In his wisdom, Solomon made certain that all the preparation and shaping of rocks or timbers was done before the building blocks were put in place. There was no sound of a hammer or chisel on the temple site. Each piece was carefully prepared and then brought in to become part of the temple (1 Kings 6:7). It was to be a holy place where God would come. 

Paul wanted the people of God to know that they were the temple of God. They were holy (1 Corinthians 3:16-17). This life with all of its experiences, trials, pain and joy is the “quarry” in which the stones that make up the holy nation of God are being prepared. Here on earth we can hear the sound of the chisel and hammer—for we are not yet the finished product. James said to rejoice in our trials—knowing they were the tools with which we are readied for the final “fitting.”