MPV Commentary

God's Promises unto It.

The word of the Lord came to Solomon, likely through a prophet. This message was timely and served two purposes: it encouraged Solomon to continue building the temple by reaffirming the promise made to his father David (2 Samuel 7:12-16), and it warned him against pride and presumption. The assumption that the magnificent temple would guarantee God's presence and favor at all times was misguided. Instead, the condition for experiencing this blessing was clearly stated.

The dwelling of God among the children of Israel referred specifically to those symbols of His presence in the temple, which represented His spiritual relationship with the people.