Deuteronomy 6:4-6

Deuteronomy 6:4-6 says, "Hear, O Israel: The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might. Keep these words that I am commanding you today in your heart."

The Expositor's Bible Commentary explains that verse four is reminding the Israelites that they should only worship the Lord, because he is the only true God. This text also says that the ways to love God stated in verse five "indicate a totality of a person's commitment of self in the purest and noblest intentions of trust and obedience toward God." In other words, the Israelites were called to love God with their entire beings. Frank E. Gaebelein, the author of this text, believes that these verses relate to the rest of Deuteronomy by starting to renew the covenant that God had made with Israel. It shows the way of life that the Israelites were to follow to keep this covenant with God.

The Preacher's Homiletic Commentary by Reverend James Wolfendale interprets these verses in a slightly different way. Verse four shows that because God is the only God, he is "the center and cause of all beauty, goodness, and truth," so he alone is worthy of our praise. Verse five goes on to expand on this subject. God demands that we love and serve him whole-heartedly, withholding nothing. According to Wolfendale, there are three different ways in which we should love and serve him: affectionately, intelligently, and energetically. Verse six is used to tell the Israelites that God did not just want lip service; he wanted them to truly feel and believe in him. Since humans are prone to forgetfulness, God tells us to engrave these words on our hearts so that they can shape our soul and actions. One of the main points of Deuteronomy is to restate what was told in Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers. These verses ensure that the Israelites will not forget those things by emphasizing who God is and reminding them of the covenant.

The International Critical Commentary by Reverend S.R. Driver states that the word 'alone' in verse four expresses both the unity of God and the uniqueness of God. Verse five shows that an Israelite's duty is to serve God only, for if one loves God with the entire heart, soul, and mind, it is impossible to also serve another god. To love God, one should be thankful for all he has done, feel fear and awe towards him, and follow the laws that he has given us. Verse six is used to emphasize that the Israelites should always remember God's words. According to Reverend S.R. Driver, the purpose of Deuteronomy is keep Israel from idolatry. These three verses do that by reminding the Israelites that they owe thankfulness and obedience to God for what he has done.

Two of the purposes of Deuteronomy are to restate the history and laws of the Israelites and remind them of their love for and obedience to God. These verses show the latter, as God is reminding his people to love him with their entire beings.

Gaebelein, Frank E. The Expositor's Bible Commentary, Volume 3. Grand Rapids, Michigan: The Zondervan Corporation, 1992.

Wolfendale, Reverend James. The Preacher's Homiletic Commentary Volume 4. Michigan: Baker Book House, 1980.

Driver, Reverend S.R. The International Critical Commentary: A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on Deuteronomy. Edinburgh, Scotland: T&T Clark Ltd, 1978.