Bible Speaks Today Old Testament – serie

Genesis sets the scene for the whole of the Bible, and indeed the entire human drama. It is a book both of beginnings and of a new beginning – the dawn of the gospel.In The Message of Genesis 12-50, Joyce G. Baldwin shows how the vivid narratives of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph still speak to us today, highlighting God's ways of dealing with ordinary men and women. Unpacking how, in fulfilling his great plan for the whole of humanity, God works individually with imperfect people, Baldwin explores the meaning Genesis 12-50 holds for modern Christians – and how the often painful experiences it relates help us to know the character of the God we worship better. Part of the loved and trusted The Bible Speaks Today series of commentaries, The Message of Genesis 12-50 offers an insightful, readable exposition of the Biblical text and thought-provoking discussion of how its meaning relates to contemporary life. Used by Bible students and teachers around the world, The Bible Speaks Today commentaries are ideal for anyone studying or preaching Genesis and who want to delve deeper into the text.This beautifully redesigned edition has also been sensitively updated to include modern references and use the NRSV Bible text.The stories of Genesis offer glimpses of the gospel, and the message of Genesis speaks with practical meaning to the followers of Jesus in the twenty-first century. The Message of Genesis 12-50 will help for anyone looking for a commentary on the Genesis that makes clear that meaning both in its original context and for Christians today.

The whole story of the Old Testament book of Exodus is a covenant narrative; in Moses’ story, the pledges that God made to Abraham are honoured and fulfilled, as the Israelites are saved from Egypt and guided to the promised land.In The Message of Exodus, Alec Motyer offers a warm-hearted and insightful exposition of what this key part of Scripture testifies about the Bible's God. Exploring the meaning that Exodus still has for us today, he unfolds the ways it points to Jesus Christ and heralds him in advance, and how it bears on the nature and life of the people of God - their redemption, obedience, security and inheritance.Part of the loved and trusted The Bible Speaks Today series of commentaries, The Message of Exodus offers an clear, readable exposition of the Biblical text and thought-provoking discussion of how its meaning relates to contemporary life. Used by Bible students and teachers around the world, The Bible Speaks Today commentaries are ideal for anyone studying or preaching Exodus and who want to delve deeper into the text. This beautifully redesigned edition has also been sensitively updated to include modern references and use the NIV Bible text.The Message of Exodus will help for anyone looking for a commentary on Exodus that makes clear its meaning both in its original context and for Christians in the twenty-first century.

For many Christians, the Old Testament book of Leviticus tends to be largely unknown and unread. However, the gospel makes little sense without the background it provides.In The Message of Leviticus, Derek Tidball shows how this vital part of Scripture is of foundational importance for our understanding of God, the gospel and Christian living, with a meaning that continues to be of utmost relevance today. In this excellent exposition, he demonstrates how Leviticus serves as a preliminary sketch of the masterpiece that was to be unveiled in Christ, testifying to a faith of grace, love and gratitude – and one that sets God's people free to be holy.Part of the loved and trusted The Bible Speaks Today series of commentaries, The Message of Leviticus offers an insightful, readable exposition of the Biblical text and thought-provoking discussion of how it relates to contemporary life. Used by Bible students and teachers around the world, The Bible Speaks Today commentaries are ideal for anyone studying or preaching Leviticus and who want to delve deeper into the text. This beautifully redesigned edition has also been sensitively updated to include modern references and use the NIV Bible text.Readable and reliable, The Message of Leviticus is a book for anyone looking for a commentary on Leviticus that make clear its meaning both in its original context and for twenty-first century readers.

What does it mean to be pilgrims in a confusing world? What vision of the good life drives us?In this thoughtful exposition, Raymond Brown explores how the book of Numbers offers a picture of a better life. He shows how its message is eminently suited to our contemporary world, a world without firm spiritual and moral foundations. In contrast to contemporary thinking, Numbers pictures life as an accompanied journey, and not a meaningless maze.Part of the loved and trusted The Bible Speaks Today series of commentaries, The Message of Numbers offers an insightful, readable exposition of the Biblical text and thought-provoking discussion of how its meaning relates to contemporary life. Used by Bible students and teachers around the world, The Bible Speaks Today commentaries are ideal for anyone studying or preaching Numbers and who want to delve deeper into the text. This beautifully redesigned edition has also been sensitively updated to include modern references and use the NIV Bible text.Readable and reliable, The Message of Numbers will help for anyone looking for a commentary on the book of Numbers that make clear its meaning both in its original context and for twenty-first century readers.

