Fix these words of mine in your
hearts and minds
In the book of Deuteronomy Moses
emphasises to his listeners the importance of a personal engagement with the
God who has delivered them from slavery and provided for their needs.
In ch 5 v2 he reminds them that the
covenant was ‘made not with their fathers but with them.’ and in today’s
passage (v2) that it was not their children but they themselves who saw Gods
great deeds.
As we come before God today let’s
remember that he doesn’t want a relationship by proxy with us, or a dry
academic assent to the truths of Scripture but he longs for a living daily
fresh personal encounter with each one of us, so that we can tell our own
story, of his amazing love for us.
In v18 he gives advice as to how to
nourish this relationship both for ourselves and those we have care of. We are
to ‘fix his words on our hearts and minds, tie them as symbols on our hands and
bind them on our foreheads. Teach them to our children…talk about them when we
walk along the road when we lie down and when we get up..’
Orthodox Jews take these verses
literally and tie the phylacteries to their foreheads and left arms. They also
attach the mezurot (small wooden containers in which passages of Scripture are
placed) to the doorframe of their homes.
These verses are a wonderful
encouragement to make our faith part of everyday living. God is involved in any
and every situation that we may find ourselves in today. Whether we are on the
school run, on the squash court, in the board room, or in the supermarket queue
we can pray and call to mind passages of Scripture and know the blessing that
comes as we ‘hold fast to him’ (v27).
(husband and wife)