I have chosen him in order that he may command his sons and his descendants to obey me and to do what is right and just. If they do, I will do everything for him that I have promised."

"If you listen to these commands and obey them faithfully, then the LORD your God will continue to keep his covenant with you and will show you his constant love, as he promised your ancestors.

And to Solomon he said, "My son, I charge you to acknowledge your father's God and to serve him with an undivided heart and a willing mind. He knows all our thoughts and desires. If you go to him, he will accept you; but if you turn away from him, he will abandon you forever.

I love you just as the Father loves me; remain in my love.

If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love.

But you, my friends, keep on building yourselves up on your most sacred faith. Pray in the power of the Holy Spirit,

and keep yourselves in the love of God, as you wait for our Lord Jesus Christ in his mercy to give you eternal life.

To him who is able to keep you from falling and to bring you faultless and joyful before his glorious presence---

(SEE 7:10)

He will be the one to build a temple for me, and I will make sure that his dynasty continues forever.

But I will not withdraw my support from him as I did from Saul, whom I removed so that you could be king.

When you die and are buried with your ancestors, I will make one of your sons king and will keep his kingdom strong.

I will be his father, and he will be my son. I will not withdraw my support from him as I did from Saul, whom I removed so that you could be king.

Nathan told David everything that God had revealed to him.

He did, however, make me a promise. He said, 'You will have a son who will rule in peace, because I will give him peace from all his enemies. His name will be Solomon, because during his reign I will give Israel peace and security.

David continued, "Now, son, may the LORD your God be with you, and may he keep his promise to make you successful in building a temple for him.

He gave me many sons, and out of them all he chose Solomon to rule over Israel, the LORD's kingdom.

I will make his kingdom last forever if he continues to obey carefully all my laws and commands as he does now.'

His dynasty will be as permanent as the sky; a descendant of his will always be king.

if they disregard my instructions and do not keep my commandments,

But I will not stop loving David or fail to keep my promise to him.

"Once and for all I have promised by my holy name: I will never lie to David.

It will be as permanent as the moon, that faithful witness in the sky."

You made a solemn promise to David--- a promise you will not take back: "I will make one of your sons king, and he will rule after you.

If your sons are true to my covenant and to the commands I give them, their sons, also, will succeed you for all time as kings."

Solomon loved the LORD and followed the instructions of his father David, but he also slaughtered animals and offered them as sacrifices on various altars.

And if you obey me and keep my laws and commands, as your father David did, I will give you a long life."

and prayed, " LORD God of Israel, there is no god like you in heaven above or on earth below! You keep your covenant with your people and show them your love when they live in wholehearted obedience to you.

When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to him and said, "I am the Almighty God. Obey me and always do what is right.

"If you live according to my laws and obey my commands,

"Remember, LORD, that I have served you faithfully and loyally and that I have always tried to do what you wanted me to." And he began to cry bitterly.

He stood by the royal column and made a covenant with the LORD to obey him, to keep his laws and commands with all his heart and soul, and to put into practice the demands attached to the covenant, as written in the book. And all the people promised to keep the covenant.

There had never been a king like him before, who served the LORD with all his heart, mind, and strength, obeying all the Law of Moses; nor has there been a king like him since.

The LORD blessed Jehoshaphat because he followed the example of his father's early life and did not worship Baal.

They both lived good lives in God's sight and obeyed fully all the Lord's laws and commands.

Love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.

"Now, people of Israel, listen to what the LORD your God demands of you: Worship the LORD and do all that he commands. Love him, serve him with all your heart,

"So then, obey the commands that I have given you today; love the LORD your God and serve him with all your heart.

Jesus answered, " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.'

And now, LORD God of Israel, I pray that you will also keep the other promise you made to my father when you told him that there would always be one of his descendants ruling as king of Israel, provided they obeyed you as carefully as he did.

When you die and are buried with your ancestors, I will make one of your sons king and will keep his kingdom strong.

He will be the one to build a temple for me, and I will make sure that his dynasty continues forever.

You will always have descendants, and I will make your kingdom last forever. Your dynasty will never end.' "

Those who trust in the LORD will possess the land, but the wicked will be driven out.

Those who are blessed by the LORD will possess the land, but those who are cursed by him will be driven out.

The LORD will bring all the nations together to make war on Jerusalem. The city will be taken, the houses looted, and the women raped. Half of the people will go into exile, but the rest of them will not be taken away from the city.