On the Plains of Moab Moses looks to the future, forecasting the challenges that the coming generations of Israel will face and applying God's covenant word to new situations.In this clear, cogent exposition, Raymond Brown guides us to hear and appreciate the timeless relevance of The Message of Deuteronomy. He illuminates the meaning Deuteronomy still carries for Christians today, showing us how God's law comes alive again – as a guide to good living, a call to wholehearted repentance, and a promise of healing restoration under God's merciful hand.Part of the loved and trusted The Bible Speaks Today series of commentaries, The Message of Deuteronomy offers an insightful, readable exposition of the Biblical text and thought-provoking discussion of how it relates to contemporary life. Used by Bible students and teachers around the world, The Bible Speaks Today commentaries are ideal for anyone studying or preaching Deuteronomy looking to get a better grasp on the text. This beautifully redesigned edition has also been sensitively updated to include modern references and use the NIV Bible text.Readable and reliable, The Message of Deuteronomy is a book for anyone looking for a commentary on Deuteronomy that makes clear its meaning both in its original context and for twenty-first century readers.

The book of Joshua tells the action-packed story of Israel's entry into and conquest of Canaan, the promised land. Yet it is often troubling for contemporary Christian readers, perhaps more than any other part of the Old Testament – isn't the violence shown inconsistent with the gospel of Jesus?In The Message of Joshua, David G Firth explores this story as part of God's mission, which goes on to find its ultimate focus in Jesus Christ. He illuminates the meaning that the book of Joshua still has for Christians today; it challenges us, just as it challenges those who have read it down through the ages, to recognize that God not only includes those who join him in his mission, he also excludes those who choose to set themselves against it.Part of the loved and trusted The Bible Speaks Today series of commentaries, The Message of Joshua offers an clear, readable exposition of the Biblical text and thought-provoking discussion of how its meaning relates to contemporary life. Used by Bible students and teachers around the world, The Bible Speaks Today commentaries are ideal for anyone studying or preaching Joshua and who want to delve deeper into the text. This beautifully redesigned edition has also been sensitively updated to include modern references and use the NRSV Bible text.The Message of Joshua will help for anyone looking for a commentary on Joshua that makes clear its meaning both in its original context and for Christians in the twenty-first century.

The book of Judges contains some of the most famous of the Bible's stories, as well as some of the least known. They show us the deepest sin of humanity, but reveal it in the light of God's abundant grace. Behind judges of Israel like Samson, Jephthah and Barak stands a Judge, discerning and deciding.Michael Wilcock astutely explores The Message of Judges to show that God never abandons his people – then or now. In this clear, discerning Biblical exposition, he illuminates the meaning the book of Judges still holds for us today as the story of God's grace; the Judge of all ensures that his people will never manage to destroy themselves, even though it may look as if they are on course for disaster.Part of the loved and trusted The Bible Speaks Today series of commentaries, The Message of Judges offers an insightful, readable exposition of the biblical text and thought-provoking discussion of how it relates to contemporary life. Used by Bible students and teachers around the world, The Bible Speaks Today commentaries are ideal for anyone studying or preaching Judges and who want to delve deeper into the text. This beautifully redesigned edition has also been sensitively updated to include modern references and use the NRSV Bible text.Readable and reliable, The Message of Judges is a book for anyone looking for a commentary on Judges that make clear its meaning both in its original context and for twenty-first century readers.

Where do we come from? What is our purpose? The early chapters of Genesis proclaim the origin of the world, and of human life on earth.In The Message of Genesis 1-11, David Atkinson explores how the first eleven chapters serve as an overture to the rest of the Bible. They evoke wonder as God is portrayed in his creative power and beauty. They reveal his loving mercy and salvation even in his terrible judgment of those who turn from him and despoil the harmony of creation.With vivid, provocative insight, Atkinson illuminates how the meaning of Genesis is still resonant today – providing the insight that allows us to understand both the greatness and the tragic flaw inherent in human beings. Although it was written thousands of years ago, the message of Genesis is one of timely urgency for the modern world: we are responsible participants in God's creation who must, like Noah, confront the possibility of global catastrophe. Part of the loved and trusted The Bible Speaks Today series of commentaries, The Message of Genesis 1-11 offers an insightful, readable exposition of the Biblical text and thought-provoking discussion of how its meaning relates to contemporary life. Used by Bible students and teachers around the world, The Bible Speaks Today commentaries are ideal for anyone studying or preaching Genesis and who want to delve deeper into the text. This beautifully redesigned edition has also been sensitively updated to include modern references and use the NRSV Bible text.Readable and reliable, The Message of Genesis 1-11 will help for anyone looking for a commentary on the Genesis that makes clear its meaning both in its original context and for twenty-first century readers.

