Love the Lord your God

Deuteronomy 6:4-5

Key Verse 6:5

1. Read verse 4. The author could have said, "Hear Israel", but he added the word "O" saying, "Hear O Israel". Why might he have done this?

2. Each of the members of the audience listening to Moses must have gone by all different names such as "Reuben", "Benjamin" or the like, and yet the Lord calls them collectively "Israel". What does the name Israel mean? How much did God do for Israel? (Genesis 32:28; 48:15; Malachi 1:2) How did God take care of the Israelites so far? (Exodus 40:36-38; Deuteronomy 29:5-6)

3. Think about the statement: "The Lord our God, the Lord is one" in verse 4b. What does the word "one" indicate about the Lord our God? 

4. Read verse 5. What do the following words mean? a) Love; b) the Lord; c) your God; d) with all your heart; e) with all your soul; and f) with all your strength. 

5. Read verse 5 again. Is this command for the Lord or for you (or for both)? Each of the words "all" and "and" is repeated three times. What is the significance of this repetition?