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The old covenant was an agreement made between God and Israel. If Israel would agree to keep His commandments, statutes and judgments. He would be their God and bless them with land, physical well-being, abundant crops, and protection from their enemies, He would give them special status among the nations.A covenant is a deal, a formal agreement. It can take the form of a treaty, an alliance, a marriage, or a will of inheritance. What is commonly called the old covenant is a deal that God made with the people of Israel. The old covenant has elements of treaty, alliance, marriage, and inheritance. The form in which it is first presented has many characteristics of a treaty between a conquering king and his newly subject people.YHWH the Conquering KingIn the first 15 chapters of the book of Exodus the great creator God, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, goes to war with the Pharaoh. The king of Egypt vs. the King of Creation.The great I AM lays claim to the people of Israel, whom the king of Egypt [pharaoh] sees as his property. The Pharaoh does not intend to give up without a fight. So, a series of battles follows.In each of these battles the great creator goes up against various Egyptian gods [which are really just figments of the Egyptian imagination]. In each case: the river god, the frog god, the sky god, the sun god… YHWH the creator demonstrates His power, superiority, and authority over these elements of nature the Egyptians have chosen to worship.The Egyptian Pharaoh will not admit defeat and there is a decisive showdown where YHWH has to strike down the firstborn of every Egyptian family. This as you know is the night of the Passover. When the destroying angel passes over the homes of the Israelites who are protected by the blood of a slain lamb smeared over the tops of their doorposts.Sometime in the dark of that horrible night Pharaoh agrees to let the people of Israel go.God lines the people of Israel up, marches them out of Egypt to the shores of the Red sea. Pharaoh changes his mind and sends the Egyptian army to recapture them and bring them back. In one last mighty battle the God of creation destroys the entire Egyptian army by luring them into the path He makes through the waters of the sea and then allowing the waters to crash back in on the Egyptians and drown them.It is a final and decisive victory. The conquering King now has a new nation of subjects.God Presents the Deal to IsraelGod marches Israel out of Egyptian territory into the desert. He brings them to the foot of a mountain so that He can address them all. Exodus 19:1-6 After a short reminder of His awesome power He tells them he wants to set up an agreement with them, a treaty, an understanding. If you obey Me I will take good care of you.Exodus 19:7-8 the people hear the offer and say let’s do this thingExodus 18:9-10 I want them to see me talking to you so they know that you are my spokesperson.God gives some instructions to Moses about how he wants the people to come before Him. Come in nice washed clothes, do not attempt to climb up the mountain, stay behind the barricades etc.God covers Himself in cloud and smoke and speaks to the people of Israel. From the mountain He presents to them the with 10 commandments. Exodus 20:1-17.Exodus 20:18-20 The people are overwhelmed and ask if God will speak to them through Moses because the experience of having Him talk directly to them is too intense. Moses tells them God did it his way so you would see the intense power that is behind this and be afraid to break the agreement. After this Moses will go before God to get the remaining instructions, bring them back and present them to the people. Moses goes up to get some additional statutes and judgments. Theses are expansions of what the 10 commandments are about, how the commands are to play out in a social setting, as well as some additional details.Elaboration on personal injury – extension of do not murder [respect for human life]Elaboration on leg

When God your creator forgives you for whatever you might have done… it is to Him as if it never happened. That forgiveness is yours for the asking because Jesus Christ gave his life to pay the penalty for your actions. Still, some of us have a hard time putting our past behind us. ----------------------------- FREE eBook -------------------------------------- If you want to explore this subject as a personal study of your own, request a copy of FORGIVENESS IS POSSIBLE to start learning more about amazing spiritual work God wants to complete in you. See it for yourself in the pages of your own bible.  Here's a link to the request page: ➤ https://www.ucg.org/bible-study-tools/booklets/forgiveness-is-possible ------------------------------ Find UCGRaleigh ------------------------------- Share this video: https://youtu.be/WCTgqpRWv5I Subscribe to this channel: ➤ http://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=UCGx5BY50CSiEWOdNMDJ2gNw Find a UCG church near you: ➤ http://ucg.org/congregations/ Follow UCG Raleigh ➤ https://www.facebook.com/UCGRaleigh.main.page ➤ https://twitter.com/UCGRaleigh Subscribe to the UCG Raleigh podcast on➤ iTunes https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/united-church-of-god-raleigh/id1315758270➤ CastBox https://castbox.fm/channel/Weekly-Sabbath-Sermon-id1094811

