The first commandment has been given in the context of the others. Now Moses begins a detailed exposition of this foundational commandment in chapters 6 through 11. “Now these are the commandments, the statutes, and the judgments, which the LORD your God commanded to teach you, that ye might do them in the land whither ye go to possess it . . .” (Deuteronomy. 6:1-9).
God has given the people a commandment, statutes and judgments, and Moses delivers them along with instruction (v. 1). The intent behind the instruction is obedience in the land. A right obedience proceeds from a fear of God extended over generations, that blessing might follow (v. 2). Hear, O Israel, and do, that you may “increase mightily” in a land of profound blessings (v. 3). Then follows the Shema (vv. 4-9), Israel’s great confession of faith and vow of loving obedience. Jehovah is One (v. 4). He is to be loved with all that a man has and is (v. 5). The law is to be at the heart (v. 6). This love, this law, same thing, is to be manifested in the diligent and constant instruction of children (v. 7). The word is to be bound on the forehead or hand (v. 8), and written upon the posts and gates (v. 9).
In our second verse, obedience proceeds from a right-minded fear of God. In the third, desire for blessing is the motivation for obedience. In v. 5 and following, love is the basis for obedience. Therefore, to understand the fear of the Lord rightly, learn to see it as love hungering for blessing. Fear of God is the beginning of all true wisdom (Ps. 111:10). Through the fear of the Lord we depart from evil (Prov. 16:6). True fear is not to be generated by man (Is. 29:13), and has to inform all true worship.
God wants His people to increase mightily. Our God is a God who blesses sinners. And when He does, the temptation to forget Him is immediately at our elbow, whispering. The promised land was one where the skies rained down milk, and the rocks were filled with honey. This abundance was from the hand of the Lord, and it was available to the people when they obeyed Him. The key to material blessing is not found in the presence of natural resources. Some of the most poverty stricken people in the world live in the midst of lush surroundings. The key is loving obedience.
This is related to true orthodoxy. We do not begin with a certain concept of monotheism in order to understand how we are to understand YHWH. Rather, our covenant Jehovah God defines for us what monotheism means. Monotheism is meaningless apart from Him. The Shema teaches us that God, our God, is One.
This is the context in which we teach our children. Jesus Christ teaches us that this passage contains the greatest commandment ever delivered to men. That commandment is delivered in the context of requiring covenant education for covenant children. We may conclude from this that love for God that does not result in Christian education for Christian children is not love for Him at all.
Loving devotion to the law of God was to be an individual commitment—bound on the hand or head. It was also a household commitment—posted at the door of every home. And last, it was to be a social, cultural and political commitment—written on the gates. This last item—unfortunately—shows the anemia of the modern church. We write the law of God on T-shirts, for the individual. We put it on bumper stickers to adorn the car that the whole household rides in. But we refuse to acknowledge that Jesus is Lord in the city gates.
Our doctrine always comes down to action and reveals our true doctrine. What should we take away from this portion of Scripture? Fear, hunger, love—our great problem is that we do not want enough from God. Ironically, we content ourselves with our discontents in the wilderness when before us a promised land awaits. Why do we not want milk and honey? Teach your children—too often we do not teach our children because we have nothing to say. You must teach them your love for God first. And last, consider what is inscribed over the gates of America—love for God begins with the individual. But contrary to our common assumption, it cannot end there. Christ is not Lord unless He is the Lord of Christendom.