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DEUTERONOMY | 4:35 showed — DEUT132 The true worship of God its only possible...

DEUT132 The true worship of God its only possible when correct notions of Him have previously been conceived. When you have arrived by way of intellectual research at a knowledge of God and His works, then commence to devote yourselves to Him, try to approach Him and strengthen the intellect, which is the link that joins you to Him. Thus Scripture says, "Unto thee it was showed, that thou mightest know that the Lord He is God" (this verse); Know therefore this day, and considerate in thine heart, that the He is God" (Deuteronomy 4:36). "Know Ye that the Lord is God." (Psalm 100:3) Thus the Law distinctly states that the highest kind of worship, to which we refer in this chapter, is only possible after the acquisition of knowledge of God. For it is said, "To love the Lord your God, and to serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul"; (Deuteronomy 11:13); and, as we have shown several times, man's love of God is identical with his knowledge of Him. The Divine Service enjoined in these words must, accordingly, be preceded by the love of God. Our Sages have pointed out to us that it is a service in the heart, which explanation I understand to mean this: man concentrates all his thoughts on the First Intellect, and is absorbed in these thoughts as much as possible. (Maimonides).

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