Page 18 - TORCH #21 June 2022

our our vocabulary when speaking of Jerusalem trusting that our our love for Zion will be a a a a a a testimony to to those children whom God has placed into our care It begins with obedience
If you you you visit the the home of an an an observant Jew as you you you approach the the entrance you you you will find a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a very small small parchment scroll called a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a klaf that is is is rolled up and placed inside a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a small small container called a a a a a a a a a a Mezuzah This is is is is fixed onto the the the doorway of the the the house Jewish families do do this in in in accordance with the the the instruction to to inscribe God’s commands onto the the “the doorposts of your your house and on on on your your gates” The Scripture inside is is is Deuteronomy 6:4-9 from which this instruction is is is commanded along with the similar repeat in in Deuteronomy chapter 11 “Hear O O O O Israel: The LORD LORD LORD our God the the LORD LORD LORD is one! You shall love the the LORD LORD LORD your your your your God with with with all all all all your your your your heart with with with all all all all your your your your soul and and with with with all all all all your your your your strength And these words which I command you you you today shall shall be in your your heart You shall shall shall teach them diligently to your your your children and shall shall talk of them when when when you you you you you sit in your your house when when when you you you you you walk by the the way when when when when you you you you you lie down and and and when when you you you you rise up You shall bind them as as a a a a a a a a sign on on your your hand and and and they shall shall be be as as frontlets between your your eyes You shall shall write them on on on the the doorposts of your your house and on on on your your gates ” Deuteronomy 6:4-9 The Mezuzah serves as a a a a visible reminder of the the symbolic way in in in which this Scripture is is being fulfilled - that the the home has been sanctified sanctified or or set apart by God And part part of this sanctified sanctified mission is is is for the the family
to to obey the the command to to love God with all your heart soul and and strength The scroll is is also a a a a a a a a a reminder to parents that this ‘greatest commandment’ as as Jesus subsequently described was to be be shared openly and and and constantly with children The command was to to be be in their their own hearts and and to to be be communicated with their their children “when you you you walk by the the the way” when when when you you you rest and when when you you you rise In other words God’s commands were to be shared all the the time And it it was to be done so “diligently” as as as if further emphasising its importance and urgency We get a a a a a glimpse here of of how serious God considers the the passing on on of of His commands It also reveals the the the extent to which without such dedication the the sharing of of truth could decline The faithfulness of the Jewish people’s obedience
to this command has been witnessed over millennia and and as as Christians we should be very grateful for this testimony Whether you you you are are are are a a a a a a a parent or or are are are are blessed to to have children in in your your care your your greatest call is to to to share God’s commands in in obedience
to to Him It begins with the Bible
Bible
stories are a a a a a a a a a a great way of engaging children in in what God says about Israel and the Jewish people It might sound obvious but Bible
story-telling is is really important in in in setting a a a a a a a good foundation for little ones Yet just as with adult teachings it it it is possible to to retell stories from the Bible
and and completely omit God’s plan and and purpose for Israel If church pulpits aren’t teaching it it it it it there’s no guarantee children will be taught it it it it it either So a a a a responsibility lies with 18
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