When Hope Is Home, Fear Won't Call

REFLECTIONS
November 7, 2010

Fear has become a very large industry. I read in a recent article that while other holidays have remained flat in terms of growth in the last five years, Halloween has grown. This holiday dedicated to fright is becoming ever more popular. Resorts and amusement parks have created destination vacations. Scary movies are released as near to October 31st as possible. Then of course there is the costumes and the candy. Though all in the name of good fun we embrace fear.

The prophet Haggai was one of the so called latter prophets. Scholars tell us that the message of these prophets followed or rather continued the thought of the former of a unified nation for the people of Israel along with the ushering in of the messianic age. In 589 B.C.E. the Babylonians conquered Israel and took their captives to Babylon. In 538 B.C.E. after defeating the Babylonians, Cyprus issued a decree which allowed the Jews to return to their homeland. This decree also encouraged the people of Israel to unify their leadership and rebuild the temple in Jerusalem which had been destroyed by the Babylonians. Nearly two decades after being freed, the Jews had not begun the work on the temple and were not unified politically. The primary reason? The people are paralyzed by fear. Whether fear of failure, fear of success, or fear of being conquered again is not stated, however the prophet addressed the issue head on in the second chapter.

“Speak now to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and to the remnant of the people, and say, “Who is left among you that saw this house in its former glory? How does it look to you now?” (Verse 2) The prophet goes on to ask whether there is enough memory of their former worship and lives together to find the energy to rebuild again. Using words in the form of an oracle from God, Haggai writes “Yet now take courage, ...take courage, all you people of the land, says the Lord; work, for I am with you says the Lord of hosts, according to the promise I made to you... my spirit abides among you, do not fear.” History records somehow this worked. The temple was started in 520 and completed in 515. The political and worship life of the people restored. What the text reminds us, is that faith and fear are not new at all. More importantly still the words of the old prophet ring just as true today as they did two and a half millenia ago. To be afraid, even in the name of entertainment, requires effort. In the presence of a holiday celebration not a bad way to spend some time. However, with the rest of the time we have, how much better as people of faith to work and live in the presence of Hope?

Dr. Joey K. McDonald
First United Methodist Church
4832 Tujunga Avenue, North Hollywood, CA 91601