Joshua’s Theology (3): Occupational Therapy

“to love the LORD your God and walk in all His ways and keep His commandments and hold fast to Him and serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul.”  Joshua 22:5

Keep – Shamar has a wide umbrella of meanings.  They stem from the idea of watching.  Why do we need to know this?  Because keeping the commandments is not just about observing them.  Buried in the verb is something much more exquisite. 

When shamar is involved, the focus is on the purpose, not the process.  In other words, in order to “keep” the commandments, I must know why I am observing them.  It is not enough to just follow the rules.  The commands of God were never intended to simply prescribe behavior.  They were intended to teach us something about God Himself.  That’s why Paul calls the Law a schoolmaster.  The purpose of the Law is not compliance.  It is much bigger than that.

Shamar can also be translated “to preserve, to guard, to carefully watch over and to pay regard to.”  Behind each one of these possible translations is the question, “Why?”  I am not inclined to complete the action required by shamar unless I am motivated by something more compelling than compliance.   When it comes to God’s commandments, the purpose of shamar is fellowship with Him.  Jesus said it best:  “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.”

Did you think that a relationship with God was just about keeping the rules?  Did you imagine that God was the Great Policeman, checking up on your behavior?  No way!  God gave the commandments so that we might discover His point of view – the truth about life.  He gave them so that we could know more about Him.  He revealed Himself in those requests.  Then He offered us fellowship as we walked the road together.  “Come along with Me.  I know the way and how to walk to get there.  It will be the greatest adventure of your life.”

Life’s occupation is all about shamar, but not the kind of misinterpretation we often ascribe to “keeping.”  Shamar is occupational therapy.  It is the process of discipleship, learning from the Master at every turn in the road.  Just like any other kind of occupational therapy, it takes effort, time, practice, patience and, most of all, purpose.

Have a good time.