1 Kings 8:23

23 He said, "O LORD, the God of Israel, 1there is no God like You in heaven above * or on earth beneath *, 2keeping covenant and showing lovingkindness to Your servants who walk before You with all their heart,

1 Kings 8:23 Meaning and Commentary

1 Kings 8:23

And he said, Lord God of Israel
Their covenant God and Father, whereby he was distinguished from all the gods of the Gentiles:

there is no god like thee; in heaven above or on earth beneath;
none among the angels in heaven, nor among kings and civil magistrates on earth, who both are sometimes called "Elohim" gods; but only in a figurative sense, and not to be compared with the one only true God, for the perfection of his nature, or the works of his hands:

who keepest covenant and mercy with thy servants that walk before thee
with all their heart;
performs his promises, by which he both declares his mercy or goodness and his faithfulness to such who walk before him, in his ways, and according to his word, in the sincerity and uprightness of their hearts.

1 Kings 8:23 In-Context

21 "There I have set a place for the ark, in which is the covenant of the LORD , which He made with our fathers when He brought them from the land of Egypt."
22 Then Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the assembly of Israel and spread out his hands toward heaven.
23 He said, "O LORD , the God of Israel, there is no God like You in heaven above or on earth beneath , keeping covenant and showing lovingkindness to Your servants who walk before You with all their heart,
24 who have kept with Your servant, my father David, that which You have promised him; indeed, You have spoken with Your mouth and have fulfilled it with Your hand as it is this day.
25 "Now therefore, O LORD , the God of Israel, keep with Your servant David my father that which You have promised him, saying, 'You shall not lack a man to sit on the throne of Israel, if only your sons take heed to their way to walk before Me as you have walked.'

Cross References 2

  • 1. 1 Samuel 2:2; 2 Samuel 7:22
  • 2. Deuteronomy 7:9; Nehemiah 1:5; Nehemiah 9:32; Daniel 9:4
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