A Fancy Word
You might think that I just mentioned something “dirty” or maybe I brought up a medical condition.
Nope.
A Phylactery is just fancy word for a leather box.
Let me explain….
phy·lac·ter·y
fəˈlaktərē/
-
a small leather box containing Hebrew texts on vellum, worn by Jewish men at morning prayer as a reminder to keep the law.
Let me show you this short and insightful video that will explain exactly what phylacteries (Tefillins) are, way better than I could.
Y’all! We’re gonna learn something new today!
See!! Isn’t that interesting???
Ok, so not all of us “feel the need” to wear little leather boxes and leather straps all over us. But, if you are jewish, it is a very normal thing. Especially in traditional jewish orthodox homes. To you, it probably seems silly…
It’s really not silly though. It is an outward expression of the command to “wear” scripture.
Here’s what I get out of seeing this funny looking tradition: KEEPING THE LAW OF THE LORD IN YOUR HEART AND MIND EVERY MINUTE OF THE DAY!
Doesn’t sound so funny to me!!!
“Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the LORD, and who meditates on his law day and night.” -Psalm 1:1-2
“Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.
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.
Write them on the door frames of your houses and on your gates..” Dueteronomy 11:18-20
Intentional
I encourage you today to be intentional about walking, talking, thinking, sleeping, meditating on JESUS! “Carrying” the law of the Lord on you every second. It is a discipline. It takes intentionality.
How much more important is it to INTENTIONALLY teach the law of the Lord to your children?!?
We may not tie little leather boxes on our heads or arms, but we can do that symbolically. We can choose to meditate on the Lord every hour, every minute.
I leave you with this worship song. I pray that you are encouraged today to be intentional. To “tie the Word of the Lord to your hearts and minds.” In everything to remember Jesus.
God Bless! -Z
