#4 - Kyle Thompson // Your Servants Who Delight to Fear Your Name - The Daily Blade: Joby Martin & Kyle Thompson

Summary5 min read

Podcast Summary: The Daily Blade – Episode #4 with Kyle Thompson

Title: Your Servants Who Delight to Fear Your Name
Hosts: Joby Martin & Kyle Thompson
Release Date: January 6, 2025

Introduction

In Episode #4 of The Daily Blade, hosts Joby Martin and Kyle Thompson delve into the profound themes of reverence and honor towards God, drawing inspiration from the Old Testament book of Nehemiah. This episode is particularly insightful for Christians seeking to deepen their understanding and application of Scripture in daily life.

Exploring Nehemiah: A Hidden Gem

Timestamp [00:19]:
Kyle Thompson opens the discussion by expressing his admiration for the book of Nehemiah, an often overlooked section of Scripture. He emphasizes the valuable lessons found in the early chapters, setting the stage for a deep dive into Nehemiah 1.

“All right, guys, I want to welcome you to one of my favorite books of the entire Old Testament, and that's Nehemiah. Now, normally when I say that, people look at me a little funny, and I think that's because it is an often ignored part of Scripture. But there really are some incredible nuggets from the early chapters of the book of Nehemiah.”
— Kyle Thompson [00:19]

Reading Nehemiah 1: A Prayer of Repentance and Plea

Kyle reads Nehemiah 1 from the English Standard Version (ESV), highlighting Nehemiah’s heartfelt prayer after hearing distressing news about Jerusalem. This passage showcases Nehemiah's deep sorrow, fasting, and intercession for the people of Israel.

“Oh Lord, let your ear be attentive to the Prayer of your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight to fear your name...”
— Nehemiah 1:11 (ESV) [00:19]

Delving into Verse 11: The Significance of Fearing God

Timestamp [04:30]:
Kyle narrows his focus to Nehemiah 1:11, unpacking the phrase “your servants who delight to fear your name.” He clarifies that the type of fear Nehemiah speaks of is not akin to the fear one might feel in a scary movie or before an exam, but a reverential fear that signifies honor and respect.

“This prayer is a prayer that comes on the heels of days of weeping and mourning. But the phrase 'your servants who delight to fear your name' sticks out to me...”
— Kyle Thompson [04:30]

He explains the Hebrew root word for fear suggests being honored or revered, contrasting it with the contemporary Christian experience where fear and honor for God are often diminished.

Modern Challenges to Reverence

Timestamp [04:55]:
Kyle addresses the modern Christian landscape, pointing out that many today view God in a less formidable light. He attributes this shift to societal prosperity and the portrayal of Jesus in contemporary culture.

“We live in an era where any description of a, you know, quote unquote scary God that we should fear is met with skepticism at best and condemnation at worst.”
— Kyle Thompson [04:55]

He argues that the relative comfort and prosperity in many believers' lives have led to a diminished sense of dependence on God, thus eroding the fear and honor that should characterize their relationship with Him.

The Role of the Church and Contemporary Culture

Timestamp [05:20]:
Kyle critiques the influence of modern churches and contemporary Christian music, suggesting they have contributed to a softened image of Jesus. He laments that Jesus is often depicted as a gentle, non-threatening figure rather than the powerful Savior who commands reverence.

“Churches and specifically contemporary Christian music have done us no favors either. So they do a pretty good job of helping you see Jesus as this, you know, cutesy, wootsy little add on to your already pretty good life.”
— Kyle Thompson [05:20]

He emphasizes the necessity for men of God to restore a proper reverence for the Creator, aligning with Nehemiah's model of a servant leader who honors God's name genuinely.

Call to Action: Reviving Reverence

Timestamp [05:50]:
Concluding his message, Kyle challenges listeners to evaluate their own hearts and attitudes towards God.

“Are you a servant that delights in fearing the name of God, or do you have a low view of our God? Keep that in mind for tomorrow's episode as well.”
— Kyle Thompson [05:50]

He encourages men to cultivate a deeper, more respectful relationship with God, reminiscent of Nehemiah's dedication and reverence.

Closing Remarks

Joby Martin wraps up the episode by urging listeners to share the podcast, rate it highly, and continue equipping themselves for spiritual battles.

“Thank you for listening to today's episode. Before you go, if you want to help, equip other men for the fight, share this podcast around and leave us a five star rating and review. Stay sharp.”
— Joby Martin [05:07]

Key Takeaways

Nehemiah’s Example: Nehemiah's prayer is a powerful model of repentance, intercession, and longing for God’s favor.
True Fear of God: The fear referenced in Nehemiah 1:11 is one of honor and reverence, essential for a right relationship with God.
Cultural Influence: Modern prosperity and contemporary portrayals of Jesus have diluted the traditional reverence believers should have.
Call for Revival: Men of God are urged to reclaim a deep-seated respect and fear of God to foster genuine worship and obedience.

