Solomon replied to God: “You have shown much loving devotion to my father David, and You have made me king in his place.
Parallel translations
- WEB Solomon said to God, “You have shown great loving kindness to David my father, and have made me king in his place.
- KJV And Solomon said unto God, Thou hast shewed great mercy unto David my father, and hast made me to reign in his stead.
- NKJV And Solomon said to God: “You have shown great mercy to David my father, and have made me king in his place.
- NASB And Solomon said to God, “You have dealt with my father David with great faithfulness, and have made me king in his place.
- NLT Solomon replied to God, “You showed great and faithful love to David, my father, and now you have made me king in his place.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Solomon responds by praising God's covenant love shown to David and his making Solomon king. He grounds his prayer in God's faithfulness, not his own worth.
Overview
Solomon begins his request by acknowledging the steadfast covenant love (hesed) God showed David. Recognizing kingship as God's gift, he approaches in humility and gratitude. This rooting of prayer in God's prior faithfulness models how believers come to God on the basis of his covenant promises fulfilled in Christ.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 9
- 1 Chr 28:5And of all my sons—for the LORD has given me many sons—He has chosen Solomon my son to sit on the throne of the kingdom of the LORD over Israel.
- Isa 55:3Incline your ear and come to Me; listen, so that your soul may live. I will make with you an everlasting covenant—My loving devotion promised to David.
- Ps 89:49Where, O Lord, is Your loving devotion of old, which You faithfully swore to David?
- 2 Sam 12:7–8Then Nathan said to David, “You are that man! This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul.
- 1 Chr 29:23So Solomon sat on the throne of the LORD as king in place of his father David. He prospered, and all Israel obeyed him.
- Ps 89:20–28I have found My servant David; with My sacred oil I have anointed him.
- 2 Sam 22:51Great salvation He brings to His king. He shows loving devotion to His anointed, to David and his descendants forever.”
- Ps 86:13For great is Your loving devotion to me; You have delivered me from the depths of Sheol.
- 2 Sam 7:8–9Now then, you are to tell My servant David that this is what the LORD of Hosts says: I took you from the pasture, from following the flock, to be the ruler over My people Israel.
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Christ at the center
Temple, priesthood, and the repeated need for a faithful king who seeks the LORD all point past every imperfect reign to the King and Temple who finally and fully dwell with God's people.
How 2 Chronicles 1:8 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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