1 Kings 9:3

“And the Lord said unto him, I have heard thy prayer and thy supplication that thou hast made before me, etc.] With delight and pleasure, and had accepted it; meaning the prayer recorded in the preceding chapter: I have hallowed this house which thou hast built; by the cloud of glory filling it, and by fire descending from heaven, and consuming the sacrifices offered in it, (<140701>2 Chronicles 7:1) to put my name there for ever; there to grant his presence, so long as his pure worship should be continued in it; so the Targum adds, “and my Shechinah or divine Majesty shall abide in it, if my will is done there continually:” and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually; his eyes of…”

“The answer given by God to Solomon’s prayer is reported more fully in 2 Chronicles 7:12-22. When God puts His Name in the temple He does it, in intention, “forever.” He will not arbitrarily withdraw it; there it will remain “forever,” so far as God is concerned. But the people may by unfaithfulness drive it away 1 Kings 9:7-9. And mine eyes and my heart - An answer in excess of the prayer 1 Kings 8:29; “Not Mine eyes only, but Mine eyes and Mine heart.” return to 'Top of Page'”

“For ever - As long as the Mosaic dispensation lasts; whereas hitherto my worship has been successively in several places. Eyes - My watchful and gracious providence. Heart - My tender affection. Shall be there - Shall be towards this place and people. 3 Kings (1 Kings) 9:5”

“9:3-9 The Lord answered Solomon’s prayer by reviewing the conditions of the covenant. Obedience would bring prosperity and the Lord’s blessing; disobedience could mean utter disaster, including destruction of the city and Temple, and deportation of God’s people (see Deut 28:36-37, 63-68). Although God’s covenant was irrevocable, receiving its blessings depended upon faithfulness to its terms (Ps 89:24-37).”

“I have heard: Kg2 20:5; Psa 10:17, Psa 66:19, Psa 116:1; Dan 9:23; Joh 11:42; Act 10:31; Jo1 5:14 I have hallowed: Kg1 8:10, Kg1 8:11; Exo 20:11; Num 16:38; Mat 6:9 to put: Kg1 8:29; Deu 12:5, Deu 12:11, Deu 12:21, Deu 16:11 mine eyes: Deu 11:12; Ch2 6:40, Ch2 7:15, Ch2 7:16; Psa 132:13, Psa 132:14; Sol 4:9, Sol 4:10; Jer 15:1 3 Kings (1 Kings) 9:4”

“The divine promise to Solomon, that his prayer should be answered, is closely connected with the substance of the prayer; but in our account we have only a brief summary, whereas in the Chronicles it is given more elaborately (vid., Ch2 7:12-16). "I have sanctified this house which thou hast built, to put my name there." For the expression, see Deu 12:11. The sanctifying consisted in the fact, that Jehovah put His name in the temple; i.e., that by filling the temple with the cloud which visibly displayed His presence, He consecrated it as the scene of the manifestation of His grace. To Solomon's prayer, "May Thine eyes stand open over this house" ( Kg1 8:29), the Lord replies, giving always…”