Notable Quotes

Kyle Thompson [00:19]: “Nehemiah is an often ignored part of Scripture. But there really are some incredible nuggets from the early chapters of the book of Nehemiah.”
Kyle Thompson [04:55]: “We live in an era where any description of a, you know, quote unquote scary God that we should fear is met with skepticism at best and condemnation at worst.”
Kyle Thompson [05:20]: “Churches and specifically contemporary Christian music have done us no favors either...a cutesy, wootsy little add on to your already pretty good life.”
Kyle Thompson [05:50]: “Are you a servant that delights in fearing the name of God, or do you have a low view of our God?”

Episode Reflection:
This episode of The Daily Blade serves as a compelling reminder of the importance of reverence in the Christian walk. By revisiting Nehemiah's heartfelt prayer, Kyle Thompson encourages believers to cultivate a genuine fear of God that honors Him deeply, countering the increasingly comfortable and diluted expressions of faith prevalent today.

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Transcript3 lines

[00:01]
A
Welcome to the Daily Blade. The word of God is described as the sword of the spirit, the primary spiritual weapon in the Christian's armor against the forces of evil. Your hosts are Joby Martin and Kyle Thompson, and they stand ready to equip men for the fight. Let's sharpen up.
[00:19]
B
All right, guys, I want to welcome you to one of my favorite books of the entire Old Testament, and that's Nehemiah. Now, normally when I say that, people look at me a little funny, and I think that's because it is an often ignored part of Scripture. But there really are some incredible nuggets from the early chapters of the book of Nehemiah. So that is where we will spend some time this week. So let's all read out of Nehemiah 1, and I'll be reading from the English Standard Version. Now, it happened in the month of Kislev, in the 20th year, as I was in Susa, the citadel, that Hanani, one of my brothers, came with certain men from Judah. And I asked them concerning the Jews who escaped, who had survived the exile, and concerning Jerusalem. And they said to me, the remnant there in the province who had survived the exile is in great trouble and shame. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down and its gates are destroyed by fire. As soon as I heard these words, I sat down and wept and mourned for days. And I continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven. And I said, o Lord, God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments. Let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer of your servant that I now pray before you day and night for the people of Israel, your servants, confessing the sins of the people of Israel, which we have sinned against. You even I and my father's house have sinned. We have acted very corruptly against you and have not kept the commandments, the statutes and the rules that you commanded your servant Moses. Remember the word that you commanded your servant Moses, saying, if you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the peoples. But if you return to me and keep my commandments and do them, though your outcasts are in the uttermost parts of heaven, from there I will gather them and bring them to the place that I have chosen to make my name dwell. There they are your servants and your people, whom you have redeemed by your great power and by your strong hand. O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the Prayer of your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight to fear your name and give success to your servant today and grant him mercy in the sight of this man. Now, I was cup bearer to the king. Now guys, with any section of scripture, there is a lot that we could unpack, but this is a short form show, so we kind of have to get to the point. So I want to look at one specific phrase that you might miss if you're reading too fast. So let's actually go back to verse 11. Oh Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight to fear your name and give success to your servant today and grant him mercy in the sight of this man. So I went key in on this. Your servants who delight to fear your name. So this is a statement that Nehemiah makes towards the end of a prayer. But this isn't just any prayer, okay? This prayer is a prayer that comes on the heels of days of weeping and mourning. Okay? He covers a lot of ground in that prayer. But the phrase your servants who delight to fear your name sticks out to me. And it sticks out because we live in an era where, where any description of a, you know, quote unquote scary God that we should fear is met with skepticism at best and condemnation at worst. But we need to look at what kind of fear that is being discussed here. Okay? It's not fear like, you know, a scary movie or that feeling you get when you walk into a classroom to take a test that you didn't study for. The Hebrew root word used here for fear means be feared, or more specifically, be honored. And I just gotta say, I don't think we do a whole lot of either nowadays. And there are a lot of reasons for that. One reason that we don't fear or honor God is because our lives are actually pretty good, especially compared to the rest of the world. Even poor people in America would be considered wealthy just about anywhere else on the globe. So when you're not having to pray the prayer to ask God for your daily bread, you kind of miss out on the power of a blessing from an all holy and all good God. Also, I think churches and specifically contemporary Christian music have done us no favors either. So they do a pretty good job of helping you see Jesus as this, you know, cutesy, wootsy little add on to your already pretty good life. And we were, we just love referring to him as if he's boyfriend Jesus who wouldn't offend anyone and not lying of Judah Jesus that comes back violently to capture his bride at the end of days, right? You don't need to fear boyfriend Jesus. You don't need to honor wispy haired, soft featured Jesus either. But for us, for men of God, we must fear and revere the Creator of the cosmos if we have any chance at all at worshiping him correctly. So today. Chew on that. Are you a servant that delights in fearing the name of God, or do you have a low view of our God? Keep that in mind for tomorrow's episode as well.
[05:08]
A
Thank you for listening to today's episode. Before you go, if you want to help, equip other men for the fight, share this podcast around and leave us a five star rating and review. Stay sharp.