The priests and Levites consecrated themselves so they could bring up the ark of the Lord God of Israel.

For the Lord is great and certainly worthy of praise, he is more awesome than all gods.

Nathan said to David, “You should do whatever you have in mind, for God is with you.”

Now, O Lord, you are the true God; you have made this good promise to your servant.

He summoned his son Solomon and charged him to build a temple for the Lord God of Israel.

David said to Solomon: “My son, I really wanted to build a temple to honor the Lord my God.

For David said, “The Lord God of Israel has given his people rest and has permanently settled in Jerusalem.

Solomon son of David solidified his royal authority, for the Lord his God was with him and magnified him greatly.

That night God appeared to Solomon and said to him, “Tell me what I should give you.”

Solomon replied to God, “You demonstrated great loyalty to my father David and have made me king in his place.

Now my father David had a strong desire to build a temple to honor the Lord God of Israel.

Now, O Lord God of Israel, may the promise you made to your servant David be realized.

O Lord God, do not reject your chosen ones! Remember the faithful promises you made to your servant David!”

All the kings of the earth wanted to visit Solomon to see him display his God-given wisdom.

He ordered Judah to seek the Lord God of their ancestors and to observe his law and commands.

One nation was crushed by another, and one city by another, for God caused them to be in great turmoil.

They solemnly agreed to seek the Lord God of their ancestors with their whole heart and being.

However, the high places were not eliminated; the people were still not devoted to the God of their ancestors.

God helped him in his campaigns against the Philistines, the Arabs living in Gur Baal, and the Meunites.

Hezekiah and all the people were happy about what God had done for them, for it had been done quickly.