Psalm 121:5-8
“The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time on and forevermore.” vs. 8
Every faithful Jew learns the words of the Shema at an early age and recites them daily, “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.” According to Deuteronomy 6, these words were to be written on the doorpost of the home and on all gates as a constant reminder of God’s commandments and blessings. As interpreted by rabbis, the parchment scroll with these words inscribed, termed a mezuzah, was to be attached to the right door frame of the house or apartment, usually inside a decorative case. We often see them when we visit our Jewish friends or neighbors, a visual prod for them to pray the Shema in their going out and in their coming in. Sometimes we’ll even see them touch a finger to the mezuzah as they pass through the door. These kinds of faith practices have great value for believers and can be a daily reminder of God’s constant presence. As we observe the rituals and say the associated prayers, we are entrusting our lives to the God who is our one source of strength and hope in our hurried and topsy-turvy world. If we don’t have a mezuzah perhaps we can find a similar physical reminder to pray…if not at our doors, maybe in our cars!
Thought for the Day: Where do I find reminders to pray?
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