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| Old Jerusalem Mezuzah P1050664 |
'Give thanks to the Lord for He is good. His love endures forever.' Psalms 136:1
On the doorpost of every Jewish home is the ‘Mezuzah’, which is fixed at a 45 degree angle. This is a piece of parchment (often contained in a decorative case) inscribed with specified verses comprising the Jewish prayer "Shema Yisrael". This prayer is found in Deuteronomy 6:4-9,
“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates”.
A mezuzah is not meant to be a protective device, it is a sign and reminder of God's covenant with His people. To Christians, God's covenant is anchored by Love in action.
The word for love in the Old Testament is khesed in Hebrew. It conveys the idea of unconditional love, loyalty and generosity - a love that never fails. This is a love that endures forever, a phrase that is used 26 times in Psalms 136, which provided a litany of the wondrous acts of God for His people. Each verse ends with 'His love endures forever' to convey the unending love that resulted in many actions of God for His people.
It is befitting that Moses in Deuteronomy was instructed not only to remember the commandment, but to impress upon the children and succeeding generations, in a very relentless way, the love of and for God. That Love is to be expressed most tenaciously, taught every time and every where, in all the places.
Similarly in Matthew 22:36 when Jesus was asked what is the greatest commandment, He replied,
"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." Matthew 22:37-40
In putting across the two commandments in one breath, Jesus introduces the concept that love is not just a religious action but a social action as well, that is love must be seen and done.
The discourse with Jesus led to telling of the Parable of the Good Samaritan and in so doing, Jesus is saying that love of God, to be meaningful has to be expressed by love for neighbour. God loves us so we can love our neighbours.
'This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down His love for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.' 1 John 3:16-18
This dual-action love should define our Christian living. It is the realisation that Jesus rescued us from the depths of sin and despair; restored us so that we can live lives of love in action. Love Lifted Me!
I was sinking deep in sin
Far from the peaceful shore
Very deeply stained within
Sinking to rise no more
But the master of the sea
Heard my despairing cry,
From the waters lifted me
Now safe am I
Love lifted me! Love lifted me!
When nothing else could help
Love lifted me
Love lifted me! Love lifted me!
When nothing else could help
Love lifted me
All my heart to Him I give
Ever to Him I'll cling
In His blessed presence live
Ever His praises sing
Love so mighty and so true
Merits my soul's best songs
Faithful, loving service, too
To Him belong
Souls in danger look above
Jesus completely saves
He will lift you by His love
Out of the angry waves
But the master of the sea
Billows His will obey
He your savior wants to be
Be saved today
Love lifted me! Love lifted me!
When nothing else could help
Love lifted me
Love lifted me! Love lifted me!
When nothing else could help
Love lifted me
Yes, Love Lifted Us!
Lionel
