Be careful what you think, because what you think you will say.
Be careful what you say, because what you say you will do.
Be careful what you do, because that will become your habit.
Be careful about what your habits are, because that will be your destiny.
Deuteronomy 6:13
13 The Lord your God you shall fear; him you shall serve, and by his name alone you shall swear.
Deuteronomy 6:7
7 Recite them to your children and talk about them when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you rise.
Deuteronomy 6:8
8 Bind them as a sign on your hand, fix them as an emblem on your forehead
Hosea 2:19-20
19 I will betroth you to me
forever; I will betroth you in righteousness and justice, in love
and compassion.
20 I will
betroth you in faithfulness, and
you will acknowledge the Lord
Numbers 15:38
38 Speak to the Israelites, and tell them to make fringes on the corners of their garments throughout their generations and to put a blue cord on the fringe at each corner.
Deuteronomy 6:9
9 and write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
Deuteronomy 31:19
19 Now therefore write this song, and teach it to the Israelites; put it in their mouths, in order that this song may be a witness for me against the Israelites.
Deuteronomy 17:18
18 When he takes the throne of his kingdom, he is to write for himself on a scroll a copy of this law, in the presence of the Levitical priests.
Deuteronomy 8:10
10 You shall eat your fill and bless the Lord your God for the good land that he has given you.
Reflections – as you study these verses, reflect on these verses.
10. Why would we only swear by God’s name when we must swear under oath?
11. What must we do to teach these words to our children, and why is this teaching important?
12. What meaning is there in the rituals involving wrappings of the hand, arm, and forehead?
13. What value is there in putting words of the Bible on the doorposts of the house?
14. Why would God want the king to write a scroll of the Torah himself?
15. Why might we say grace after the meal as well as before?
16. Overall, what’s the reasoning behind these mitzvot that seek to habituate us to love of God and life with God?