From Awe to Love: A Deep Torah Insight on Spiritual Growth

“‘The Lord is my strength and my song, and He has become my salvation; this is my God and I will glorify Him, the God of my father and I will exalt Him’” (Exodus 15:2).

The teachings of Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev explain the spiritual process through which a person comes to love God, by first developing awe of Him.

He teaches that the starting point is effort. A person must actively work to cultivate yirat shamayim — a sense of reverence, awe, and deep respect for God, expressed through commitment to His commandments. This stage requires conscious striving and personal discipline.

Only after one attains this level of awe does ahavat Hashem — love of God, emerge. This love is not forced; it arises naturally as a result of the foundation of awe.

“Strength” as Awe

The Kedushat Levi focuses on the two key words in the verse: “my strength” (ozi) and “my song” (zimrat).

The word “strength” represents awe. It is the initial stage of spiritual development. A person must make every effort to acquire this quality of inner discipline and reverence.

“My strength” therefore means: the awe that I have worked to build within myself. It is something personal, something earned through effort.

“Song” as Love

The next stage is “my song,” which represents love. Unlike awe, love is not something one can force directly. It is a gift that comes from above, as a natural outcome of the groundwork laid through awe.

Once a person has invested in developing reverence, love begins to flow on its own. It becomes the “song” of the soul; a spontaneous expression of connection and joy.

A Path of Growth

Spiritual growth follows a path. It begins with conscious effort of discipline, commitment, and awe. From there, a deeper and more natural connection of love emerges.

Awe builds the structure. Love fills it with life.