The greatest command is broken out further in this chapter: “The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength (6:4-5).” The Jews would write this down on a piece of paper and keep it close to their hearts, wearing it on their foreheads and putting a scroll with these words on the doorpost to their homes, touching it and kissing their hands upon entering their home. They had finally arrived in the land of Canaan, the land that God promised them when he brought them out of Egypt, and after several bouts of testing God and wandering in the wilderness as a result.
Once they settled in the land of Cannan, a land flowing with milk and honey, it would be easy to forget all that God had done for them throughout their journey. God wants them to remember all that was done for them by obeying the commandments given and passing along all that happened to future generations so that they would continue obeying the commandments and loving and following God.
Upon giving the commandments, God said, “Do this so that you may fear the Lord your God all the days of your life by keeping all his statutes and commands I am giving you (6:2).” The word fear struck me as I have always said that I did not want to fear God, but love God instead. I understand now that this is not an actual feeling of terror, but rather to choose God and to agree to obey his commands – in my mind when making decisions, and within my heart.
It is very easy for me to wonder at times, if God is with me. I have asked on many occasions, for God to show me that he is there. Verse 16 states, “Do not test the Lord your God as you tested him at Massah.” The Israelites tested God by demanding Moses to provide water for them to drink. Moses struck a rock and water gushed out. The real issues was not the desire for water, but Israel’s need to see if God was really among them.
How can I go about my day knowing that God is with me and not asking him to show me that he is there. Is the greatest command, to love God with all my heart, all my soul and all my strength, kept close within my heart today?