God does not forbid you a fire to warm your homes on a cold Sabbath night, nor a cooking fire, nor lighting a lamp in the dark. Let's look at Exodus 35:3. ----------------------------- FREE eBook -------------------------------------- Get our FREE bible study guide on God's holy Sabbath day: http://ucgraleigh.blogspot.com/p/blog-page_9.html ------------------------------- Find UCGRaleigh ------------------------------- Subscribe to this YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=UCGx5BY50CSiEWOdNMDJ2gNw Find a UCG church near you: http://ucg.org/congregations/ Follow UCG Raleigh http://www.facebook.com/UCGRaleigh.main.page https://twitter.com/UCGRaleigh Subscribe to the UCG Raleigh podcast on iTunes https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/united-church-of-god-raleigh/id1315758270

Marriage is built on choices.A successful marriage is built on making good choices. Even if you have not always made the best choices in the past… maybe not the best choices leading up to marriage… the choices you make from this moment forward can work for you. You can be confident you are making the right choices if you allow God’s word to guide you. It is time to leave the past in the rear view mirror of your life and move into a better future. Ezekiel 18:21-23 you are not trapped in your pastYour marriage will improve when you start putting God’s word in practice. Yes, the project will move forward faster if both husband and wife are in agreement about God’s law and God’s love…. But even if your mate is not with you on this… one person can make a difference… and God expects you put His words into practice even if you are the only one.1 Peter 3:1-2Choice 1: Lifelong CommitmentGen 2:24says a man [and woman] shall cleave to his wife… [be joined NIV], [be united NLT], [hold fast ESV]… [dabaq = to stick with… like glue].Lifelong commitment is a choice the husband and wife make. It is an agreement you make with one another… and with God. To stay faithful, loyal and exclusive. It’s a choice you make the day you get married… it’s a choice you make every day thereafter. “Whatever problems come our way I will stick with it and we will work it out”It is not a choice built on feelings… emotions are always changing… sometimes they are hot… sometimes they are cold. What God is looking for, what He wants to build in you is not loyalty that comes in burst of enthusiasm… when it suits us… when its going our way. Even commitment that is there most of the time is not sufficient. God wants commitment that is there all the time.This is why marriage vows contain phrases like… for richer, and poorer, in sickness and health… till death do us part.God may allow events and circumstances that will challenge your commitment… you must make the choice to remain committed.Choice 2: LoveHalf the songs ever sung are about love… of the lack of it. It’s a thrill, a shot of adrenaline, and not having it can be just as emotional. But are we really singing about love? Or, is it desire?God’s word reveals that love is a choice… furthermore, love a choice of what we do rather than how we feel. So, love is a choice rather than an emotion. The distinction is important. An emotion is something that comes upon you through instinct, your reactions to stimuli [such as a hard charging Grizzly bear, or a woman with a pretty face]. Emotions are reactions that are hard wired into your DNA…fear, or sexual desire [which of those it is depends on whether or not you are another Grizzly bear or not].Husbands are told to make the choice to love their wives Colossians 3:19. If love were not a matter of choice then it wouldn’t be a reasonable demand. God does not command husbands to feel about their wives a certain way. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 here is how husbands are instructed to love their wives. Patience is not an emotion it’s a choice, kindness and gentleness are not feelings they are decisions you make about how you will act or not act… especially in situations which are not going exactly your way.This is the love God expects and instructs husbands to show towards their wives. Godly LeadershipGod is very clear that the husband in tasked with the responsibility of leadership in his family. To fulfill His commission you must make a deliberate choice to love… which means regulate the things you do… which we have just heard expanded upon in 1 Corinthians. The model of leadership Jesus gave us is humility – an acceptance of the role God gave Him to fulfill and submission of himself to the guidelines of that role. So, Godly leadership in the family concerns itself with the needs of others: what will benefit the whole family, your wife and children, rather than satisfying your own self. How you spend your moneyHow you spend your timeGood decisions based on love will leave your family f

