Unity of God

Master Narrative Narrative: creation, Adam and Eve, Israel redeemed from Egyptian slavery, Sinai and the giving of Torah, the Land, loss and restoration Narrative: creation, Adam and Eve, Israel redeemed from Egyptian slavery, Sinai and the giving of Torah, the Land, loss and restoration Shema Shema Deut 6:5-9 Deut 6:5-9 Deut 11:13-21 Deut 11:13-21 Numbers 15:37-41 Numbers 15:37-41

Three points to Judaic worship. 1. proclamation of the Unity of God 1. proclamation of the Unity of God 2. the Amidah or the Standing prayer – 18 supplications in the form of blessings 2. the Amidah or the Standing prayer – 18 supplications in the form of blessings 3. conclusion by identifying the hope of the community for the future conversion of all humanity to the worship of the one true God 3. conclusion by identifying the hope of the community for the future conversion of all humanity to the worship of the one true God

Proclamation of the Unity of God Ten commandments Ten commandments “I am the Lord you God who Brought you out of the Land of Egypt, Out of the House of bondage Exodus 20:2 “I am the Lord you God who Brought you out of the Land of Egypt, Out of the House of bondage Exodus 20:2 Maimonides considered this commandment pre-eminent because all other commandments flow from it. There would be no commandments without a belief in God. Maimonides considered this commandment pre-eminent because all other commandments flow from it. There would be no commandments without a belief in God. Belief implies purpose a master plan Belief implies purpose a master plan Hasdai ibn Crecas a Medieval philosopher Hasdai ibn Crecas a Medieval philosopher No such commandment for if you believe in God, it is because you believe in Him, not because you are commanded to do so. And if you don’t believe in God, then who is commanding you? No such commandment for if you believe in God, it is because you believe in Him, not because you are commanded to do so. And if you don’t believe in God, then who is commanding you? The opening verse is not to command belief in God but to establish what God has done for the Israelites The opening verse is not to command belief in God but to establish what God has done for the Israelites

The Blessings Before the Declaration of the Faith in the Unity of God: Creation Praised are you, O Lord our God, King of the universe Praised are you, O Lord our God, King of the universe You fix the cycles of light and darkness You fix the cycles of light and darkness You ordain the order of all creation You ordain the order of all creation You cause light to shine over the earth You cause light to shine over the earth Your radiant mercy is upon its inhabitants Your radiant mercy is upon its inhabitants In your goodness the work of creation In your goodness the work of creation Is continually renewed day be day… Is continually renewed day be day… O cause a new light to shine on Zion O cause a new light to shine on Zion May we all soon be worthy to behold its radiance May we all soon be worthy to behold its radiance Praised are You, O Lord, creator of the heavenly bodies Praised are You, O Lord, creator of the heavenly bodies

Corresponding Prayer in the evening Praised are You… Your command brings on the dusk of evening Your command brings on the dusk of evening Your wisdom opens the gates of heaven to a new day Your wisdom opens the gates of heaven to a new day With understanding You order the cycles of time With understanding You order the cycles of time Your will determines the succession of seasons Your will determines the succession of seasons Your order the stars in their heavenly courses, Your order the stars in their heavenly courses, You create day and you create night You create day and you create night Rolling away light before darkness Rolling away light before darkness Praised are You, O Lord for the evening dusk Praised are You, O Lord for the evening dusk

THE BLESSINGS BEFORE THE DECLARATION OF THE FAITH IN THE UNITY OF GOD: REVELATION Deep is "Your love for us, 0 Lord our God; Bounteous is Your compassion and tenderness. Bounteous is Your compassion and tenderness. You taught our fathers the laws of life, You taught our fathers the laws of life, And thev trusted in You, Father and king, And thev trusted in You, Father and king, For their sake be gracious to us, and teach us, For their sake be gracious to us, and teach us, That we may learn Your laws and trust in You. That we may learn Your laws and trust in You. Father, merciful Father, have compassion upon us: Father, merciful Father, have compassion upon us: Endow us with discernment and understanding. Endow us with discernment and understanding. Grant us the will to study Your Torah, Grant us the will to study Your Torah, To heed its words and to teach its precepts.... To heed its words and to teach its precepts.... Enlighten our eyes in Your Torah, Enlighten our eyes in Your Torah, Open our hearts to Your commandments.... Open our hearts to Your commandments.... Unite our thoughts with singleness of purpose Unite our thoughts with singleness of purpose To hold You in reverence and in love.... To hold You in reverence and in love.... You have drawn us close to You; You have drawn us close to You; We praise You and thank You in truth. We praise You and thank You in truth. With love do we thankfully proclaim Your unity. With love do we thankfully proclaim Your unity. And praise You who chose Your people Israel in love. And praise You who chose Your people Israel in love.

THE BLESSING AFTER THE DECLARATION OF THE FAITH IN THE UNITY OF GOD: REDEMPTION You are our King and our father's King, You are our King and our father's King, Our redeemer and our father's redeemer. Our redeemer and our father's redeemer. You are our creator.... You are our creator.... You have ever been our redeemer and deliverer You have ever been our redeemer and deliverer There can be no God but You.... There can be no God but You.... You, 0 Lord our God, rescued us from Egypt; You, 0 Lord our God, rescued us from Egypt; You redeemed us from the house of bondage.... You redeemed us from the house of bondage.... You split apart the wafers of the Red Sea, You split apart the wafers of the Red Sea, The faithful you rescued, the wicked drowned.... The faithful you rescued, the wicked drowned.... Then Your beloved sang hymns of thanksgiving.... Then Your beloved sang hymns of thanksgiving.... They acclaimed the King, God on high, They acclaimed the King, God on high, Great and awesome source of all blessings, Great and awesome source of all blessings, The ever-living God, exalted in his majesty. The ever-living God, exalted in his majesty. He humbles the proud and raises the lowly; He humbles the proud and raises the lowly; He helps the needy and answers His people's call.... He helps the needy and answers His people's call.... Then Moses and all the children of Israel Then Moses and all the children of Israel Sang with great joy this song to the Lord: Sang with great joy this song to the Lord: Who is like You 0 Lord among the mighty? Who is like You 0 Lord among the mighty? Who is like You, so glorious in holiness? Who is like You, so glorious in holiness?

Three points of contemplation 1. Religious existence: Worship 1. Religious existence: Worship Sensing the presence of God in the world, in things; Isa. 40:26 Sensing the presence of God in the world, in things; Isa. 40:26 "Lift up your eyes on high and see, Who created these? "Lift up your eyes on high and see, Who created these?

2. Sensing His presence in the Bible; Exodus 20:2 2. Sensing His presence in the Bible; Exodus 20:2 "I am the Lord thy God" "I am the Lord thy God" learning learning 3. Sensing His presence in sacred deeds; Exodus 24:7 3. Sensing His presence in sacred deeds; Exodus 24:7 We shall do and we shall hear We shall do and we shall hear Action Action