1 Kings 8:57

57 May the LORD our God be with us as he was with our ancestors. May he never leave us or abandon 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 Then he stood and in a loud voice blessed the entire assembly of Israel,

56 "Thanks be to the LORD! He has given his people Israel rest, as he had promised. None of the good promises he made through his servant Moses has failed to come true.

57 May the LORD our God be with us as he was with our ancestors. May he never leave us or abandon us.

58 May he bend our hearts toward him. Then we will follow him and keep his commands, laws, and rules, which he commanded our ancestors [to keep].

59 May these words which I have prayed to the LORD be near the LORD our God day and night. Then he will give me and his people Israel justice every day as it is needed.