Take Courage, the Lord is with You!

Discouragement had set in for the people of God. The Elder generation saw the how lowly the temple under construction was in comparison to the Glory of Solomon's.
God gives encouragement at just the right time. The Leaders and the People are told to Take Courage (be strong). How and why should the people be strong? Not just for being strong sake, but rather because God was with them. It is the very presence of God that makes God's people strong. Alec Motyer has well said –Despondency says, “I can't, therefore I wont”, obedience of faith says “I can't, but HE can, so I will”

His promise (covenant) had not changed. God is immutable – he cannot change. “I am with you”, Israel had sinned greatly, like us but human sin and frailty does cannot overthrow God's Faithfulness and His commitment to His covenant!

The Temple was to Have Greater Glory and higher Honor than even Solomon's Temple v.7-9. What is the wealth (desire) of the nations? People- that is God's chosen, precious, valuable- Elect of God. “I will fill this house w/ Glory”. The glory of God's Temple is not External physical beauty, but rather the spiritual glory that results as men from every tribe and nation being converted to Christ and added to the church! Eph. 2:19-22, 1 Peter 2:5-9. God declares that this glory will far surpass Solomon's temple.