However, the LORD God of Israel chose me before all the house of my father to be king over Israel for ever, for he has chosen Judah to be the ruler; and of the house of Judah, the house of my father; and among the sons of my father he liked me to make me king over all Israel. 1 Chronicles 28:4
On an episode of Dallas back in the Eighties Miss Ellie said to Jock her husband, “I will always love you, but right now I don’t like you.” That stuck with me even after all these years, but why? Because we can love someone and not like what they are doing. Think about it, we could quote Miss Ellie more times than not.
As I read today’s verse, I thought about how God loves everyone, even the people who don’t believe in Him! But here He’s not saying He loves David, He says He liked him to make him king over Israel. I believe that’s because the Hebrew word for “like” here in Hebrew is Ratsah, which is more than an interactive relationship but an interpersonal favor and state of worship from a deeply committed love and willing heart. David spent years out in the fields tending his father’s sheep. It was a lonely job, but it also was a time to develop a relationship with God that was so different from any other at that time. And God actually liked talking and spending time with and teaching David.
You may ask why? I actually believe it was because he was so honest and open with God and he liked spending time and learning from God also. He had a willing heart because He trusted God fully. Oh that we would want a relationship like that with the Lord, one of complete trust whether the situation or circumstance was good or bad, David truly believed God was faithful, loving, merciful, gracious and He would always have David’s back. Here is the good news, we can have an even deeper relationship with God, because we have Holy Spirit living inside of us, not just with us. Relax a bit when you want to meet with God, have some fun and enjoy being in His presence, let Him do some of the talking, be honest with Him with how you feel. Let Him know you remember His faithfulness and answers to prayer and you know He will do it again. You will begin to see your relationship with Him deepen and become more consistent and flow easily and you like David will want to spend more time with Him
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