1. The Destruction Of Jerusalem. 21
He“ chose the tribe of Judah, the Mount Zion which He loved. And He built His sanctuary like high palaces.” 24 The first temple had been erected during the most prosperous period of Israel ' s history. Vast stores of treasure for this purpose had been collected by King David, and the plans for its construction were made by divine inspiration. 25 Solomon, the wisest of Israel ' s monarchs, had completed the work. This temple was the most magnificent building which the world ever saw. Yet the Lord had declared by the prophet Haggai, concerning the second temple,“ The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former.”“ I will shake all nations, and the Desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the Lord of hosts.” 26
After the destruction of the temple by Nebuchadnezzar, it was rebuilt about five hundred years before the birth of Christ, by a people who from a life-long captivity had returned to a wasted and almost deserted country. There were then among them aged men who had seen the glory of Solomon ' s temple, and who wept at the foundation of the new building, that it must be so inferior to the former. The feeling that prevailed is forcibly described by the prophet:“ Who is left among you that saw this house in her [ 024 ] first glory? and how do ye see it now? is it not in your eyes in comparison of it as nothing?” 27 Then was given the promise that the glory of this latter house should be greater than that of the former.
But the second temple had not equaled the first in magnificence; nor was it hallowed by those visible tokens of the divine presence which pertained to the first temple. There was no manifestation of supernatural power to mark its dedication. No cloud of glory was seen to fill the newly erected sanctuary. No fire from heaven descended to consume the sacrifice upon its
24 Ibid. 25 1 Chron. 28:12, 19. 26 Haggai 2:9, 7. 27 Haggai 2:3; Ezra 3:12.