Following seventy years of captivity and exile, these people coming back to Jerusalem were more together than ever before. They just needed some time to be reintroduced to a land others had cared for, a city and temple left in ruins. But they were more unified than at any time in centuries of divided kingdoms.

The laying of the first s tone for the newly constructed temple was cause for rejoicing. Trumpets sounded; voices rose and filled the air with songs. It was "glory to God in the highest" as people praised their Lord and the cornerstone of a temple-to-be. Foundations are important to any building.

Foundations are important to the building of a people, too. The liberated Jews celebrated a homecoming and marked it with a commitment to erect a temple to God. But they were also committing themselves to become a sanctuary for God, a dwelling in which he might live by His Spirit.

This would come at another time. It has, and it is now! The temple has foundation and glory Christ and you!