Definition: Blessed be the LORD thy God, which delighted in thee, to set thee on the throne of Israel: because the LORD loved Israel for ever, therefore made he thee king, to do judgment and justice.

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from 1 Kings 10:9. It's a really important and fascinating passage about God’s love and blessing! Here’s what it means in simpler terms: Basically, this verse says that God really loved Israel enough to choose them as his king. Let’s unpack it piece by piece: “Blessed be the LORD thy God…” – This is a way of saying “Thank you, God, for giving us.” It's a sign of gratitude. “…to set thee on the throne of Israel…” – This means God decided to make Israel his king, his nation. He wanted to give them a position of leadership and authority. “Because the LORD loved Israel for ever…” – This is the big part. God didn’t just love them temporarily; he loved them eternally. That's a really powerful statement! It means their relationship with him was everlasting. “…therefore made he thee king, to do judgment and justice.” – Now, because God loved them so much, He gave them the responsibility of ruling and making decisions. He also gave them the power to be just - meaning fair and correct in their dealings. So, it's a story about a deep and lasting relationship between God and his people. It’s not just about having a king; it’s about being chosen by God and given a special role to lead and protect them. Think of it like this: Imagine you have a really close, everlasting friendship with someone. You love them so much that you want to give them a position of leadership – a role where they can make important decisions for the group. That's kind of what this verse is about! In short, this verse highlights God’s unwavering affection for Israel and His desire to use them as his ruler. --- Do you want me to: Explain another verse? Talk more about the context of this passage (when it was written)? Discuss what this might mean for modern society?