Loving Hashem because.. Ibn Ezra

בהנו״א

You shall love Hashem Elokecha, וְאָ֣הַבְתָּ֔ אֵ֖ת ה׳ אֱלֹקֶיךָ בְּכָל־לְבָבְךָ֥ וּבְכָל־נַפְשְׁךָ֖ וּבְכָל־מְאֹדֶֽךָ^[1]

The Ibn Izra states on this pasuk:And.. “After”  it has been established that  we have no other אלו-ה aside from Him alone , you are obligated to love Him, for we have no other  אלו-ה other than Him.^[2]

He starts off with “And”.. meaning this idea is connected to the previous words, שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל ה׳ אֱלֹקֵינוּ ה׳ אֶחָד.  Meaning since it is established that there is no other Source of all powers, Therefore we then have this responsibility to love Him.

I have been thinking about this , trying desperately to understand what the Ibn Ezra is saying.

1. Why does he use the name אלו-ה, and does not include the name of Hashem, (Yud Kay Vav Key as in the Shema)?
2. Why does He need to give us a reason to love Hashem?
3. What does he mean when he says,after we understand that there is no other power, one should love Hashem.   Is he teaching us that there is a process of becoming clear of the Unity Hashem before one can truly love Hashem?
4. What is it about knowing that Hashem is The Only Power that triggers love?

 

 

^[1] Devarim, 6:5

^[2] ואחר שאין לנו אלוה אחר רק הוא לבדו חייב אתה שתאהבנו כי אין לנו אלוה אחר,