“Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one! You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as frontals on your forehead. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates."
Deuteronomy 6:4-9
As we began to remodel our recently purchased cabin, my friend Deb suggested I write scripture on the framing before the drywall was hung. One day I went from room to room with my Bible in hand, and chose verses to inscribe on the studs and headers. As I printed the words, I thought of Deuteronomy 6:9: "You shall write [God's words] on the doorposts of your house. . ." God gave the Israelites that instruction, along with the direction to teach His word to their children, talking of it during daily work and leisure. His commandments were to be a distinguishing mark on His people's hands and worn as bands around their forehead. Why did God want them to go to all this trouble? So that they wouldn't forget Him. God wanted them to love Him with all their "heart, soul and might". Having His word around them in constant view would cause them to remember their God. Today the scriptures I wrote in our home are covered by sheetrock and paint. Now that they are invisible, I am reminded of the psalmist's words: "I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against You" (Psalm 119:11). We can write scripture everywhere, but it will mean nothing unless we first have written it on our hearts.
That is very cool.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Sue. I appreciate your comments.
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