If there was a Jewish creed it would either be the Thirteen Principals or the Shema. The Shema is found in Deuteronomy 6.4 and it is used as an affirmation in many Christian prayer books. In Hebrew it goes like this:
Sh'ma Yisrael Adonai Elohaynu Adonai Echad
"Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one."
The Jewish liturgical use continues through verse 9 of Deuteronomy 4 with various blessings interspersed. For detail on this see http://www.jewfaq.org/prayer/shema.htm.
Strictly speaking, the Shema cannot be called a creed because it is more a statement of fact rather than a statement of belief. Judaism is less about belief than it is about calling. The Bible in general, and Judaism in particular does not focus on arguments for the existence of God. The Psalmist says "The fool says there is no God (Psalm 4.1 )" which puts a rather abrupt end to the whole discussion. Arguments for the existence of God are the realm of our modern philosophy. In the Bible, God is assumed as the first cause, the creator and it is from this assumption everything else flows.
As Israel stands on the verge of the promised land, Moses reads off the covenant agreement and as part of that covenant we find the Shema.
4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is5 Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 6 These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. (Deuteronomy 6.4-9)
From verse 8 the Jews get their tradition of Tefillin or phylacteries, which is a small leather case containing small scrolls with Torah verses on them that are bound to the arm of the foreheadp; From verse 9 comes the Mezuzah which is a box containing similar scrolls that is mounted on the doorpost of the house.
Jesus quotes the Shema when he is asked "which is the greatest commandment of the Law." He does not point us to the part that would have to do with belief, rather the part that would have to do with relationship. "You are to love the Lord your God with all your heart soul mind and strength."
The nature of the covenant is love expressed as obedience. The reason for obedience is love. The competing gods of the Canaanites were nature gods. In this context, sacrifices to the Baalim were needed to ensure that the rains came. We see the contrast here:
13 So if you faithfully obey the commands I am giving you today—to love the LORD your God and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul- 14 then I will send rain on your land in its season, both autumn and spring rains, so that you may gather in your grain, new wine and oil. 15 I will provide grass in the fields for your cattle, and you will eat and be satisfied.
16 Be careful, or you will be enticed to turn away and worship other gods and bow down to them. 17 Then the LORD's anger will burn against you, and he will shut the heavens so that it will not rain and the ground will yield no produce, and you will soon perish from the good land the LORD is giving you. 18 Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 19 Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 20 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates, 21 so that your days and the days of your children may be many in the land that the LORD swore to give your forefathers, as many as the days that the heavens are above the earth. (Deuteronomy 11.13-21)
The command is first to love then to serve. The prophets will note later that "God demands mercy more than sacrifice …" The sacrifices that are outlined in the Law are not to curry favor with the Lord. They are to bring man back into fellowship with Him.
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- Last Updated: 09 January 2022