If I ask you, “does God have enemies” you might think first of Satan, who popular imagination presents as God’s arch enemy, but what about people? Are there human beings who are God’s ENEMIES!That might conjure up an image of some fiendish villain like Adolph Hitler, or perhaps an angry atheist media celebrity sputtering forth with accusations, demeaning jokes, or sarcasm. The painful reality is that there are far more enemies of God than you could have ever imagined.Romans 8:7 the mind of flesh is hostile toward God. It does not allow itself to be ruled by the law of God… nor is it even able to. Let that sink in…it means that every human being … by their very nature, by the very way their mind operates is an enemy of God!Cuz, Baby you were born that way… [Note: you were not born a wrong doer or under a penalty for crimes you had not yet committed, but you were born with a mind made of flesh that cannot and will not submit itself to the laws of God… so you quickly wandered off into disobedience to God’s laws… and the penalty for that is that you are cut off from eternal life]. Your whole way of thinking and acting is a state of conflict with your creator God. Its a core conflict… it doesn’t just stay in your head… it’s a way of thinking and acting that creates the war, violence, oppression we see in the world. Divorce, anger, bitter disagreement, and resentment are everywhere… even reaching into the church of God.How Do I Fix This Way Of Thinking?First, your relationship with God your creator must be fixed. You and God are enemies until that hostility begins to be addressed. But, before God can get to work on you... we have to deal with the penalty stuff [cut off from God, cut off from eternal life]. That’s what the Passover… and baptism are all about.Colossians 1:21-22 our hostile relationship with God can be set on a path toward, friendship, love, grace, peace… good stuff like that. After that we move to fix our relationships with our fellow humans. But, it begins with Christ. He takes that penalty away… and you are no longer cut off from God. That free access opens up all kinds of wonderful opportunities.Romans 5: 8-10 - God is the peacemaker. God makes the first move. He sets an example for us of proactive reconciliation which we can [and must] then use to repair and maintain our human relationships.Matthew 5:9 God’s goal for us is that we become like Him. We become peacemakers at work, in our neighborhoods, in our marriages, in our church, among our friends.How Can I Identify This Way Of Thinking?The way of thinking that leads to hostility with God and conflict with others builds on top of our natural needs and desires… but does so in a way that leads to bad results. Pride – an exaggerated view of self… to see the rightness or wrongness of a situation by how it affects me, how others are treating me… rather than how am I contribution to this problem or how do I treat others. The only acceptable outcome of a proud mindset is that I get what I want… I win. But, where does that leave the other party? Whether God or man. Emotional need to have others heal me and my feelings rather than take the process of reconciliation into our own hands. Who will say I’m sorry first. Combine this with point #1 and you have a you could have a standoff… someone has to make the first move. Quest for happiness – looking for others to provide us with feelings of happiness, or emotional satisfaction, a sense of stability and justice… Problem because other people fall short of our expectations… and we end up in conflict Think of the love languages… you express love through gifts, so you are expecting and wanting gifts. She expresses love through acts of service. She shows you love in a way that is important to her… you are disappointed because you are expecting gifts. The emotional needs are legit… but how we seek to fulfill them can drive conflict. Because we start to see that other person as an obstacle in the path towards our personal fulfillm

