Yet for the sake of His servant David, the LORD was unwilling to destroy Judah, since He had promised to maintain a lamp for David and his descendants forever.
Yet the LORD is unwilling to destroy Judah for the sake of David his servant, because he has promised to maintain a lamp for David and his descendants.
This verse limits the judgment by recalling God’s promise to David.
16In the fifth year of the reign of Joram son of Ahab over Israel, Jehoram son of Jehoshaphat succeeded his father as king of Judah. 17Jehoram was thirty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eight years. 18And Jehoram walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, just as the house of Ahab had done. For he married a daughter of Ahab and did evil in the sight of the LORD. 19Yet for the sake of His servant David, the LORD was unwilling to destroy Judah, since He had promised to maintain a lamp for David and his descendants forever.