The Book of Ruth is a tale of charm and delight, providing a contrast to the concurrent anarchy depicted in the book of Judges. Telling the simple story of a family who are struck by tragedy, but experience love and acceptance in unexpected ways, in Ruth’s narrative we are clearly shown God’s guiding hand as everything endured leads to the births of both King David and, finally, Jesus Christ.David Atkinson illuminates The Message of Ruth in this encouraging and thoughtful commentary, showing us how theologically the story of Ruth is a story about God’s providence. From Naomi and Ruth herself to Boaz, he guides us through the narrative and explores how each character fits into God’s purposes for history and what that means for us living as Christians today. A revised edition in the much-loved Bible Speaks Today series of commentaries, The Message of Ruth offers a thorough, readable exposition of both the Biblical text and what it can teach modern Christians. Used by Bible students and teachers around the world, the Bible Speaks Today commentaries are ideal for students and preachers who are looking to broaden their knowledge and understanding of Scripture and its continued relevance in the twenty-first century.This beautifully redesigned edition has been sensitively updated to include modern references and use the NIV Bible text.The Message of Ruth will be helpful for anyone looking for accessible commentaries on Ruth that explore it more deeply, considering its meaning both for its original audience and for Christians reading it today.

Within the Old Testament books of 1 and 2 Samuel we find some of the most well-known stories of the Bible – those of Hannah, David, Absalom and many more which have been fruitful sources of inspiration for classic artworks and musical compositions, as well as innumerable Sunday school lessons. Yet often we only consider these stories in a way that’s disconnected from our everyday faith.In this accessible and stimulating commentary, Mary Evans guides us through The Message of 1 & 2 Samuel in the conviction that they are a vital part of God's Word, full of teaching that is dynamically relevant for all Christian believers. Exploring the narratives and creatively bringing out their application, she shows us how we can interpret and respond to them today in a way that is both challenging and exciting. With questions for further reflection that can be used by individuals and small groups, this is an invigorating study that will help you better understand the meaning of 1 & 2 Samuel and their continued relevance for today.Part of the much loved Bible Speaks Today series of commentaries, The Message of 1 & 2 Samuel offers a thoughtful and readable exposition of the Biblical text as well as considering the lessons Christians can still learn from it today. Used by Bible students and teachers around the world, the Bible Speaks Today commentaries are ideal for students and preachers who are looking to delve more deeply into the riches of Scripture.This beautifully redesigned edition has also been sensitively updated to include modern references and use the NIV Bible text.The Message of 1 & 2 Samuel will be helpful for anyone looking for commentaries on Samuel that will give them a better knowledge and understanding of its meaning both for its original audience and for modern Christians.

At the beginning of 1 & 2 Kings, Solomon's reign brought peace, prosperity, dynamic international trade and a magnificent centre of worship. By contrast, at the end, the people faced complete reversal: they and their king were in exile; Jerusalem and the temple lay in ruins.How can this story of reversal, told by the very people who suffered that defeat, be of value today, and equip us for every good work?In this rich and insightful commentary, John W. Olley guides us through The Message of 1 & 2 Kings. With deft, accessible scholarship, he shows us how the writers of Kings retell the past as preached history, and how that helps us to understand the way they speak to us today. Within the account of paths leading to short-term success but ultimate failure, there are pointers of hope, of God's continuing purposes and promises, and of the peoples’ response in the present.In rich and often surprising ways, the story told in Kings is one that continues to shape the faith and life of Christian believers today. Unpacking its meaning careful precision, Olley helps us understand that everyday life, along with the turmoil of national and global events, is the arena in which God's people are called to worship, trust and obey him.Part of the million-selling Bible Speaks Today series of commentaries, The Message of 1 & 2 Kings offers a cogent, readable exposition of the Biblical text as well as thoughtfully discussion of how it is relevant for Christians today. Used by Bible students and teachers around the world, the Bible Speaks Today commentaries are ideal for students and preachers who are looking to improve their understanding of Scripture.This beautifully redesigned edition has also been sensitively updated to include modern references and use the NIV Bible text.