What is the point of prophecy?On one hand people don’t like uncertainty… where will I get the money for rent next month?... will the stock market crash and wipe out my retirement savings? … will my son get home safely tonight?On the other hand many of us dislike the idea of a future where everything is alreqady decided. Statements like: “I have no choice in the matter”… “its inevitable”… “I can’t change anything”, are statements of despair not confidence.God’s word gives us a way of understanding life that is a balance between a future that is reliable and true and a future that is changeable based on the choices we make. For example:Kingdom of God – the coming rule of God on earth and in the universe is set and will not change.Salvation & Reward – your relationship to the Kingdom of God is based on the choices you make. Both these aspects of the future are addressed by the word of God.God’s word shines a light on the path you must actively choose if you want to live, and receive reward in the kingdom of God.God’s word provides you with prophecies and promises of the certain and inevitable future. Note: by definitions that future has not yet happened. SO…God’s word also provides contains prophecies of events that happened just as they were foretold… Knowing these “past prophecies” gives you greater confidence in what has not yet come to pass. 2 Timothy 3:16 – anyone can claim their writing is supernaturally inspired. Telling about a future event and then making it actually happen is what makes an audacious claim like “this is the word of God” believable. You will not find fulifilled prophecy in other supposed holy writings (Koran, Mormon, Hindu or Buddist literature, etc.). Prophecy and fulfillment is what sets the word of God from Genesis to Revelation apart. Isaiah 46:9-11 the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob not only claims to reveal the future… He proves Himself by demonstrating the power to make it happen.2 Peter 1:19-21 … its in your best interest to give propehcy attention!ProphetsA prophet is one through whom God speaks to humanity. There have been many prophets throughout human history… the greatest of all the prophets sent by God is Jesus Hebrews 1:1-2. [Luke 13:33 refers to self as a prophet].Jesus’ teaching was about the kingdom of God. It had the elements of certainty and choice:a kingdom of God way of living you must choosea sure outcome of human history ie. the rule of God on earth.Note: Jesus birth, life, death, and resurrection is also the most extensive and greatest fulfillment of events foretold centuries before in the word of God. Both Scripture and human history speak to the credibility, and reliability, of scripture. A sobering thought when consideringthe future...Gut check: What is You First Reaction to Prophecy?You might see only strange beasts, cryptic coded messages, riddles, or confusing chronologies… unappealing and unrelated to life as we know it. How does prophecy help me find personal happiness? How does prophecy help me become a better person?If you take time to study and understand the prophecies of scripture they can give greater personal clarity as to why the life decisions you make matter. And help you see the choices you make as incremental steps toward a very positive future.To get this kind of perspective on prophecy lets step back and take a big picture view of scripture. What are the consistent (an persistent) core messages… what are the consistent threads of events found in scripture? How do these interact with history?We’ll get to those in coming weeks… but today let’s go over nine guiding principles to help us to understand prophecy:Guiding Principles of Prophecy1. Role of the Messiah – the key player in almost all prophecy is the Messiah and His intervention in human affairs… what He hasdone, and what He is going to do in the future Luke 24:44.2. Kingdom of God – almost all prophecy is in some way related to the establishment of the Messiah’s rule over humanity on earth Daniel 7

For most of us marriage is the longest… most intense… most intimate relationship we will ever experience. We might spend many hours at work… but our relationships there are narrow and task focused nowhere near the breadth experienced in marriage. Friendships can have similarities possibly approaching the breadth we find in marriage… yet not with the same investment of time… both day by day, or over the span of your life. You get the picture. Considering the time, the intensity, the intimacy… surely your marriage will have a profound, if not defining, effect on your spiritual life. The hours, days, years and decades of your marriage… or more to the point your actions and attitudes within your marriage… will help shape and mold the spiritual creation God is working in you.  