Deuteronomy 6:4–9 – "Due North: The Love of God" – J. P. Kang
Questions for Reflection:
1. In the Bible, the wilderness is where God often meets God’s people, in order to refine and show their substance. How might that affect your attitude when you feel like you are being driven into such a place?
2. What things did God provide for Israel in the wilderness to keep them alive and “on track”? How does Jesus provide those same things for us, the Church? How do these gifts help the church stay calibrated and in sync?
3. Deuteronomy 6:4–5 is the beginning of the “Shema” (“Hear!”) prayer that is recited daily by observant Jews and is a constant confession of what is most important for the community (“our God,” verse 4). For the church, the confession is that “Jesus is our God, Jesus alone.” How does this “true north” this help us stay aligned and focused in our relationships?
4. Verses 6–9 envision love-for-God-saturated lives in community, and v. 7 shows concern for future generations, that they, too, would catch this vision. To love God is to love your neighbors, and to love your neighbors is to love God. What prevents us from more fully loving our neighbors, and thus, more fully loving God?
Presby 