According to Rambam in Mishneh Torah but especially in Moreh Nevuchim, and many other Jewish Philosophers, when the Torah uses any words to describe Hashem, they are just a mashal, i.e. it is just imagery meant as a metaphor in order to get us on a certain page so we can proceed in our service. The concept of "the Torah speaks in the language of man" is invoked, meaning that Hashem is beyond any description, and is not composed of parts, so we can never say what He is. Doing so is simply incorrect. See quotes below.
So, according to these opinions, we cannot say Hashem is someone who loves. Yet, we say every day "בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה', אוֹהֵב אֶת־עַמּוֹ יִשְׂרָאֵל". More examples listed below.
I would therefore like to ask, how are we able to make certain berachot (blessings) about Hashem that say these things? If it's not really true, then how come these berachot are valid? How are we able to praise Him and say that He is [insert positive description of praise here]?
Some quotes from Moreh Nevuchim Part 1 "On attributes implying corporeality, emotion, non existence and comparison":
...our sages called them middot... they do not mean to say that God really possesses middot, but He performs actions similar to such of our actions as originate in certain qualities, I.e. in certain psychical dispositions; not that God has really such dispositions...
... whenever any one of His actions is perceived by us, we ascribe to God that emotion which is the force of the act when performed by ourselves and call Him by an epithet which is formed in the verb expressing that emotion.... such instances do not imply that God is influenced by a feeling of mercy...
... God is therefore called, because He acts jealous, revengeful... that is to say, He performs acts similar to those which, when performed by us, originate in certain psychical dispositions, in jealousy, desire for retaliation,... and not the result of an emotion; for He is above all defect!
... the principal object of this chapter was to show that all attributes ascribed to God are attributes of His acts, and do not imply that God has any qualities".
Examples of berachot:
...seems ok. He is lauded with praises by angels and yidden, so no theological issue here.
...also seems ok. Hashem taking action is much less of a theological issue, and Rambam has no problem with it (see above quotes).
However:
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה' הַבּוֹחֵר בְּעַמּוֹ יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּאַהֲבָה
...He chooses? If that's a metaphor, how can we say it in a bracha?
He is these positive descriptions? He "prefers" music? Rambam would quite clearly call this heresy... Yet we say it with shem umalchut!
Some from the Amidah:
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה', מֶֽלֶךְ אוֹהֵב צְדָקָה וּמִשְׁפָּט
...He "loves" something? Isn't that a metaphor?
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה', הָרוֹצֶה בִּתְשׁוּבָה
...He "wants"? Does that imply He lacks? And again, isn't it just a mashal?
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה', שׁוֹמֵֽעַ תְּפִלָּה
...He "hears"?
I just want to note, I am asking this out of genuine curiosity with full belief that there is a good answer. I just want help understanding it. This is a sheila, not a kasha!