For better… or for worse. If you cannot see the audio controls, listen/download the audio file hereMarriage is a blessing God has given you that can bring you much joy, contentment and satisfaction… or possibly daily mental, emotional and physical struggle. Either way through marriage you will learn about yourself… but also do something with what you learn… practice spiritual discipline… grow in grace and knowledge and build a Godly  mind. This outlook on marriage isn’t always our default setting. Even those who are spiritually minded there lingers a notion that marriage is a worldly consolation. Meant for those who cannot handle real spirituality. Supposedly, there is a higher state of spiritual discipline… a person totally devoted to God… with no attachments… no worldly cares… truly  seeking first the kingdom of God… renouncing marriage, family, passions and positions. This concept of holiness is familiar to western culture and non-western cultures alike… monks, nuns, gurus, holymen, and more… renunciation of marriage and family life allowing more time for prayer, fasting, study and other good works etc. Is this a better way? Is it a harder way? Or… Is it an easier way?Consider the challenges of marriageI’m speaking here of a biblical marriage involving two people (or perhaps only one) who take their covenant with God seriously, who are trying to follow the lead of the Holy Spirit, and want to build the fullness of Christ in themselves and their mate. Consider the trials and tribulations of raising children… the physical exhaustion of caring for them, the mental challenge of keeping your head when everything within you wants of scream, or yell, or lose your temper. What about the emotional slights must be overlooked… the tiny indignities, the unnoticed sacrifices… you could so easily ask “what for”… are these not spiritual challenges… are they easy? Matt 19:8-12 I read these words of Jesus to mean if you cannot handle the commitment God expects in the marriage covenant then don’t get married. If you can’t handle it don’t go there. Marriage isn’t for spiritual wimps.Paul’s comments on Celibacy·        I Cor 7:1refers the preceding scenario… avoid sexual immorality get married.·        1 Co 7:6  From my own knowledge (sungnoomeen) and not as a command, I am saying this:·        I Cor 7:10-11 toggles back and forth God’s command… my word (logos)·        1 Corinthians 7:25  (Simple English Version) About virgin girls. I don't have a command from the Lord , but I am giving you what I know (gnome). I'm dependable; the Lord has given me mercy. ·        See also verse 40Why does Paul offer his opinion in Corinth at this time? I Cor 7:26-28 a lot of what Paul says here is circumstantial… ·        marriages were mostly arranged often with little control or say so in who  you were married to… ·        times were troubled for God’s people… persecution etc. ·       

I like biographies. I learn about history through the lens of a person’s life. Scripture does not give us much information about people. A few personalities have a fair bit of coverage… Abraham, David, Daniel, Paul. But what we have is bare bones… facts, snippets of dialogue, what was said, record of key actions taken. The scriptures don’t often delve into the motives, emotions of persons and personalities... ex. Why is this incident recorded and many others not? But we can often look at the actions or events, consider the context, and use our understanding to figure out what is going on.The life of Jesus Christ is also like that. We know more about Him than any personality in scripture… we are given brief glimpses into the motivations, emotions of His life. But many times we have to read the report we have and try to connect the dots ourselves. For example: why would He say what He said before He did what He did?Let's look into something Jesus did on a regular basis… He prayed. The circumstances surrounding the recorded instances we have of Him praying may teach us about the nature of prayer and its place in our lives.We'll use Luke's record [Luke & Acts for Jesus' followers]. Jesus is found in prayer before new developments or crises arise, when decisions need to be made etc.… suggesting that prayer is a preparation for what is to take place next... seeking guidance from God. James 1:5You are told that if you lack wisdom [i.e. you don’t know what to do] you should ask God who is very willing [glad] to give you what you are seeking. The context appears to be facing a trying situation... what does this mean? Why am I going through this? Help me understand.Why Would Jesus Seek Wisdom?We often fall into the trap of thinking of Jesus as coming out of His mother’s womb… fully formed… at least spiritually… as if there were nothing He did not already know or would learn. But one of the first comments made about Him while He was still a boy is that Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man Luke 2:52Examples of Jesus’ praying [not the content - but the occasion]Luke 3:21 – While in prayer the H.S. comes upon Jesus and the Father makes a formal acknowledgment that Jesus is His Son… also, a new phase of