The Spiritual Significance of the Mezuzah
The spiritual significance of the Mezuzah is a reminder that God’s Word is to be first in our lives. It is to be the anchor of how we live, speak, and walk. When God’s Word is the central element in our lives, we can be equipped with the authority He has given us in this hour.
What is a Mezuzah?
The word Mezuzah means ‘doorpost.’ It is most often a wooden, metal, or stone container that holds scriptures from Deuteronomy written on parchment. Over time, this container, which was instructed to be hung on the doorposts of the home, became so closely identified with it, that it was called by the same name.
Where in the Bible Does It Say to Hang a Mezuzah?
Hanging a Mezuzah on the doorpost was common in Jewish tradition. This practice comes from Deuteronomy 6:6-9…
“And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.” (emphasis added)
These verses follow the command given in Deuteronomy 6:5, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.”
The Jewish tradition is a reminder of the command to put God first, loving Him with your all.
What Are the Scriptures Written on the Mezuzah?
Traditionally, the scriptures written on the parchment within the Mezuzah are Deuteronomy 6:4-9 and 11:13-21.
- “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.
“And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.”—Deuteronomy 6:4-9
- “‘And it shall be that if you earnestly obey My commandments which I command you today, to love the Lord your God and serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul, then I will give you the rain for your land in its season, the early rain and the latter rain, that you may gather in your grain, your new wine, and your oil. And I will send grass in your fields for your livestock, that you may eat and be filled.’ Take heed to yourselves, lest your heart be deceived, and you turn aside and serve other gods and worship them, lest the Lord’s anger be aroused against you, and He shut up the heavens so that there be no rain, and the land yield no produce, and you perish quickly from the good land which the Lord is giving you.
“Therefore you shall lay up these words of mine in your heart and in your soul, and bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall teach them to your children, speaking of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. And you shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates, that your days and the days of your children may be multiplied in the land of which the Lord swore to your fathers to give them, like the days of the heavens above the earth.”—Deuteronomy 11:13-21
The entirety of these verses is not written on every Mezuzah. However, every Mezuzah is a representation of what is intended to be written on our hearts and minds. The Mezuzah is a physical reminder to help us keep the Lord first, and to recall the blessings of doing so.
The Connection between the Mezuzah and Dwelling in the Lord
What does it mean to dwell in the Lord?
The word dwell means a house or place of living. We are to “let the Word of God dwell in us richly” (Colossians 3:16, Psalm 119:11).
To dwell in the Lord means that we seek Him as our place of refuge. When we dwell in Him we seek His presence, guidance, ways, and heart.
The mystery of the Mezuzah gives us a beautiful picture of what it means to dwell in the Lord…
As mentioned above, we are to love the Lord our God with all our hearts, with all our souls, and with all our strength.
The Lord goes on to give a command that these words are to be “in your heart.” When His words are in our hearts, we can prepare the next generation by teaching His ways to our children, leaving a legacy that lasts.
The way to do that is to talk about His presence with our children as we…
- Sit in our houses
- Walk by the way
- Lie down
- Rise Up
… Just as it says in Deuteronomy 11.
In other words, as we live life, we are to meditate on God’s Word and speak it out. This positions us to dwell in Him and pass on this legacy.
The Mezuzah Reminds Us of God’s Blessings
Deuteronomy 11:13-21 outlines the blessings of surrendering all to the Lord by keeping Him in our hearts and minds.
The only way to claim these blessings is to first understand your identity in Yeshua. This is key if you want to…
- Understand your purpose
- Walk in the ways of the Lord
- Strengthen your faith
- Unlock the doors of opportunities
Then you have the authority to claim…
- “the rain for your land…”—In the Bible, rain represents provision.
- “your new wine and oil…”—Wine and oil represent the anointing of the Holy Spirit on your life.
- “…that you may eat and be filled.”—To ‘be filled’ represents peace, prosperity, and abundance.
In verses 16 and 17 the Lord tells us what happens when we turn away from His instruction… “…you perish quickly.”
This speaks to Hosea 4:6, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me; because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.”
In short, when we do not put God and His instruction first in our hearts and minds, not only will we struggle, but so will future generations.
Why is Dwelling in the Lord Critical in This Hour
We are an army. We are ambassadors for His Kingdom. We are the lions who will run toward the instruction of the Lord and take that instruction out to others, equipping His Bride to rise up in strength and roar with His voice of authority.
How can we fulfill our assignments in this hour if we do not…
- Surrender to God first?
- Meditate on His Word?
- Teach it to our children?
- Run to His instruction?
- Roar with His voice?
Simply put, we can’t.
Therefore, we must consistently surrender to God and stay in His Word.
The Mezuzah is a beautiful reminder to do that as you leave your home and enter back in. It is simply a tool to recall what the Lord has done and tells us to do.
The Mezuzah connects you to the Jewish roots of the faith, opening doors of opportunities for you to speak out His Word and dwell in Him richly every day.