1 Kings 8:25-29

25 Now therefore, O LORD, God of Israel, keep for your servant David my father what you have promised him, saying, ¹'You shall not lack a man to sit before me on the throne of Israel, if only your sons pay close attention to their way, to walk before me as you have walked before me.'

26 ²Now therefore, O God of Israel, let your word be confirmed, which you have spoken to your servant David my father.

27 "But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, ³heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you; how much less this house that I have built!

28 Yet have regard to the prayer of your servant and to his plea, O LORD my God, listening to the cry and to the prayer that your servant prays before you this day,

29 ⁴that your eyes may be open night and day toward this house, the place of which you have said, ⁵'My name shall be there,' that you may listen to the prayer that your servant offers toward this place.

1 Kings 8:25-29 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO 1 KINGS 8

This chapter gives an account of the introduction of the ark into the temple, 1Ki 8:1-9 of the glory of the Lord filling it, 1Ki 8:10,11 of a speech Solomon made to the people concerning the building of the temple, and how he came to be engaged in it, 1Ki 8:12-21, of a prayer of his he put up on this occasion, requesting, that what supplications soever were made at any time, or on any account, by Israelites or strangers, might be accepted by the Lord, 1Ki 8:22-53, and of his blessing the people of Israel at the close of it, with some useful exhortations, 1Ki 8:54-61, and of the great number of sacrifices offered up by him, and the feast he made for the people, upon which he dismissed them, 1Ki 8:62-66.

Cross References

• 1. See 1 Kings 2:4
• 2. 2 Samuel 7:25
• 3. 2 Chronicles 2:6; [Isaiah 66:1; Jeremiah 23:24; Acts 7:49; Acts 17:24]
• 4. ver. 52; [2 Chronicles 7:15; Nehemiah 1:6]
• 5. ver. 16; 1 Kings 9:3; Deuteronomy 12:11