes tyranny.Religion without listening becomes idolatry.

The first step toward righteousness is not certainty.It is attentiveness.

“The Lord Is Our God” — A Relationship of Responsibility

The phrase “our God” is covenantal language.It speaks of relationship—but not ownership.

To say “our God” is to accept responsibility.

It........

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)