Jesus life begins: His ministry.This is our first example of important revelations [instructions] coming during the activity of prayer. These revelations were also a preparation for what lay ahead.Luke 5:16– Jesus was gathering fame. You or I would probably respond to this by thinking we were HOT STUFF and therefore we should start calling the shots rather than seeking God's help in humble prayer. However, Jesus was committed to prayer and seeking the will of the Father. He would withdraw from the adoring crowds and seek God.Luke 6:12-13– once more we do not know the content of Jesus’ prayer. But the context and circumstances indicate that He was praying about a very important decision… who would He select and train for the future role of apostle. Who would follow Him and continue the preaching etc. Is it is far fetched to conclude that He sought wisdom [what is your will, what should I do here?].Luke 9:18-20– another important unfolding of understanding from comes on an occasion of prayer [praying together?]. The reality of who and what Jesus’ was is confirmed to the chosen disciples. Luke 9:29-31now a further and more intense revealing of the divine person and purpose of Jesus the messiah. Note that “as Jesus was praying” this vision and supernatural experience happened. Surely it was a further revelation to the three disciples… but read carefully and you will see that the 2 men [Moses and Elijah representing the law and the prophets] were speaking to Jesus about His coming death [exodos/departure] which would take place in Jerusalem. You could interpret this event as also being for Jesus’ benefit. He was fully human and did not relish the idea of death. Here He is given a preview of the resurrection an

Human marriage reflects the spiritual relationship between Christ and the Church. Even though we live out our marriages in the flesh, marriage is a spiritual relationship as much as it is a physical relationship… and it’s a relationship that is desirable and purposeful. Has God Given Us Instructions to Follow For Marriage?Or, are we left on our own to figure the rest of it out? Are we left wondering what God really intended? The answer is: God our creator has indeed given us sound instructions regarding marriage… The First MarriageThe importance of marriage in the bible is perhaps best seen in its placement in the book. After creation itself the bible begins with… a married couple. In the beginning God made two models in His own likeness or after His own kind. One was male and the other was female - Gen 1:27 (note: the fact that they were different sexually but still both in God’s image tells us that sexuality or gender is not a factor in being made in God’s image).God the creator gave the man and the woman the ability to reproduce through sex… “be fruitful and increase in number”! They had body parts that fit together in an obvious manner that made reproduction and increase happen. This is a truth from biology and creation that should be self evident. And what did God say about this self evident reality? He looked at what He had made and said “this is good” – Gen 1:31.Sexuality is more than just having the right parts. It is the centerpiece of a relationship that takes place on a very high level… a God plane relationship… marriage between a man and a woman… which teaches us about the relationship of Christ and the Church… of which you are part.Gen 2:18Man was not designed to be alone… a man is designed to be with a woman. Likewise the woman was explicitly and specifically made to be a companion on his own level. Regarding the word help or helper: it’s a translation of the Hebrew word ay'-zer, used 21 times in OT… mostly to describe God in action. For example: “We wait in hope for the LORD; He is our help and our shield” Ps 33:20 … so its not necessarily conveying the sense of subordination we have in our common use of the word “helper” in the English language.I say this to emphasize the high level of the husband and wife relationship… the God plane level of this marriage relationship between two beings each made in the image of God. We will cover roles of male and female in marriage later on in the message.Nor is this intended as a slam against single people. A single person can also be whole and complete. Jesus was single…. Paul drew out the spiritual significance of singleness in his epistles… but right now we are specifically discussing marriage.Where Do We Find The Most Important Biblical Teaching on Marriage?Gen 2:24-25– once again its right here at the very beginning of the book. From this short verse we are going to find 4 fundamental concepts regarding marriage. Leaving/Joining/Oneness/Goodness/and then I am going to add another… AuthorityONE: Leaving Your Father & Mother… to Establish a New Family UnitHonoring your parents, closeness, seeking