HEBREW WORD STUDY – YOU WILL LOVE – VE’AHAVEKA  ואהבך  Vav Aleph Hei Beth Kap

Deuteronomy 6:5 “And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.”

Matthew 22:36: “Master, which [is] the great commandment in the law?”

Not to love der fuhrer

Is a great disgrace

So Heil pffft Heil pffft 

Right in der fuhrer’s face.  Spike Jones – Der Fuhrer’s Face

I once saw a sign on a church lawn which said: “God gave ten commandments, not 10 suggestions”  I have heard preachers shout out: “The Bible says: ‘thou shalt.’”  That is the end of the story. God has commanded us and we must obey or else.  I mean is that not why a command is given.  You may not want to do something but if given as a command by one in authority, you will suffer consequences.  In Matthew 22:36 the Sadducees wanted to know the great commandment – paqad  in the law – nmosa.

So we are commanded to love the Lord God with all our hearts, soul and might. I ask you, is there anyone who is interested enough to read this that does not want to love God with all their hearts, soul and might?  Why does God have to make it a command?  Can you command anyone to love you?  Does it make sense that God gave man a free will then He has to turn around and command you to love Him or else.

During World War II, people in Germany were commanded to love Hitler.  If they didn’t if there were any talk of not loving him you faced imprisonment and most likely death. So everyone loved Der Fuhrer.  At least that is what they said.  Many just lied to save their necks. If der Fuhrer wanted to be loved all they had to do was say so and they could save themselves a lot of trouble. I watched a documentary about the German people during World War II and those who survived the war were asked if they really loved Hitler. Most said they hated him, there were a few fanatics who said they did but most saw what he was doing to their country and deep inside hated him. But when called upon they saluted him and said all the Heils they could with great guesto.   Fact is, Hitler tried to force people to love him but some just would not, could not so all they could do was lie.

Stalin maintained power the same way.  The slightest hint of any dislike for Stalin was enough to send you to the Gulag.  I just read a book about a North Korean spy who turn against his beloved ruler.  He said their great leader is not so beloved but if you ever indicated that in public you ended up in  prison or dead. 

The fact is, God gave us a free will and with that free will we have a choice to love or not to love.  So if we are commanded to love God or else, isn’t that just manipulation like the dictators do?  I have heard many Christians talk of their love for God, are they trying to put on a front or show to win some favor with God like a celestial dictator?

I wondered that for a long time and questioned whether I really declared my love for God simply to please God and man.  “Oy, he has such a heart for God. Oy but how he loves God.” Instant popularity.  Well, surely if God gave  us a free will and love is meaningless if you have to command it or purchase it, why is God doing that very thing?  Commanding us and then dangling heaven or hell in front of us. “Your choice, love me or you know where you’re going.”

First let’s look at the words used in the New Testament when it talks of the greatest commandment in the law.  The word in the Aramaic for command is pagad which could mean a command if in a pael form. If in a simple verbal for it would be a recommendation. Unfortunately, it is a noun so the only way to determine the intensity of pagad as either a command or recommendation is the context.  This is the same for the word law which is nmosa and could mean law, rule, or practice. A law is something you must obey. A rule must be obeyed simply because it is the right course to take.  There is a difference between breaking a rule and breaking a law.  To break a rule interrupts the natural flow of something. To brake a law is to disobey something an authority has established. 

So, I present this solely for your consideration. Believe it, don’t believe, no skin off my back, just hear me out. Suppose God gave us natural rules to follow which will lead to a natural result? “If you want to love me, then follow these rules and one day you will love me with all  your hearts soul and might.”  So, I say the context calls us to read: “The greatest recommendation in the list or rules (to follow so you want to  fall in love with God).

Let me take you to Deuteronomy 6:5 which is always rendered as “Thou shalt love the Lord they God.”  Do it or else.  Yet this verb love is ve’ahaveka which is in a simple Qal perfect form. The Vav is a Vav conversive (my Hebrew class should recognize that) so it turns into an imperfect form.  It is not in an imperative (command) form.  Thus it reads: “You will love the Lord your God.”  This is not a command, but a statement of fact.  Read the verses just before this and you find that God is saying: “If you follow all these rules, you will (end up) loving me with all your heart, soul and might. 

You see, keeping the law will not get you to heaven.  Accepting the free gift of Jesus’s blood is what gets you to heaven.  But if you really want to love the one who died for you, then follow his list of rules and before long you will love Him with all your heart, soul and might.