Exo. 29:45-46
And I will dwell among the children of Israel and be their Mighty One.
And they will know that I am YHWH their Mighty One who brought them out of the land of Egypt, that I may dwell among them…
David desired to build a permanent structure to house YHWH’s presence. This was not His desire, but He allowed David’s son Solomon to build the Temple for His servant’s sake.
2 Sa. 7:2, 4-6
[David] said unto Nathan the prophet, “See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of the Mighty One dwells within curtains”.
And it came to pass that night, that the word of YHWH came to Nathan, saying, “Go and tell my servant David,
‘Thus, says YHWH, will you build me a house for me to dwell in?
Whereas I have not dwelt in any house since I brought up the children of Israel out of Egypt, even to this day, but have walked in a tent and in a tabernacle…
And when your days are fulfilled, and you sleep with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you, which will proceed out of your bowels, and I will establish his kingdom.
He will build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.’”
It is understood that Nathan’s prophecy here had a dual application. On the one hand, David’s son Solomon fulfilled this Word.
1 Ki. 8:12, 16, 20
Then Solomon said… “Blessed be YHWH the Mighty One of Israel, which spoke with his [prophet] to David my father, and has with his hand fulfilled it, saying,
‘…Since the day that I brought forth my people Israel out of Egypt, I chose no city out of all the tribes of Israel to build a house, that my name might be therein…’
And YHWH has performed his word that he spoke, and I am risen up in the room of David my father, and sit on the throne of Israel, as YHWH promised, and have built a house for the name of YHWH the Mighty One of Israel”.
1 Ch. 28:10
“Take heed now; for YHWH has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary…”
On the other hand, the way this prophecy is worded in 1 Chronicles 17:11, Solomon could not have fulfilled it because he was not “of David’s sons”. Instead, the prophet Zechariah understood that it was a prophecy to be fulfilled by the Messiah, the Branch or Shoot of the stock of Jesse. Zec. 6:12, 13.
The place of His presence was removed from Solomon’s Temple because of the sins of our fathers.
According to the prophet Isaiah (66:1-2; 57:15) and David (Psa. 34:18; 51:11, 17), His set-apart place is with those who circumcise their hearts and accept all of His Words.
The place of His presence was removed from Solomon’s Temple because of the sins of our fathers.
When Solomon had just finished construction of the Temple, YHWH warned him:
(1 Kings 9:6-7; 2 Chronicles 7:19-20)
This warning was later repeated by His servants Jeremiah (7:12-14; 26:4-6), Micah (Jer. 26:18; Mic. 3:12), and Ezekiel (24:21).
This warning became a reality as recorded in 2 Kings 25, 2 Chronicles 36:15ff, and Jeremiah 52. Instead of repenting from their sins, the people “mocked the messengers of the Mighty One, despised His Words, and misused His prophets—until the wrath of YHWH arose against His people and there was no remedy”. 2 Ch. 36:16.
Seventy years later, the Temple began to be rebuilt. This new Temple lasted about six hundred years—until 70 CE.
In this second Temple, however, the ark of the covenant—from whence YHWH spoke with Moses (Exo. 25:22; 30:6, 36; Num. 7:89; 1 Sa. 4:4; 2 Sa. 6:2; 2 Ki. 19:15; Psa. 80:1; Isa. 37:16) —was absent.
According to Jeremiah, at the end of days, when YHWH brings us back to the Land He gave our ancestors, the ark of the covenant will no longer be relevant.
Jeremiah 3:16
Isaiah testified: “For thus declares the high and exalted One: ‘I dwell in the high and set-apart place, and with him who has a bruised and humble spirit’”. 57:15. And again, “Where is the place of my rest? To such a one I show Myself: on him who is poor and bruised of spirit and trembles at My Word”. 66:1-2. David also spoke these words in the same Spirit: “YHWH is near to the broken-hearted and saves those whose spirit is crushed”. 34:18. And again, “Take not your Set-Apart Spirit from me”, “A heart broken and crushed, these You do not despise”. 51:11, 17.