their advice is a good thing… and advisable. But, you two are a new family unit. The family you grew up in had their own way of doing things… but that does not mean your spouse will want to do things the same way. Their family had their own manners & traditions which they likely see as equally valid. So, you must learn to work together, in harmony. Showing respect, honor, understanding and love toward each other. This sounds like something very simple like you learned in kindergarten… yet, it is a highly spiritual principle and one that reflects the relationship between Christ and the church.TWO: Joined & United TogetherAnother way to say it might be to bond together… other than bonding with God, bonding with your spouse should be your highest commitment and priority. We build that bond through actions… physical affection, hugs, kissing, affectionate and kind words,

Shema Yisrael Yahweh Elohim Echad YahwehHear O Israel, the Lord is God, One is the Lord [Jews call it the SHEMA]I’d rather not wrangle about the Hebrew grammar and syntax… the gist of it is “there is one God, YHWH [the LORD]”. That much most people agree upon.Deuteronomy 6:4 the SHEMA trips people up. Misunderstanding this verse and this concept can take you right out of the Church of God! So, who needs to know about this stuff? You do [1 John 5:5].-------------------------------------------------------------------How Does The Shema Affect Doctrine?The Jewish people use the Shema as a proof text to deny that Jesus Christ is the Son of God... on the same plane as the Father. To them, Jesus’ claims to be on the God level are considered blasphemous and therefore He deserved execution. Many try to take the sharp pointy edges off but the Jewish position is still about the same.The Catholic Fathers read this verse and developed the Trinity concept to reconcile this “SHEMA” with other clear statements found in the new testament claiming both the Father and the Son Jesus Christ are God. Good examples are: Hebrews 1:8, John 1:1,14.The new testament scriptures are not offering up something contrary to what we read in Deuteronomy. They also teach that God is one. Good examples are: 1 Corinthians 8:4, 1 Timothy 2:5.How do we get these seeming contradictions to all work out? We answer that question by asking a question about our assumptions: Is the SHEMA [and other similar biblical statements] commenting on numerical one or as something different?Definitions of One/EchadThe Hebrew language of the bible has a very limited vocabulary. Often a single word stands for multiple things or concepts. Echad, the Hebrew word for one, can be used in multiple ways:Numeric: the number 1: the NC Panthers are number 1 [first] in their divisionOne and the same: yep, she’s the one I am going to marryTogether, unified: the NC Panthers defense played as oneEach and every: the ants go marching one by one, hurrah, hurrah!Alone: there is only 1 Michael JacksonThree of these fit the grammar and context of the SHEMA. Lets see how:FirstThe true God is to be our first priority. This would have been a necessary shift of thinking for the people coming out of Egypt with its many Gods.The context of the SHEMA supports this approach. Let’s take a look at the following verses: Deuteronomy 6:5 love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength. Jesus quotes this verse in Matthew 22:36-38. The way it reads here definitely gives you the sense of making God your top priority. So, this seems like a valid interpretation of the use of the word one in the SHEMA.AloneYHWH and no other is truly God.Mark 12:28-34 the Jewish scribe’s reply in verse 32 indicates that this is how he understood the SHEMA… YHWH and no other is truly God. Jesus did not correct this man, or redirect him, so understanding the word ONE as ALONE, or ONLY is definitely a valid interpretation of what the word Echad or ONE means.UnityUnderstanding the Hebrew word ECHAD as unity is how we take all the various statements about who and what God is and reconciling them with the SHEMA. Also, using this definition does not mean we have to throw out the previous two [use example of the Panthers].Here are some examples of ECHAD used this way: Judges 20:1, 8-11; Genesis 11:6; Genesis 2:24In all these instances we understand ONE as involving multiple unique individuals. We do not have to perform strange mental gymnastics to merge them all into one single being.Does Jesus also use this definition of ONE? Yes He does!He describes the Father and the Son as, of one mind and purpose – John 4:34; 5:30He describes this relationship of the Father and Son as being one – John 10:30He uses this idea of being one as a model of unity for the church – John 17:20-22We certainly don’t need to take these statements and try to conceive of the members of the church as merged into a single being!A