1 Kings 8:27-30 - Will God really dwell on earth?

8:27,28

While Solomon is pleased to have completed the temple, and pleased that God enabled this to happen, he realises that a man made temple cannot contain the greatness of the Lord. Even so, he asks the Lord to hear his prayers, and that the Lord would have mercy upon him. “Is praying in your presence this day”. The presence of the Lord is vital for Solomon.

8:29,30

“My Name shall be there”. “Name” here is not just a title, but represents the character and person of the Lord. Solomon’s prayer is that the Lord will dwell with the people of Israel. Moses expressed a similar desire for the presence of the Lord (Ex 33:14,15), and Rev 21:3 declares that the dwelling of the Lord is now among the people. Solomon calls upon the Lord to always hear the prayers of His people, and a sign of the people being committed to the Lord is that they pray to the Lord and that He will hear and answer them.