TRV
Translation
King James Version
The LORD our God be with us, as he was with our fathers: let him not leave us, nor forsake us:
Complete Jewish Bible
May ADONAI our God be with us, as he was with our ancestors. May he never leave us or abandon us.
Berean Standard Bible
May the LORD our God be with us, as He was with our fathers. May He never leave us nor forsake us.
American Standard Version
Jehovah our God be with us, as he was with our fathers: let him not leave us, nor forsake us;
World English Bible Messianic
May the LORD our God be with us, as he was with our fathers. Let him not leave us, nor forsake us;
Geneva Bible (1599)
The Lord our God be with vs, as he was with our fathers, that he forsake vs not, neither leaue vs,
Young's Literal Translation
`Jehovah our God is with us as He hath been with our fathers; He doth not forsake us nor leave us;
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In the KJVVerse 9,043 of 31,102
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Commentary on 1 Kings 8 verses 54–61
54 ¶ And it was so, that when Solomon had made an end of praying all this prayer and supplication unto the LORD, he arose from before the altar of the LORD, from kneeling on his knees with his hands spread up to heaven.
55 And he stood, and blessed all the congregation of Israel with a loud voice, saying,
56 Blessed be the LORD, that hath given rest unto his people Israel, according to all that he promised: there hath not failed one word of all his good promise, which he promised by the hand of Moses his servant.
57 The LORD our God be with us, as he was with our fathers: let him not leave us, nor forsake us:
58 That he may incline our hearts unto him, to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and his statutes, and his judgments, which he commanded our fathers.
59 And let these my words, wherewith I have made supplication before the LORD, be nigh unto the LORD our God day and night, that he maintain the cause of his servant, and the cause of his people Israel at all times, as the matter shall require:
60 That all the people of the earth may know that the LORD is God, and that there is none else.
61 Let your heart therefore be perfect with the LORD our God, to walk in his statutes, and to keep his commandments, as at this day.
Solomon, after his sermon in Ecclesiastes, gives us the conclusion of the whole matter; so he does here, after this long prayer; it is called his blessing the people, Kg1 8:55. He pronounced it standing, that he might be the better heard, and because he blessed as one having authority. Never were words more fitly spoken, nor more pertinently. Never was congregation dismissed with that which was more likely to affect them and abide with them.
I. He gives God the glory of the great and kind things he had done for Israel, Kg1 8:56. He stood up to bless the congregation (Kg1 8:55), but began with blessing God; for we must in every thing give thanks. Do we expect God should do well for us and ours? let us take all occasion to speak well of him and his. He blesses God who has given, he does not say wealth, and honour, and power, and victory, to Israel, but rest, as if that were a blessing more valuable than any of those. Let not those who have rest under-value that blessing, though they want some others. He compares the blessings God had bestowed upon them with the promises he had given them, that God might have the honour of his faithfulness and the truth of that word of his which he has magnified above all his name. 1. He refers to the promises given by the hand of Moses, as he did (Kg1 8:15, Kg1 8:24) to those which were made to David. There were promises given by Moses, as well as precepts. It was long ere God gave Israel the promised rest, but they had it at last, after many trials. The day will come when God's spiritual Israel will rest from all their labours. 2. He does, as it were, write a receipt in full on the back of these bonds: There has not failed one word of all his good promises. This discharge he gives in the name of all Israel, to the everlasting honour of the divine faithfulness, and the everlasting encouragement of all those that build upon the divine promises.
II. He blesses himself and the congregation, expressing his earnest desire and hope of these four things: - 1. The presence of God with them, which is all in all to the happiness of a church and nation and of every particular person. This great congregation was now shortly to be scattered, and it was not likely that they would ever be all together again in this world. Solomon therefore dismisses them with this blessing: "The Lord be present with us, and that will be comfort enough when we are absent from each other. The Lord our God be with us, as he was with our fathers (Kg1 8:57); let him not leave us, let him be to us to day, and to ours for ever, what he was to those that went before us." 2. The power of his grace upon them: "Let him be with us, and continue with us, not that he may enlarge our coasts and increase our wealth, but that he may incline our hearts to himself, to walk in all his ways and to keep his commandments," Kg1 8:58. Spiritual blessings are the best blessings, with which we should covet earnestly to be blessed. Our hearts are naturally averse to our duty, and apt to decline from God; it is his grace that inclines them, grace that must be obtained by prayer. 3. An answer to the prayer he had now made: "Let these my words be nigh unto the Lord our God day and night, Kg1 8:59. Let a gracious return be made to every prayer that shall be made here, and that will be a continual answer to this prayer." What Solomon asks here for his prayer is still granted in the intercession of Christ, of which his supplication was a type; that powerful prevailing intercession is before the Lord our God day and night, for our great Advocate attends continually to this very thing, and we may depend upon him to maintain our cause (against the adversary that accuses us day and night, Rev 12:10) and the common cause of his people Israel, at all times, upon all occasions, as the matter shall require, so as to speak for us the word of the day in its day, as the original here reads it, from which we shall receive grace sufficient, suitable, and seasonable, in every time of need. 4. The glorifying of God in the enlargement of his kingdom among men. Let Israel be thus blessed, thus favoured; not that all people may become tributaries to us (Solomon sees his kingdom as great as he desires), but that all people may know that the Lord is God, and he only, and may come and worship him, Kg1 8:60. With this Solomon's prayers, like the prayers of his father David, the son of Jesse, are ended (Psa 72:19, Psa 72:20): Let the whole earth be filled with his glory. We cannot close our prayers with a better summary than this, Father, glorify thy name.
