I know of many daughters who remember the unkind words spoken to them by their fathers. As a girl child, you must have always felt that your father favoured the boys in the family and that they got more opportunities than you did. You must have often heard your father say these words, “No, you are just a girl; you can’t do this or that”, for the little desires you may have had as a child.
Rejected by earthly fathers
David came in connection with three fathers before he became king:
1/ David’s earthly father, Jesse, decided not to take David along when the greatest Prophet of the time, Samuel, invited the family to sacrifice.
“And he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.”1 Samuel 16:5
When Samuel asks Jesse if he has only seven sons, Jesse says he has one more, but he does not fit the bill.
“And Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. And Samuel said to Jesse, “The Lord has not chosen these.” Then Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all your sons here?” And he said, “There remains yet the youngest, but behold, he is keeping the sheep.”1 Samuel 16:10-11
David’s father, Jesse, did not think his youngest son had anything to offer and favoured his other sons.
2/ King Saul called David his son on many occasions (1 Samuel 26:17, 1 Samuel 26:25). But Saul was jealous of David and hated him so much that he wanted to kill him.
“And from that time on Saul kept a jealous eye on David”.1 Samuel 18:9
3/ When David ran away from Saul to the Philistine leader Achish, he was impressed with David and decided to make him his chief guardian. However, Achish only wanted to manipulate David to glorify himself.
“And Achish trusted David, thinking, “He has made himself an utter stench to his people Israel; therefore he shall always be my servant.“1 Samuel 27:12
David’s earthly father, Jesse, did not think much of him, his father-in-law Saul hated him, and his father-like protection, Achish, manipulated him.
David must have asked, “Doesn’t My Daddy Love Me?”
Knowing who you are and Whose you are
But, David changed the course of his thinking. He called the Almighty God his Father.
“You are my Father, my God, and the Rock of my salvation.”Psalms 89:26
I believe, in his pain and rejection, David encountered the Almighty God, and the same God reveals to him as a Father who loves him unconditionally, considers him worthy, and has good plans for him.
Even if your earthly fathers have rejected you or don’t consider you as worthy as the sons, know that the Almighty God who made the heavens and earth calls you
“I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”
2 Corinthians 6:18
As you read this, if you are someone who who has often asked yourself “Doesn’t My Daddy Love Me?”, I pray you experience the love of the Heavenly Father holding you in His calling you “My Daughter” – allow these words to go deep in your heart and heal your pain.
I encourage you to wake up every day having this picture in your heart. Look at the mirror and call yourself “Daughter of the Most High God” and soon you will see that the pain you felt once has no hold on you anymore. As you spend more time with your your heart will forgive your earthly father and sense love, peace and rest.
I pray that each of us will grow in the revelation of what it means to be a daughter of God. With confidence, we can trust in these words – He calls me daughter!
XOXO
Sheryl Gadre
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