2 Chronicles 6:18, commentary and pictures

Solomon spoke the words as part of his vocal prayer after the temple was finished and erected, offered aloud at its dedication while kneeling on a brazen scaffold, a raised platform, before assembled Israel with many nations present and hearing, with its words recorded in the Bible. After the prayer ended, God answered and fire from heaven consumed the burnt offering. The prayer was spoken aloud and the people heard it.

God in very deed is not contained by the earth, the heavens, or even heaven and the heaven of heavens, how much less by the house Solomon built, so no earthly temple made with human hands can contain Him. He is too great to be contained even by heaven itself and the highest heaven. Jehovah is not confined to a temple like heathen gods, in contrast to heathen superstition that gods are confined and to temples made with hands. Solomon knelt before all Israel and many nations at the dedication of the finished temple to tear away that superstition that Jehovah is confined to a temple like heathen gods. The Most High does not dwell confined in temples made with hands, unlike the gods imagined by the heathen.

Though uncontainable, the temple is set apart for God's name and appointed as a focus toward which prayer is directed, and Solomon asks God to hear from His dwelling in heaven, to attend to the house with His eyes open toward it night and day, and to forgive those who pray toward that place. The temple is nevertheless a place associated with God's name where He put His name. Solomon asks God to hear prayers directed toward it from His dwelling in heaven and to forgive, to hearken to the prayer made toward that place. God honors the house dedicated to His worship by meeting His people there by His Spirit when they assemble to seek Him. His eyes are open toward it night and day to hearken to prayer made there.

God is not limited to meeting His people at the temple, for He also visits and comforts them in their homes and wherever they may be, so His children can worship Him in every place. The temple is dedicated to His worship and He meets His people there by His Spirit when they assemble. The place of God's highest worship is in heaven. The words were later used by Stephen to prove loyalty to God and the Jewish faith while connecting Jesus Christ with all Jewish history and showing that the law trusted for salvation had not preserved Israel from idolatry.

Though God is too great to be contained even by heaven, He dwells with the humble and contrite, making the heart of a humble, repentant person His chosen temple and filling the soul with light, grace, and strength.