Doorposts and Lintels
| These words I am commanding you today must be kept in mind, and you must teach them to your children and speak of them as you sit in your house, as you walk along the way, as you lie down, and as you get up. You should tie them as a sign on your forearm and fasten them as symbols on your forehead. Inscribe them on the door-frames of your houses and gates. (Deuteronomy6:6-9) |
There are two things that the Israelites were asked to place on their door-frames and lintels:
- The blood of the Passover Lamb (prefiguring Jesus' sacrifice for us)
- The commands referred to here (Ch.5 is about the Ten Commandments)
What a beautiful picture!!!
The blood came first - reminding us that we will never be perfect, and so God has prepared forgiveness for us through Jesus death on the cross.
The second part is a response to the first - because of the foundation He has laid for us, we strive to live lives that are pleasing to Him.
This is what is behind the Jewish tradition of affixing a Mezuza box to their doorposts. A Mezuzah is a little box containing a parchment with a summary of today's reading and similar passages. The name "Mezuza" means "doorpost" and the box often has the the consonants Shema, Daleth and Yod. These are the consonants of "Shaddai" ("The Lord Almighty") but are also an acronymn for "Shomer Daltot Yisrael" which means "Guardian of Israel's doors."
So Jewish families affix these to the door-frames of their homes. It is not the Mezuzah box that guards their homes, but rather the Lord Almighty. In a secondary sense, their devotion to God's law also guards their homes because they live principled and ethical lives.
We too should remember that the Lord Almighty loves us and cares for us and that, in response to His love, we should live lives that glorify Him.
But this does not come easily to us and we need to be continually reminded, to teach, and to be taught. If we are serious about working with God as He renovates our lives, we must fill our hearts, minds, and lives with reminders of His gift of love to us and with reminders of His standards so that we can begin to look like Him.
We are continually going through doors in life.
Have you thought about putting reminders of His sacrifice and His nature there?
Think about a putting up a note that reminds you of God's love and calls you to respond in loving service...?
