The Next to Last Word: Service, Hope, and Revival in the Postexilic Prophets (Barrett)

Description

Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi—the often ignored Minor Prophets—delivered the next-to-last word to God’s people.

That is, these prophets pointed Israel to Christ, the supreme and final Word, and warned them against rejecting Him. Underscoring the truth that studying this portion of Scripture is profitable (2 Tim. 3:16), Michael Barrett helps us discern the relevance of these prophets for today. He explains the prophetic office, the historical setting of the postexilic books, and their contributions to God’s overall redemptive message before considering the specific messages of each of these books in depth.

Study questions at the end of each chapter enhance individual and group Bible study.

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Contents

Part 1 — Just the Facts

1. Facts about Their Job 

2. Facts about Their Times

Part 2 — Haggai: The Realist

3. Facts about Haggai

4. It’s Not about You

5. Appearance Is Not Reality

6. Blessing Starts Now

7. The Best Is Yet to Be

Part 3 — Zechariah: The Idealist

8. Facts about Zechariah

9. The Foundation of Hope

10. The Focus of Hope: The Prophet

11. The Focus of Hope: The Priest

12. The Focus of Hope: The King

13. The Fulfillment of Hope: Generally Speaking; Figuratively Speaking

Part 4 — Malachi: The Logician

14. Facts about Malachi

15. The Autopsy of Dead Religion

16.  The Answer to Dead Religion

17. The Antithesis to Dead Religion

Endorsements

“A book like this could be so sketchy that it's not useful or so exhaustive that one is simply awash in a muddle of detail. But in length and depth Dr. Barrett's treatment of these three neglected prophets is—like Baby Bear's porridge—just right.  He nicely balances the ‘what’ (explanation) and the ‘so what’ (application), and, while anchoring us in the historical context, he insistently and unabashedly keeps our eyes fixed on the Christ-centered hope they proclaimed.” — Dale Ralph Davis, minister in residence, First Presbyterian Church, Columbia, South Carolina 

“Michael Barrett’s recent work on the postexilic prophets is written from a pastor’s perspective and doesn’t get bogged down in scholarly details. He lovingly presents these prophets as God’s ‘next-to-last word,’ which leads to God’s final Word, Jesus the Messiah. For Christians who long for a feast with these prophets as the centerpiece, Barrett’s work will be fresh bread.” — Heath A. Thomas, director of PhD studies and associate professor of Old Testament and Hebrew, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary

About the Author

Michael P. V. Barrett is vice president for academic affairs and professor of Old Testament at Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary, Grand Rapids.