The Lord rejects any idea that a permanent structure is necessary for his presence to be real and permanent among his people.1 Such was the general thought among people of the ancient Near East; they considered the gods to be tied to a particular geographical area in such a way that you had gods of Egypt
and gods of Canaan.
The Lord, however, is not like pagan gods.2 He has been moving in the midst of his people; his presence has been with them wherever they go. This is how he has shown his splendour, not in a magnificent temple, but in the works which he has done on behalf of his people.3
6 I have not lived in a house since the day I brought up the people of Israel from Egypt to this day, but I have been moving about in a tent for my dwelling.