The Lord Said: "I Am Your Sanctuary"

 Ezekiel 11 (16) ‘Thus says the Lord God: Though I removed them far off among the nations, and though I scattered them among the countries, yet I have been a sanctuary to them for a while in the countries where they have gone.’ 17 Therefore say, ‘Thus says the Lord God: I will gather you from the peoples and assemble you out of the countries where you have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel.’ 18 And when they come there, they will remove from it all its detestable things and all its abominations. 19 And I will give them one heart, and a new spirit I will put within them. I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh, 20 that they may walk in my statutes and keep my rules and obey them. And they shall be my people, and I will be their God.

The exile was coming; there was no way around it.  But God's true people were not to be without hope or purpose.  Just because the Temple would be leveled did not mean He was absent. He would be with them where they went, and He would return them to the Land He had given. When they did, He would also give them a heart of obedience and fellowship.  In this life God continues to offer us hope and restoration - to soften our stubborn and rebellious hearts and return to Him.  He wants us to be ready for the Great Return and ingathering.