1 & 2 Chronicles are, first and foremost, a sermon meant to foster a right relationship between God and his people. With great perception, the Chronicler shows how the records of Israel reveal the pattern of God's hand in the events of his nation’s history and how, within that pattern, the Lord's constant mercy, love and faithfulness shine through.In this readable and thoughtful commentary, Michael Wilcock explores how once that purpose is grasped, the message of 1 & 2 Chronicles comes alive. The Chronicler’s sermon is a final and momentous look back over the entire Old Testament, and the countless persons named are part of one people of the living God.With perceptive insight, Wilcock guides us through the two halves of the Chronicles, paralleling them the vibrancy, contrast and drama of the Book of Revelation in the New Testament, and showing how the Chronicles make vivid to us the truths by which the Lord's people in every generation are to live.Part of the loved and trusted The Bible Speaks Today series of commentaries, The Message of 1 & 2 Chronicles offers an accessible and thorough exposition of the Biblical text as well as pastoral exploration of the lessons it can teach Christians today. Used by Bible students and teachers around the world, The Bible Speaks Today commentaries are ideal for students and preachers who are looking to delve more deeply into the riches of Scripture.This beautifully redesigned edition has also been sensitively updated to include modern references and use the NIV Bible text.The Message of 1 & 2 Chronicles is perfect for anyone looking for commentaries on Chronicles that will help them understanding its meaning both in its original context and for modern Christians.

The Book of Ezra recounts the return of the Judeans to Israel after the Babylonian exile, and the rebuilding of the Temple. The Book of Haggai speaks about the rebuilding, where work ceased because of external opposition and internal failure of nerve. In this valuable study, Robert Fyall guides us through The Message of Ezra and Haggai, exploring how it is enhanced by reading these two books together rather than separately. With clear, compelling and accessible scholarship, he shows the continuing relevance of how Ezra and Haggai emphasise building for God, as well as the need for obedience to his Word and openness to his Spirt. Ezra is a vital and stimulating book in its revelation of God's purposes, and together with Haggai's brief prophecy offers encouragement to God's people in dispiriting times – encouragement that still speaks to the Christian life today. A revised volume in the trusted Bible Speaks Today series of commentaries, The Message of Ezra and Haggai offers a thoughtful exposition of these two books, unpacking their meaning for both the original audience and for Christians in the twenty-first century. Used by Bible students and teachers around the world, the Bible Speaks Today commentaries are ideal for students and preachers who want to deepen their understanding of Scripture as it was first written as well how it can be applied to modern life. This beautifully redesigned edition has been sensitively updated to include modern references and use the NIV Bible text.The Message of Ezra and Haggai is perfect for anyone looking for commentaries on Ezra and Haggai that will help delve more deeply into the riches of these two books of the Old Testament.

The Book of Nehemiah offers a first-hand telling of how ancient Jerusalem's walls were rebuilt in the face of great odds after the Babylonian exile – an act that represented the renewal of the people's faith and the reforming of their conduct.In The Message of Nehemiah, Raymond Brown explores this powerful story and the striking relevance of this themes for Christians living today. Vividly drawing out Nehemiah's historical and social milieu, Brown demonstrates that Nehemiah is one of the most inventive and resilient personalities in the Old Testament. His doctrine of God, his passion for Scripture, his experience of prayer and his example in leadership all provide valuable lessons that can be applied to how we live our faith every day. A revised volume in the trusted the Bible Speaks Today series of commentaries, The Message of Nehemiah offers a compelling exposition of the Biblical text, unpacking its meaning for both the original audience it was written for and for Christians in the twenty-first century. Used by Bible students and teachers around the world, the Bible Speaks Today commentaries are ideal for students and preachers who want to delve more deeply into the riches of Scripture and better understand how it can be applied to modern life. This beautifully redesigned edition has been sensitively updated to include modern references and use the NIV Bible text.The Message of Nehemiah is perfect for anyone looking for accessible commentaries on Nehemiah that will help broaden their knowledge and understanding of the this fascinating book of the Old Testament.

The Book of Esther is one of two books of the Bible to be set entirely outside of the Promised Land, and the only book which does not mention God at all. In this cogent, readable study, David Firth explores The Message of Esther, to help us better understand this paradoxically important book and its implications for our own contemporary context. With clear insight, he lay out how the reality of God's presence is experienced against a backdrop of God's relative anonymity and seeming absence, and shows us how that speaks into the lives of Christians today. A revised volume in the trusted Bible Speaks Today series of commentaries, The Message of Esther offers an accessible and thought-provoking exposition of Esther’s story, that considers its meaning for both its original audience and for Christians in the twenty-first century. Used by Bible students and teachers around the world, The Bible Speaks Today commentaries are ideal for students and preachers who want to deepen their understanding of Scripture as it was first written as well as its continued relevance today.This beautifully redesigned edition has been sensitively updated to include modern references and use the NIV Bible text.The Message of Esther is perfect for anyone looking for a stimulating, accessible commentary on Esther that will help them apply its lessons to their everyday life.

