DEUT246 Defining the nature of God or of human beings was not a preoccupation of the talmudic rabbis. Their major concern was how to fulfill the will of God. For them, the divine will was conveyed by God through revelation. The commandments of the Torah articulate the will of God. One of those commandments is "You shall love the Lord your God." "How does one love God?," asks the Sifre, an early rabbinic midrash. The answer: "Perform [God's commandments] out of love." The text continues: "And these words which I [God] command you this day shall be upon your heart" [this verse] Rabbi [Judah the Prince] asked: Why did Moses say this? Because Scripture says, "You shall love the Lord your God" [Deuteronomy 6:5]. [From this verse alone] I do not know just how to love God. Therefore, Scripture goes on to say, "And these words which I command you this day shall be upon your heart," meaning, take these words to heart, for thereby you will recognize Him who spoke in the world came into being, and you will cleave to His ways. Sifre on Deuteronomy, Louis Finkelstein, Ed., paras. 32-33, pp. 54-59.