1 Kings 8:57

57 "May the LORD our God be with us, just as he was with our people who lived long ago. May he never leave us. May he never desert us.

1 Kings 8:57 Meaning and Commentary

1 Kings 8:57

The Lord our God be with us as he was with our fathers
Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and those that came out of Egypt, and especially that entered into the land of Canaan under Joshua, and subdued it; as the Lord had been with them to guide and direct them, protect and defend them, succeed and prosper them, so Solomon desires he might be with them: nothing is more desirable than the presence of God; Solomon could not have prayed for a greater blessing for himself and his people; the Targum is,

``let the Word of the Lord our God be for our help, as he was for the help of our fathers:''

let him not leave us, nor forsake us:
this was no doubt a prayer of faith, founded upon a divine promise, ( Joshua 1:5 ) .

1 Kings 8:57 In-Context

55 He stood in front of the whole community of Israel. He blessed them with a loud voice. He said,

56 "I praise the Lord. He has given peace and rest to his people Israel. That's exactly what he promised to do. He gave his people good promises through his servant Moses. Every single word of those promises has come true.

57 "May the LORD our God be with us, just as he was with our people who lived long ago. May he never leave us. May he never desert us.

58 May he turn our hearts to him. Then we will live the way he wants us to. We'll obey the commands, rules and directions he gave our people.

59 "I've prayed these words to the LORD our God. May he keep them close to him day and night. May he stand up for me. May he also stand up for his people Israel. May he give us what we need every day.