Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.
(Deuteronomy 6:4 NIV)
Most of us know this verse by heart. We recognize it immediately. We agree with it. We may even be able to quote it from memory.
And yet, it’s possible to recite these words while living as though God is merely one voice among many. We declare that the LORD is one, but then we turn back to our phones, return to our routines, and live as though countless other voices have equal claim on our allegiance.
This verse is known as the Shema, named for the opening Hebrew word shema (שְׁמַע), pronounced shuh-MAH. In Hebrew, shema means far more than allowing sound to reach the ear. It means hearing in a way that leads to understanding, acceptance, and response. To shema is to let what you hear shape what you do.
In English, we often separate hearing from obedience. A child may “hear” a parent say, “Clean your room,” and yet keep on playing. An adult may “hear” good advice and ignore it. Because in our world, it’s normal to treat listening and responding as two different steps. But in the Hebrew way of thinking, that separation doesn’t exist. To shema is to listen, take it seriously, and respond.
So when Moses says, “Hear, O Israel,” he’s not telling them to prepare for a sermon. He’s calling the people to center their entire lives on one core truth: the LORD alone is God. That’s not a slogan to memorize or a verse to frame on the wall. It’s a call for full-hearted loyalty. If the LORD truly is God, then no other voice gets to be in charge.
That’s why the verses that follow speak of loving God with all your heart, soul, and strength. That’s the natural response of those who have truly heard. God’s words are meant to be carried into daily life, spoken at home, remembered on the road, and lived out from morning to night.
This is just as important now as it was then. We may not bow to idols made of wood or stone, but we live in a noisy world full of competing claims on our loyalty. We are surrounded by voices telling us that success defines us, political ideology shapes our identity, social media approval measures our worth, and personal comfort is the highest good.
It’s easy to hear Scripture read and listen to sermons, yet never really shema. Deuteronomy 6:4 reminds us that God’s word isn’t meant to be background noise. God calls us to listen in a way that actually changes our habits, reshapes our priorities, and guides our steps. To shema is to confess with both our lips and our lives that the LORD alone is God.
When we truly hear like this, obedience isn’t a burden, but a natural response to the God we trust and love. We listen, and we follow, because we have come to know the One who is worthy of our whole heart.
Prayer: LORD, teach us to truly hear your word, not just with our ears, but with hearts that are ready to be changed. Help us listen in a way that shapes our choices, our habits, and our love for you each day. May our lives show that we believe that you alone are God. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Alan Smith
Reprinted with permission from Alan Smith’s Thought For the Day