It’s from Sifrei Devarim, a portion of the book of Deuteronomy, and it unpacks what it REALLY means to serve God.
The verse (Deuteronomy 13:5, or 13:6 in some translations) is pretty straightforward on the surface: "and Him shall you fear, and His mitzvoth shall you keep, and His voice shall you heed, and Him shall you serve, and to Him shall you cleave." Simple. But like with so many things in Jewish tradition, the real richness is in the unpacking.
First, "and Him shall you fear": This isn't about cowering in terror. The Sifrei Devarim explains that it’s about having awe. Awe. Think about the difference. Terror makes you want to hide. Awe… awe makes you want to draw closer, to understand the immensity of something far greater than yourself. It's about recognizing the sheer magnitude and wonder of the Divine.
Then, "and His mitzvoth shall you keep": Now, mitzvoth (commandments) are a big deal. But the Sifrei Devarim highlights something fascinating here: it frames this as a negative commandment. What does that mean? Maybe it's about not just blindly following rules, but actively choosing to avoid actions that would violate God’s will, choosing restraint. It's about the conscious choice to stay on the right path.
Okay, next: "and His voice shall you heed": Whose voice are we talking about here? The text specifies “the voice of His prophets.” It's not just hearing any voice, but listening to those who are divinely inspired, who can guide us towards righteousness. In our own lives, maybe it means seeking out wise counsel, listening to our own moral compass, and paying attention to the echoes of tradition.
Now, this is where it gets really interesting: "and Him shall you serve": How do we serve God? The Sifrei Devarim says: "Serve Him in His Temple." Now, we don't have the Temple today, so what does that mean for us? Perhaps it's about bringing that same sense of dedication, reverence, and focused intention to our prayers, our acts of kindness, and our daily lives. To make everything we do a form of service.
And finally, "and to Him shall you cleave": This is the real kicker. How do you "cleave" to the Divine? The text tells us: "Separate yourselves from idolatry and cleave to the L-rd." It's not enough to just say you're devoted. You have to actively turn away from anything that distracts you from that connection. Anything that becomes an idol – be it money, power, ego, anything. It’s a constant process of purification and re-alignment.
The Sifrei Devarim then adds a fascinating little note about prophets in a later verse. It comments on the phrase "And that prophet" in Deuteronomy 13:6 (13:7 in some translations), specifying "and not one who is under compulsion." In other words, a true prophet isn’t someone forced into the role, but someone who genuinely and freely chooses to speak truth to power, to guide the people. Authenticity matters.
So, what does all this mean for us today? It's a reminder that faith isn't passive. It's not a set of boxes to tick off. It's an active, conscious, and ongoing relationship. It's about awe, restraint, listening, service, and, above all, choosing to cleave to the Divine in every moment of our lives. It’s a lifelong journey, not a destination.
What are you choosing to cleave to today? And what are you willing to turn away from in order to strengthen that connection? Just some food for thought...