III. He solemnly charges his people to continue and persevere in their duty to God. Having spoken to God for them, he here speaks from God to them, and those only would fare the better for his prayers that were made better by his preaching. His admonition, at parting, is, "Let your heart be perfect with the Lord our God, Kg1 8:61. Let your obedience be universal, without dividing - upright, without dissembling - constant, without declining;" this is evangelical perfection.
Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 54–61. Public domain.
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Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
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SUMMARY
1 Kings 8:57 encapsulates King Solomon's fervent plea during the dedication of the First Temple in Jerusalem, expressing a profound desire for God's enduring presence with Israel. Following the solemn placement of the Ark of the Covenant and the glorious filling of the Temple with the Lord's glory, Solomon's prayer articulates the nation's absolute dependence on God's active involvement. He implores God to remain with them just as He had been with their ancestors, and to never abandon or forsake His people. This verse underscores Israel's deep spiritual longing for divine companionship and protection, recognizing it as the foundational pillar of their national strength, security, and covenant identity.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
The verse employs several impactful literary devices that amplify its meaning and emotional weight. Parallelism is prominently evident in the double negative construction "let him not leave us, nor forsake us," which emphatically reiterates the plea for God's enduring presence and commitment. This specific form of negative parallelism serves to intensify the request, creating a strong sense of urgency and profound dependence. The phrase "as he was with our fathers" functions as both an analogy and an appeal to precedent, drawing upon the rich history of God's faithfulness to past generations to bolster the current petition. This also highlights the intergenerational continuity of God's covenant promises and His character. The entire verse functions as a supplication or earnest plea, characterized by its direct address to God and its expression of deep spiritual longing and national reliance. The language is both formal, befitting a king's prayer at a national dedication, and deeply personal, reflecting the unique covenant relationship between Yahweh and Israel.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
1 Kings 8:57 is a profound expression of Israel's foundational theology: their very existence, security, and prosperity depend entirely on God's active, abiding presence and His unwavering covenant faithfulness. This verse articulates a deep understanding of God as a personal, involved deity who does not abandon His people, echoing the promises made throughout the Pentateuch and prophets. It highlights the tension between God's sovereign choice to dwell among His people and the human responsibility to remain faithful, with the prayer serving as an act of humble reliance on God's character. The continuity with "our fathers" underscores the generational nature of God's covenant, emphasizing that His promises and presence are not fleeting but extend through history, providing a stable foundation for hope and trust.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Solomon's prayer in 1 Kings 8:57 offers a timeless model for believers, reminding us of our profound need for God's active presence in our lives. Just as ancient Israel understood their national well-being to be contingent on Yahweh's dwelling among them, so too must Christians recognize that our spiritual vitality, strength, and purpose are entirely dependent on the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. This verse encourages us to cultivate a deep longing for God's companionship, not as a passive wish, but as an earnest, persistent plea rooted in trust. It invites us to rest in God's unwavering faithfulness, knowing that He has promised never to leave or forsake those who belong to Him. This assurance empowers us to face life's uncertainties with confidence, drawing strength from the historical legacy of God's steadfast love across generations and applying it to our present circumstances. It calls us to live in conscious awareness of His presence, allowing it to shape our decisions, comfort our fears, and direct our paths, fostering a life of continual dependence and grateful worship.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
What is the significance of Solomon asking God to be "with us, as he was with our fathers"?
Answer: This phrase is profoundly significant as it grounds Solomon's present plea in the rich history of God's covenant faithfulness. By invoking "our fathers" (referring to patriarchs like Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and leaders like Moses and David), Solomon appeals to God's consistent character and His proven track record of presence, guidance, and deliverance. It's a theological argument that says, "You have been faithful in the past, please continue that faithfulness now and in the future." It emphasizes the continuity of God's covenant relationship across generations and highlights Israel's identity as a people chosen and sustained by God's constant presence, from their earliest beginnings through the establishment of the monarchy and the Temple. It's a plea for the continuation of that unique, active, and protective divine-human bond, expressing a deep understanding that the nation's future security and success are entirely dependent on God's continued favor and involvement.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
1 Kings 8:57, with its earnest plea for God's enduring presence and His promise not to leave or forsake His people, finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in Jesus Christ. While the Temple was a physical dwelling place for God's presence, it was a shadow and a type of the true dwelling. In Christ, God's presence is not merely among His people but in His people through the indwelling Holy Spirit. Jesus Himself is Emmanuel, "God with us" (Matthew 1:23), perfectly embodying the divine presence Solomon longed for. His incarnation, life, atoning death, and glorious resurrection guarantee that God will never leave or forsake His new covenant people. The promise "I will never leave you nor forsake you" is reiterated directly to believers in Hebrews 13:5, echoing the Old Testament promise but now secured by Christ's finished work on the cross. Through the New Covenant, sealed by His blood, believers are not merely visited by God but are indwelt by the Spirit of Christ (John 14:16-18), ensuring an unbreakable, eternal union. Thus, Solomon's prayer for an abiding divine presence is fully realized in the person and work of Christ, who forever unites God with humanity and establishes an eternal, unshakeable relationship with His redeemed people.