【双语灵修】请听！耶和华是独一的主 Listen! There Is Only One God

“以色列阿，你要听。耶和华我们神是独一的主。你要尽心，尽性，尽力爱耶和华你的神。” - 申 6:4-5

这段文字被犹太人称为示玛篇。Shema是希伯来语，意思是“听听这个！”或“听啊！”。申命记中的这一命令是犹太教的核心要旨。二战期间，许多在纳粹集中营中面临灭顶之灾的犹太人在即将被杀时就背诵了这段话。

这世上有一位神。祂独立于这个世界而存在。神创造了这个世界。祂爱这个世界。神是我们首先应该去爱的。

你最爱的是什么？你最渴望的是什么？无论那是什么，都将决定你所是，你所为。

先知摩西在申命记中写给以色列百姓的临别赠言中，他对神的爱毋庸置疑。他呼吁百姓：“你要尽心，尽性，尽力爱耶和华你的神。”生活的每个方面都必须以爱神为目标，甚至包括我们的钱财、性关系和个人爱好。

如果你爱真神，你就会在生活的各个方面遵守祂的命令。你若这样做，就会把自己从侍奉假神的失望中解放出来。

这段文字是神颁赐给追随之人的主要命令，这并不令人意外。它确实指导着我们的整体生活。

祷告

神啊，愿我们爱你——不局限于我们对你的认识，对你的思想，不同于可操控的卡通形象。帮助我们尽心、尽性、尽力爱独一的真神。奉耶稣的名，阿们。

申命记 4:32-40

32“你且考察在你以前的世代，自神造人在世以来，从天这边到天那边，曾有何民听见神在火中说话的声音，像你听见还能存活呢？
33这样的大事何曾有，何曾听见呢？
34神何曾从别的国中将一国的人民领出来，用试验、神迹、奇事、争战、大能的手和伸出来的膀臂并大可畏的事，像耶和华你们的神在埃及在你们眼前为你们所行的一切事呢？
35这是显给你看，要使你知道唯有耶和华他是神，除他以外，再无别神。
36他从天上使你听见他的声音，为要教训你，又在地上使你看见他的烈火，并且听见他从火中所说的话。
37因他爱你的列祖，所以拣选他们的后裔，用大能亲自领你出了埃及，
38要将比你强大的国民从你面前赶出，领你进去，将他们的地赐你为业，像今日一样。
39所以，今日你要知道，也要记在心上：天上地下唯有耶和华他是神，除他以外，再无别神。
40我今日将他的律例、诫命晓谕你，你要遵守，使你和你的子孙可以得福，并使你的日子在耶和华你神所赐的地上得以长久。”

Listen! There Is Only One God

"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." - Deuteronomy 6:4-5

This text is called theShema by Jews.Shema is the Hebrew word for “Hear this!” or “Listen!” This command from Deuteronomy is at the heart of Judaism. Many Jews facing extermination in Nazi camps during World War II quoted this text as they were about to be killed.

There is one God. God exists independently of this world. God made this world. God loves this world. God is the one we should love most.

What do you love most? What do you desire most? Whatever that is will define who you are and what you do.

In his parting words to the people of Israel in Deuteronomy, the prophet Moses leaves no doubt about loving God most. He says, “Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” Every aspect of life must aim toward the love of God, even our wallet, our sex life, and our hobbies.

If you love the true God, you will follow his commands with every aspect of your life. In so doing, you will free yourself from the disappointment of serving false gods.

It is not surprising that this text is the principal command for God followers. It directs our entire life.

Prayer

May we love you, O God—not our idea of you, not an ideology about you, not a controllable caricature of you. Help us to love the one true God, with all our heart, soul, and strength. In Jesus’ name, Amen.