Small Historical Creed (Deuteronomy 6:20-25)

55 Custom

In summary the text is trying to communicate this advice or warning: Remember what the Lord has done.

It is all based on the question the Lord is suggesting that future generations will ask: "What is the meaning of the stipulations, decrees and laws the Lord our God has commanded you?" (Dt 6:20). In other words: what is our faith about? why we believe in this way?

The Lord suggest also the answer to the question. The living generation is committed to share what the Lord has done in the past for his people and remembering the past make them answer the question.

First they are especially reminded of leaving the Egypt. The experience of Egypt is very important for God's people. It reminds God's people that they were once slaves and only by his power and provision were freed (Dt 6:21). Their life was changed because of God. Without him there would be no people of God.

Second there is a perspective for them in establishing a different society based on obedient relationship with God. Not only because this is what the Lord wants but for the goodness (Dt 6:24) of the people. All of the commandments and words of God are the new way of life for the community.

So the final answer for the question stated above would be something like this: "we believe, we have faith, because the Lord cares for us and in seeking good for us he changed our lifes from certain misery and death to prosperity, so we can have a future again."

Vocabulary

Word Meaning
לְ to
הַ definite article
וְ and
אֵת accusative
יְהוָה Lord
בְּ in
כֹּל each
אַתָּה you (m. sg.)
אֲשֶׁר that, which

Biblical text

6:20כִּֽי־יִשְׁאָלְךָ֥ בִנְךָ֛ מָחָ֖ר לֵאמֹ֑ר מָ֣ה הָעֵדֹ֗ת וְהַֽחֻקִּים֙ וְהַמִּשְׁפָּטִ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר צִוָּ֛ה יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵ֖ינוּ אֶתְכֶֽם׃21וְאָמַרְתָּ֣ לְבִנְךָ֔ עֲבָדִ֛ים הָיִ֥ינוּ לְפַרְעֹ֖ה בְּמִצְרָ֑יִם וַיּוֹצִיאֵ֧נוּ יְהוָ֛ה מִמִּצְרַ֖יִם בְּיָ֥ד חֲזָקָֽה׃22וַיִּתֵּ֣ן יְהוָ֡ה אוֹתֹ֣ת וּ֠מֹפְתִים גְּדֹלִ֨ים וְרָעִ֧ים ׀ בְּמִצְרַ֛יִם בְּפַרְעֹ֥ה וּבְכָל־בֵּית֖וֹ לְעֵינֵֽינוּ׃23וְאוֹתָ֖נוּ הוֹצִ֣יא מִשָּׁ֑ם לְמַ֙עַן֙ הָבִ֣יא אֹתָ֔נוּ לָ֤תֶת לָ֙נוּ֙ אֶת־הָאָ֔רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֥ר נִשְׁבַּ֖ע לַאֲבֹתֵֽינוּ׃24וַיְצַוֵּ֣נוּ יְהוָ֗ה לַעֲשׂוֹת֙ אֶת־כָּל־הַחֻקִּ֣ים הָאֵ֔לֶּה לְיִרְאָ֖ה אֶת־יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֵ֑ינוּ לְט֥וֹב לָ֙נוּ֙ כָּל־הַיָּמִ֔ים לְחַיֹּתֵ֖נוּ כְּהַיּ֥וֹם הַזֶּֽה׃25וּצְדָקָ֖ה תִּֽהְיֶה־לָּ֑נוּ כִּֽי־נִשְׁמֹ֨ר לַעֲשׂ֜וֹת אֶת־כָּל־הַמִּצְוָ֣ה הַזֹּ֗את לִפְנֵ֛י יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵ֖ינוּ כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר צִוָּֽנוּ׃ ס