The Shema Yisrael - Part 5

                          "וּקְשַׁרְתָּ֥ם לְא֖וֹת עַל־יָדֶ֑ךָ וְהָי֥וּ לְטֹטָפֹ֖ת בֵּ֥ין עֵינֶֽיךָ"

"Uk'shar'tam l'ot al yadekha v'hayu l'totafot bein einekha"

"Tie them on your hand as a sign, put them at the front of a headband around your forehead." (Deuteronomy 6:8, CJB)

In verse 8 of the Shema, Moses instructs the Jews to bind the commandments to their hands and foreheads, further impressing on them that they are to constantly think of God's Word. The Jews do indeed bind the commandments to their hands and foreheads. At certain times they wear tefillin, leather straps with small boxes attached to them. Inside the boxes are parchments with passages from the Torah. There are four passages on the parchments: the Kadesh (Exodus 13:1-10), the Vehayah ki yeviacha (Exodus 13:11-16), the Shema (Deuteronomy 6:4-9), and the Vehayah (Deuteronomy 11:13-21). The first two remind the Jews of God delivering them from slavery in Egypt, the third instructs them to love and obey God, and the fourth assures them of God's promises to them so long as they follow and obey Him. 

The word "tefillin" comes from the root word "pallal," which means "pray." The Jews recite the Shema when they put on their tefillin. They wear the tefillin during the morning prayers. Tefillin are a constant reminder tot he Jews to pray, to communicate with God. Prayer is important for us, too.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (CJB) says:

"16 Always be joyful. 17 Pray regularly. 18 In everything give thanks, for this is what God wants from you who are united the the Messiah Yeshua."

Prayer is communication with God. Jesus set the example for us. He prayed regularly. In fact, Jesus prayed for us. 

John 17:20-21 (CJB) says:

"20 I pray not only for these (the Disciples), but also for those who will trust in me because of their word, 21 that they may all be one. Just as You, Father, are united with me and I with You, I pray that they may be united with us, so that the world may believe that You sent me."

The Jews wear the tefillin in obedience to God's command, and to remind them to pray regularly. We, too, must remember to pray often. We must communicate with our Father, as Jesus did.