After being gently challenged to examine their priorities, the returned remnant is encouraged to fear God over man and return to honouring God in their midst. As they begin to do so, it seems hopeless: this current temple rising from the rubble is so insignificant compared to the glory of the first one; and with so many of their nation still in Persia, what was the point of all of it anyway? God is always glorious, even when we don't see it. Part of the gloriousness of God's glory is His delight in using people, methods, and circumstances that are dark, helpless, and hopeless; redeeming them to further show His overflowing heart of love, mercy, compassion, and grace. When the highest glory of all stoops to befriend the lowest of the low, how much more glorious it is, and this our graciously sovereign heavenly Father does constantly.

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