As I was doing a study on Deuteronomy 6 a certain verse that I have heard a thousand times really grabbed my attention. I decided to look up the Hebrew meaning of this verse (on biblios.com) and then define some of those words and see what I could get from this verse about how God wants me to love Him. This is what I got..
Deuteronomy 6:5 states, “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. When I read this verse I usually think ok, God really wants me to love Him with all that I have. Which is pretty much what it means.. But when you break it down it is such an intense kind of love.. Let me explain.
The words “with all” in Hebrew is “uvechol” and when it is translated it means – to complete or perfect.
Heart in Hebrew is “levavecha” and the translation of this word can be inner man, mind, will, courage, desire, yourself, intelligence, thought, purpose, and heart.
Soul in Hebrew is “nafshecha” and the translation of this word can be life, desire, passion, appetite, emotion, breath, will, wishes, fierce, and soul.
Might in Hebrew is “meodecha” and the translation of this word can be exceedingly, immense, closely, carefully, diligently, violently, louder, extremely, abundantly, and might.
I am a person who absolutely loves definition of words so here are some definitions of the words that were translated.
*Desire = to wish or long for
*Purpose = the reason for which something exists or is done, made, used
*Intelligence = the ability to comprehend; to understand and profit from experience
*Courage = the quality of mind or spirit that enables a person to face difficulty, danger, pain, etc., without fear; bravery
*Passion = an outburst of a strong or extravagant fondness, enthusiasm, or desire
*Appetite = a desire to satisfy any bodily need or craving
*Breath = the air inhaled and exhaled in respiration.
*Wishes = to want; desire; long for
*Fierce = furiously eager or intense
*Immense = unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope
*Closely = Being near in space, time, or relationship.
*Diligently = Earnest and persistent application to an undertaking; steady effort
* Extremely = Highly; to a high degree or extent; favorably or with much respect
*Violently = acting with or marked by or resulting from great force or energy or emotional intensity
*Abundantly = present in great quantity; more than adequate; over sufficient; richly supplied.
Studying this really made me question myself; do I love God the way He wants me to love Him, or do I love Him the way I want to. Have I only surrendered the parts of me that I am comfortable with giving Him? Do I love God with my breath, passion, appetite, purpose, intelligence, desire, emotion? Do I love Him courageously, diligently, fiercely, violently, abundantly, immensely, and extremely? That is BIG TIME love. That is what He wants and that is what He deserves! It is so humbling God would even allow me to love Him in that kind of way. God is sooo good!
