1 Kings 9:3
And the LORD said unto him, I have heard thy prayer and thy supplication, that thou hast made before me: I have hallowed this house, which thou hast built, to put my name there for ever; and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually.
The words were spoken in the Lord's second appearance to Solomon after the dedication of the temple, as part of the account of the temple and Solomon's dedicatory prayer, giving him approval and counsel to remain faithful. In answer to Solomon's prayer and supplication, God declared He had heard him and had hallowed the house Solomon had built to put His name there forever, with His eyes and His heart there perpetually. That abiding presence meant His attention and care continually directed toward the consecrated place bearing His name.
The promise was conditional, as the following words show, for the temple's continuance as a lasting sign of favor to Israel depended on Israel remaining faithful. The continuance of the kingdom and of the hallowed house depended on Solomon and Israel remaining faithful to God's commands, and did not make them or the temple secure regardless of obedience. Solomon had received remarkable manifestations of God's power and a clear divine warning, yet he later failed to obey, turned from the God who had appeared to him, forsook the temple, and worshiped idols.
Israel was called peculiar because, among the nations, it preserved the true worship of God by keeping His commandments. God is not confined to temples made by human hands, but also visits people isolated in captivity and distress, cheering them through special manifestations of His glory. The Lord's word to Solomon applies as a lesson to anyone who takes on responsibilities in God's work, since power can become a snare and ruin the soul, and strength of character is to be honored by commandment keepers.