Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD. And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. (Deuteronomy 6: 4-5)
And Yahushua answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The LORD our God is one LORD. (Mark 12:29)
Shema שׁמע is the Hebrew word for Hear and it means not only to listen, but obey through listening. Yahushua our Savior affirms the Shema by quoting Deuteronomy 6:4–5 which is the beginning of the Shema prayer and is recited twice – morning and night by children of YAHWEH as a way of fulfilling the passage in Deuteronomy 6: 7…you shall teach your children…when you lie down, and when you rise.
It is interesting to note that the Greatest Commandment does not start with loving Elohim and others, but with Shema/Hear. The first principle we need to obey is to hear and understand and accept that YAHWEH is our Elohim and the YAHWEH is ONE (also found in Matthew 22: 37 and Luke 10:27).
Beth El believes based on Deuteronomy 6: 4 and Mark 12: 29 in One Elohim of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, eternally existing as Father, Son and Holy Spirit (John 17: 3). Yahushua the Messiah is the only begotten Son of YAHWEH and the Word/Torah made flesh revealed in the scroll of the book from Genesis to Revelation (Psalm 40: 7-8, John 1: 14, Isaiah 46: 10).
The Scripture compares the people of Elohim with a tree (Psalm 1: 3, Isaiah 65: 22, Jeremiah 11: 16). According to the Renewed Covenant Writings the natural and wild branches share a common root (GOD of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and His Word) as both take their nutrition and sustenance from the same olive tree. Although we are mixed with the customs of nations around us but YAHWEH has grafted us (wild branches) back into the natural olive tree by the blood of Yahushua our Messiah (Romans 11: 17-24, Ephesians 2: 12-18).
Just as the 7 branched oil burning lampstand (menorah) was adorned with flowers, knobs and cups representing the tree of life and gave light day and night (Exodus 25: 31-39), YAHWEH wants His people to continually shine forth light (Matthew 5: 14-16).
Beth El believes it is imperative that believers unite in the power of YAHWEH’s Word and Holy Spirit and understand the significance of appointed times of YAHWEH by obeying (Shema) His commandments so that we produce abundant fruit (Psalm 133: 1, Leviticus 23: 1, John 15: 4, Acts 1: 8) which is our earnest prayer and yearning of our hearts.
Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O YAHWEH, my strength, and my redeemer. (Psalm 19: 14)
