The Fear Of God

The Fear of God

The Book of Haggai

Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IV5ycYJsQew

We’ve been working our way through the minor prophets looking at their major themes, and in the process seeing some of God’s characteristics to boot. To date we’ve looked at the prophet Jonah and the theme of God’s goodness. We then took a look at the prophet Hosea and the faithfulness of God. A couple of weeks back we then looked at the prophet Malachi and saw the unchangeableness of God.

Today’s what I’d like to look at is the fear of God through what is written by the prophet Haggai. Now, this is not usually what we consider when the prophet Haggai is mentioned, but rather a phrase God tells the people who had returned to Judah to rebuild the temple, and that phrase is “Consider your ways.”

But what I see from what God gave to Haggai to say is more about our need to fear Him.

Now, before we move forward, it might be good to see what is meant in God’s word when we are told to fear Him, especially when we are told several times in Proverbs how it is the fear of the Lord that is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 1:7; 9:10).

To fear God isn’t what we normally think about when we are told about fear, in other words it isn’t to shake and tremble for the evil that may befall, but rather to fear God is to have a deep sense of reverence and respect for Him. It is to live in a continuous state of awe and wonder of His might, power, holiness and righteousness, not to mention being totally in awe of His love for us, especially seeing how much we disobey and rebel against His rule over our lives.

Now, this is speaking to those who have come into a belief and relationship with Him, but on the other side of the coin, the fear of God to those who do not believe ends up being that of trembling in fear because of His coming judgment and eternal death, that is eternal separation from God, which while they won’t admit it, they know instinctually within their hearts.

Now, while this is far from a complete discourse on what fear of God means, it is sufficient for an understanding, especially as we enter into God’s word through the prophet Haggai.

Now, the best summary of Haggai’s message might best be found in what Walter Kaiser, evangelist and Old Testament scholar wrote. He said, “God’s work done in God’s way will never lack in splendor, eternal significance, or the personal presence of our Lord.”

To understand what Haggai was writing is to know that Haggai was a prophet to the nation of Judah after their return from Babylonian exile, and that God’s voice had not been heard in the nation of Judah since the prophet Jeremiah. Yes, there were prophets after Jeremiah and prior to Haggai, that is, Daniel and Ezekiel, they were writing from Babylon during the time of exile. Further, it had been 16 years since their return that these words were spoken. So, the question becomes, what happened to warrant these words.

Upon their return to Judah and Jerusalem under the leadership of Ezra, the people began to rebuild of the temple, and they had just finished laying the foundations and it was a time of celebration, but then the work came to a halt.

It seems like their neighbors, the Samaritans were rebuffed when they wanted to join in, and so they began a campaign of fear and intimidation, and even wrote a letter to king Artaxerxes of Persia to have the work stopped. And so now 16 years had passed, and nothing more had been accomplished.

From what happened, and what the prophet Haggai said, there were several things that contributed to the work not being started up again. That is, there are several things that not only dissuaded them but also dissuade us from starting and accomplishing God’s Kingdom work.

What Dissuades Us?

Excuses

We see this in the first thing that Haggai says.

“In the second year of King Darius, in the sixth month, on the first day of the month, the word of the Lord came by Haggai the prophet to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest saying, “Thus speaks the Lord of hosts, saying: This people says, ‘The time has not come, the time that the Lord's house should be built.’” (Haggai 1:1-2 NKJV)

Too often we find excuses as to why things are not accomplished, and thus, without knowing it, we end up blaming God for His inactions when the truth is we’re the ones who have not done the work, or His work. Today we hear such excuses saying that God is not calling us, or God is not calling us to this or that ministry anymore, as if it were God’s fault.