2 Chronicles 6:42
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This isn't just a plea for God's favor, but a reminder of His promises to David, shifting the focus from what we do to what God has already committed to do. It highlights that our confidence isn't in our own faithfulness, but in God's unchangeable, steadfast love that He initiated.
O LORD God, do not turn away the face of your anointed one! Remember your steadfast love for David your servant.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Solomon has just finished his incredible dedication prayer for the newly built Temple, acknowledging God's faithfulness and the people's sin. This verse marks the end of that prayer, with Solomon pleading for God to remember His covenant promises, particularly those made to David, as the Temple is consecrated. It's a plea rooted in God's history with His people, asking Him to bless the present undertaking based on His past faithfulness.
Solomon stands before a vast assembly, dedicating a magnificent temple. Yet, his prayer turns inward, pleading for God's favor not for himself, but for the king.
A King's Vulnerability
In this moment, Solomon isn't acting like a powerful king; he's acting like a desperate son. He uses the term "anointed one," referring to the Davidic kingship. This isn't just about Solomon's reign, but about the entire line of kings God promised David.
The Covenant Connection
The plea, "do not turn away the face of your anointed one," is deeply tied to God's covenant with David. To turn away someone's face is to reject them, to withhold favor. Solomon is reminding God of His promises to David – promises that ensured a perpetual dynasty. This plea is a bold act of faith, trusting God's faithfulness over the current circumstances.
What is it that Solomon wants God to remember? It's not just David's goodness, but something deeper, something unwavering.
More Than Just Affection
The phrase "steadfast love" translates a powerful Hebrew concept that speaks of God's enduring, loyal, covenantal love. It's a love that commits, that persists through thick and thin, a love that doesn't give up.
The Anchor in the Storm
Solomon is reminding God of His – His faithful, merciful, and unfailing love that binds Him to His people. This isn't a love based on performance, but on His own character and His promises. Even when the nation (and its kings) faltered, God's steadfast love was meant to be the anchor. Solomon clings to this divine attribute as the reason God should continue to bless the Davidic line.
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Understand the original words
mashiyach · Hebrew Noun
One specifically chosen, set apart, and empowered by God through oil for a specific role or office, such as priest, prophet, or king.
chesed · Hebrew Noun
A profound, covenant-keeping, loyal love that is persistent and faithful, often describing God’s unchanging commitment to His people despite their unworthiness.
This prayer echoes Solomon's plea at the Temple's dedication, reminding us that even amidst Israel's greatest triumphs, they relied on God's covenant faithfulness, a faithfulness that would be tested and reaffirmed through exile and return.
~1077 BC
David Anointed King
Samuel the prophet anoints David, youngest son of Jesse, as king over Israel, though Saul still reigned. This was a pivotal moment, setting the stage for David's eventual rise to power and the establishment of a lasting dynasty.
~1010 BC
David Captures Jerusalem
King David conquers the Jebusite city of Jerusalem, making it his capital. He brings the Ark of the Covenant to the city, establishing it as the religious and political center of Israel.
~970 BC
David's Death
After a long and significant reign, David dies, leaving a strong kingdom and a promise of an eternal dynasty to his son Solomon. His reign is considered a golden age for Israel.
~966 BC
Solomon Builds the Temple
King Solomon, David's son, builds the magnificent First Temple in Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, fulfilling his father's desire. This sacred space becomes the heart of Israel's worship.
~960 BC— this verse
Dedication of the Temple
Solomon dedicates the newly completed Temple with a profound prayer and sacrifices. This is the grand event during which 2 Chronicles 6:42 is spoken by Solomon.
586 BC
Destruction of the Temple
The Babylonians, under Nebuchadnezzar II, conquer Jerusalem and destroy the First Temple. This event marks the end of the Davidic dynasty's rule in Jerusalem and the beginning of the Babylonian exile.
This Psalm directly echoes the prayer in 2 Chronicles 6:42, pleading with God to remember His promises and His anointed one (David) in a time of distress.
Psalm 132:10This verse is a clear allusion to the prayer in 2 Chronicles 6:42, asking God to remember His covenant promises and the steadfast love shown to David.
Isaiah 11:1This prophecy speaks of a 'shoot' from Jesse (David's father) who will be filled with the Spirit of the Lord, pointing to the ultimate 'anointed one' who embodies God's promises to David.
Jeremiah 22:24While this passage presents a judgment against Jehoiachin, it contrasts sharply with the prayer, highlighting God's desire for faithfulness from David's line and how disobedience could sever the connection to His promises.
This isn't just a plea for God's favor, but a reminder of His promises to David, shifting the focus from what we do to what God has already committed to do. It highlights that our confidence isn't in our own faithfulness, but in God's unchangeable, steadfast love that He initiated.
Solomon has just finished his incredible dedication prayer for the newly built Temple, acknowledging God's faithfulness and the people's sin. This verse marks the end of that prayer, with Solomon pleading for God to remember His covenant promises, particularly those made to David, as the Temple is consecrated. It's a plea rooted in God's history with His people, asking Him to bless the present undertaking based on His past faithfulness.
Solomon has just finished his incredible dedication prayer for the newly built Temple, acknowledging God's faithfulness and the people's sin. This verse marks the end of that prayer, with Solomon pleading for God to remember His covenant promises, particularly those made to David, as the Temple is consecrated. It's a plea rooted in God's history with His people, asking Him to bless the present undertaking based on His past faithfulness.
"O LORD God, do not turn away the face of your anointed one! Remember your steadfast love for David your servant.”" — This isn't just a plea for God's favor, but a reminder of His promises to David, shifting the focus from what we do to what God has already committed to do. It highlights that our confidence is…
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Last reviewed October 2026
