And Solomon said to God: “You have shown great mercy to David my father, and 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.
- BSB Solomon replied to God: “You have shown much loving devotion to my father David, and You 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 28:5Of all my sons (for Yahweh has given me many sons), he has chosen Solomon my son to sit on the throne of Yahweh’s kingdom over Israel.
- Isa 55:3Turn your ear, and come to me. Hear, and your soul will live: and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.
- Ps 89:49Lord, where are your former loving kindnesses, which you swore to David in your faithfulness?
- 2 Sam 12:7–8Nathan said to David, “You are the man. This is what Yahweh, the God of Israel, says: ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you out of the hand of Saul.
- 1 Chr 29:23Then Solomon sat on the throne of Yahweh as king instead of David his father, and prospered; and all Israel obeyed him.
- Ps 89:20–28I have found David, my servant. I have anointed him with my holy oil,
- 2 Sam 22:51He gives great deliverance to his king, and shows loving kindness to his anointed, to David and to his offspring, forever more.”
- Ps 86:13For your loving kindness is great toward me. You have delivered my soul from the lowest Sheol.
- 2 Sam 7:8–9Now therefore tell my servant David this, ‘Yahweh of Armies says, “I took you from the sheep pen, from following the sheep, to be prince over my people, over 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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