The Lord did not regard the physical rebuilding of the temple as an end in itself. He was most zealous for the spiritual rebuilding of hie people. The completion of the temple rebuilding project would be an indication of how that spiritual rebuilding was going. For that would show that the people again realized that their true strength and well being came from the Lord’s presence in their midst. In that attitude of submission and dependence, the Lord would take pleasure.1
8 Go up to the hills and bring wood and build the house, that I may take pleasure in it and that I may be glorified, says the LORD.