We live in a day when religion has been isolated from the rest of life β as though the temple can be isolated from the city. But for the rest of human history, temples, churches, synagogues, mosques β religious buildings have always been integral to the city.
When you look at pictures of old European (or early American) cities, the churches were invariably the tallest buildings in the town.
Religious buildings are still integral to the city! Shopping malls and sports arenas are the "temples" of our day. Civic leaders today spend princely sums to build a sports arena β very much like the spending on the temple in Jerusalem. (And for the same purpose β Darius wanted the people of Israel to "vote for him.")
Temples unite people in a common devotion. And particularly, temples unite cities. The city comes together around this common devotion, thereby giving a sense of meaning, purpose, and joy.
You cannot understand the temple in isolation from the whole city of Jerusalem! A temple by itself is not enough. Until the city is rebuilt, the temple is incomplete. The temple represents the presence of God with his people. The wall represents God's protection of his people.
In the same way, the church is the temple of the Holy Spirit β but God is building a city.
Paul tells us that we are citizens of the heavenly Jerusalem. Our allegiance is not primarily to the United States β or to South Bend β but to the heavenly Jerusalem.
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