Wednesday 19 November 2025

Psalm 107:33-43

Background
When Jesus was asked by a Pharisee, a Jewish religious leader, which commandment in the law was the greatest, he replied, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and first commandment." (Matthew 22:37-38). He continued, "And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." (Matthew 22:39-40)

Our focus verses today (verses 4-5 above) have been described as the pivot around which everything else in the book of Deuteronomy revolves and are known as the Shema or Great Commandment. The words could be described as a summary of the Ten Commandments which Moses spoke in Deuteronomy Chapter 5. More specifically, they summarise the prologue and first and second commandments – the commandment against worshiping other gods or making idols.

Spoken by Moses to the Israelite people, the Shema begins by rooting their identity in the one true God. "The Lord is our God, the Lord alone." To a people who had been tempted to worship other gods, these words proclaim the Lord alone as their God.  The last part of the verse can also be translated ‘the Lord is one,’ highlighting the unity and one-ness of God. Jews recite the Shema twice a day, in the morning and evening, to declare their faith and commitment to God.

The command to love here assumes a personal and trusting relationship with God, but it is not primarily about feelings of affection and emotions. Love is worked out in concrete action, in obedience to God’s commands – it is something to be demonstrated. While God’s people speak of their love for God, they also show it.

Moses tells the people to bind the commandments on their hands, foreheads and the doorposts of their houses and gates (vs 8-9). It is not clear whether this was meant to be taken literally. However, from early on in Jewish tradition they have been interpreted in this way and many devout Jews do this today.

To Ponder:

• Do you think love is a feeling, an action, or both? Does thinking of love as an action help us to understand what it means to love God today?
• What Bible verses are especially important for you? Would printing them out to place on a wall or carry in a wallet help you to hold these verses in mind?

Prayer
"Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud, be gracious to me and answer me! ‘Come,’ my heart says, ‘seek his face!’ Your face, Lord, do I seek." (Psalm 27:7-8)

Bible notes author: The Revd Kate Cambridge
Kate is a presbyter in the Winchester, Eastleigh and Romsey Circuit. In her free time she enjoys doing laundry (!), spending time with her family and wrestling ball point pens off her miniature poodle.