Shema: Listen

Join me in praying the Shema, God's beautiful prayer gift to us | Series on the Shema | Be Fearless | Standing Firm in an Unstable World

Featured image credit: Text of the Shema Prayer in Hebrew and English (Chabad.org)

Introduction | Shema: Listen | YHWH: Lord | Ahavah: Love | Lev: Heart | Nephesh: Soul | Me’od: Strength

What Does Shema/Hear Mean?

Welcome to the Series

In last week’s post [Do You Know about Jesus and the Shema?], I mentioned that today begins a six-week series on the prayer Yahweh gave to His people through Moses called the Shema. This is what I wrote:

…a Bible study series I discovered recently that lit the fire under me to share more about the Shema with other believers. Over the next six weeks, I’ll share what I’ve learned from that study in hopes that it will encourage you, dear readers, to Be Fearless in the Lord, and stand firm in an unstable world.

If you haven’t read last week’s post, I recommend you go ahead and check it out, now, as it will help orient you to the Shema, its importance, as well as introduce you to this series.

BibleProject Series

Listen vs. Hear

The Bible study series is from BibleProject. Each week’s post will include a video from BibleProject’s study series. This week, we’ll briefly examine the first word in God’s special prayer: shema (שֶׁמַע).

Shema, Israel. Hear, O Israel.

These opening words to the Shema have profound meaning in Hebrew. The Hebrew word shema, actually means “listen”, and “listen” carries a much deeper meaning than the English word “hear”.

Hear

Hearing is the result of sound waves entering our ears; the ability to perceive sounds through our ears. Obviously, right? Stay with me as we’ll link all of this to our journey with Jesus. We can taking hearing for granted. I have a recent example of when hearing doesn’t occur.

The hubs and I walked our local indoor mall early this week. As we turned a corner, I saw a man, in his senior years, putting a new trash bag into a large plastic trash can. A broom leaned against a second can. He had a vest on with the mall’s name and logo. I wondered if he’s yet another senior of Social-Security-benefits age who needs to work to make ends meet. I wanted to express appreciation and called out “Thank you!” as we walked by.

He didn’t respond. He didn’t look up. I then noticed he was wearing large earbuds. He didn’t respond or notice me because he didn’t hear me. The sound waves from my voice didn’t enter his ears because they were blocked. He didn’t hear.

Listen

For the Israelites, their Hebrew word shema meant more than just hearing sound waves. The word means:

• Pay attention to (something)

• Focus on (something)

• Respond to what you hear (and do something; fulfill a request)

• Listen and obey (e.g., keep God’s covenant)

Strong’s Concordance: If you’re interested, select the links [here] and [here] to view the shema entry in Strong’s Concordance on the BibleHub website. It’s fascinating to read the extensive definitions.

Many of the psalms in the book of Psalms either begin with—or contain—the Hebrew word shema. The psalmists cried out to God for help; they need Him to not only hear their cries, they needed Him to focus on them. They needed Him to listen and respond by protecting them, saving them from their enemies, and so on. For example, shema is the first word in Psalm 27 verse 7. As you read this brief verse, try and imagine King David kneeling before God, weeping, and crying out in a loud voice, “Shema, Yahweh,”:

Psalm 27:7 (BSB)
7 Hear, O LORD, my voice when I call;
be merciful and answer me.

From Yahweh’s point of view, He desires His people to shema His voice when He speaks. And, “His people” includes us loyal Jesus followers, you and me. He desires us to pay attention to Him, focus on Him, and to listen and obey. God called His people to shema Him many times in the Old Testament (the TaNaKh). When you have time, take a moment and use an online Bible tool and search on these phrases: “Hear, O Israel”, and “Hear, O My people” and “Hear, O house of Israel”. [Here are my search results on BibleHub.com]

Your Turn

Now, what does this have to do with our challenge this year to Be Fearless, and stand firm in an unchanging world? A lot.

This past week, a few events occurred that put me into an emotional funk. I spent way too much time wallowing like a pig in my slop (mud) instead of crying out to the Lord (“Shema, Yahweh!”) to seek His wisdom. Wallowing in my slop also kept me from listening for His voice: “Shema, O beloved daughter….”

I had created a scenario that weakened me and could have made me vulnerable to our enemy’s attacks. (He did try, but I recognized them.) When I finally took the time to listen for the Lord, He acknowledged my cries and helped me. Now, let me ask you a question.

Are You Listening?

Remember the gentleman working in the mall that I encountered. The large earbuds kept sound waves from entering his ears.

When it comes to your walk with Jesus, do you sometimes put in “earbuds” that keep you from truly listening and responding to your Lord?

The Shema gets its name from its first word, shema, which usually means hear or listen. In Scripture, especially in covenant passages, that kind of hearing often means more than sound entering your ears. It’s hearing that leads to response, hearing that changes what you do next.
~She’s So Scripture, by Diane Ferreira

Listening that changes what you do next. Take some time this week to meditate on that thought. Here are some other questions to ponder:

• What are you going to do next after finishing this post?

• Have you ever created blocks to keep from listening to God? If yes, what was the result?

• What can you apply to your life, from today forward, that will help you shema your Lord God who loves you?

Much love to you, dear readers, and thank you for joining me on this journey. I sure do appreciate you all “mucho”. Here’s the BibleProject video; enjoy!

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Video [3 mins 25 secs]
Shema - Listen | BibleProject

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Maranatha, come (again) Lord Jesus.
Soli Deo Gloria!

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As always, you’re welcome to share your thoughts in the Comments. I look forward to reading them each week.

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