“Hear, O Israel: The Lord 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. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, 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. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.” (v5-9)
Out all the passages we’ve talked about over the months, this is by far one of the most important. We cannot over-emphasize how critical it is for us to keep the Lord’s commands as a “sign on our hand and as frontlets between our eyes.” This is how we truly “love the Lord our God with all our heart and with all our soul and with all our might”. Yes, this is the greatest commandment Jesus expanded upon in Mt 22:34-40. The question is, what does “the sign on our hand and frontlets between our eyes” mean, and how is that important?
The sign on our hand refers to a signet ring (ie. signature ring). These rings were unique identifiers of a person. The ring would be pressed into melted wax as a seal/signature when signing official/important documents and letters. God’s law is to be an identifier for those who serve Him, a symbol like a signature ring on our hand.
A frontlet between the eyes was a headband which would display another important identifier, perhaps like a family crest or one’s occupation/position. Similar to a signet ring, something very important would be written on this piece of cloth for those around to see. Traditionally many Jews would put scripture on these headbands as a symbol of their devotion to God.
Though we may not wear our reminders of God’s laws (I don’t), there is significance in having visual reminders around. Perhaps we have a plaque on the wall, a verse on a sticky note, a tattoo of scripture, a desktop image on the computer, etc. Visual cues are helpful if we wish to consistently remember something, or if we want others to remember something about us.
The critical part is that we do more than just visually display these things – we live them out. We can post the entire Bible on our walls, or entire passages on a t-shirt, but if we don’t live out God’s commandments, we are hypocrites. We need to reinforce our beliefs with our words and our actions. Without living out the commandments, they are simply part of the decor. James 2:14-26 reminds us that faith without works is dead (ie. useless, powerless).
My challenge for today is to embrace the visual reminders of God’s laws, and do something to help us consistently remember them, so that we can live them out. One way I force myself to remember is by using scripture in my passwords. Every time I enter a password (10+ times per day) I am reminded of God and my love for Him. Once we have some reminders, let’s fully embrace God’s law and live it out, each and every day. That will have a far greater impact than any number of plaques or desk calendars.
Father God, great and mighty King, we long to love and serve You. Please help us to treasure Your word in our hearts, and live out the greatest commandments every day. May we (symbolically) wear Your laws like rings and headbands, identifying ourselves with You and Your kingdom. May our words and actions testify to Your glorious name, and may others see You through the works of our hands. To You be all honor, glory and praise, forever and ever, amen.
~ Conqueror in Training