In the Book of Job we meet a man who is afflicted physically and emotionally. We encounter friends who do their best, but make things worse. We are brought face to face with intellectual puzzles. Through all this, and because of it, we find Job struggling with his faith in God.In this compelling study, David Atkinson guides through The Message of Job to show that Job’s story has the power to reach into our human situation, and to engage with our human needs. Although facing suffering, both personally and on a wider scale, can be challenging, in the Book of Job we can find comfort and reassurance that God is with us through it all.A revised edition in the much loved Bible Speaks Today series of commentaries, The Message of Job offers an encouraging and thoughtful pastoral exploration of Job’s struggles. It will be of particular help for those involved in ministry and counselling who are supporting others in their suffering.Used by Bible students and teachers around the world, the Bible Speaks Today commentaries are ideal for students and preachers who want to better get to grips with Scripture and deepen their understanding its original context as well as its continued relevance in the twenty-first century.This beautifully redesigned edition has been sensitively updated to include modern references and use the NIV Bible text.The Message of Job is perfect for anyone looking for stimulating, readable commentaries on Job that will broaden their understanding of how they can learn from it today.

This is the first volume of a practical and readable introduction to the Psalms which effectively unfolds the text and meaning as songs for the people of God. The expositions represent Michael Wilcock's attempts over many years to unfold God's Word to real people confronting the raw questions of life in the church and in the world. He sees the Psalter as a collection, an anthology, a hymnal, a book of songs. It is full of pictures that show us a variety of places in a land of spiritual experience. In his view it is important for Christians today to appropriate the range of human emotion that is embodied in the Psalms. We also need their imaginative vitality. The book will be helpful in using the Psalms in church services, and includes an exposition of every Psalm, long or short, familiar or neglected.The Bible Speaks Today series covers every book of the Old and New Testaments, as well as Bible themes that run through the whole of Scripture. These revised editions are updated with contemporary language and Bible translations to help you to follow and to teach the Bible in today's world.

This is the second volume of a practical and readable introduction to the Psalms which effectively unfolds the text and meaning as songs for the people of God. The expositions represent Michael Wilcock's attempts over many years to unfold God's Word to real people confronting the raw questions of life in the church and in the world. He sees the Psalter as a collection, an anthology, a hymnal, a book of songs. It is full of pictures that show us a variety of places in a land of spiritual experience. In his view it is important for Christians today to appropriate the range of human emotion that is embodied in the Psalms. We also need their imaginative vitality. The book will be helpful in using the Psalms in church services, and includes an exposition of every Psalm, long or short, familiar or neglected.The Bible Speaks Today series covers every book of the Old and New Testaments, as well as Bible themes that run through the whole of Scripture. These revised editions are updated with contemporary language and Bible translations to help you to follow and to teach the Bible in today's world.

'Alec Motyer has clearly got the spirit of Amos in his blood. He loves the prophet from Tekoa and takes endless pains to give full weight to every syllable of the prophecy.' Michael Green, theologian and author of over 70 booksExtravagance, greed and exploitation were the most notable features of the society in which Amos lived. Standards had gone to pot. Authority and the rule of law were despised, and national leadership, while revelling in the publicity and dignity of position, seemed to be contributing to the complete breakdown of law and order.Thus, Alec Motyer exposes and explains the astonishingly relevant - but never popular - message of the prophet Amos.The Bible Speaks Today series covers every book of the Old and New Testaments, as well as Bible themes that run through the whole of Scripture. These revised editions are redesigned inside and out and have been sensitively updated with contemporary language and Bible translations to help you follow, study and teach the Bible in today's world.

This prophetic biblical book was written in a land awash with false gods and groaning under all kinds of social evil. Eventually, the inevitable happens and God's judgment on his people begins to unfold. A young Ezekiel, carried off to exile in Babylon, is commissioned by the Lord to warn of a more devastating and unthinkable judgment to come.Chris Wright vividly explores Ezekiel's varied and dramatic mission at several levels:- his unwavering commitment to his task- the social and political background to his work- the character of his ministry as watchman, evangelist and pastor- and the wider context of Ezekiel's vision - the knowledge of the Lord in Israel and amongst the nationsEzekiel strived to bring meaning, comfort and hope to a shattered, decimated and demoralised remnant of God's people, Israel - a challenge Christians must all emulate in our increasingly troubled world today.The Bible Speaks Today series covers every book of the Old and New Testaments, as well as Bible themes that run through the whole of Scripture. These revised editions are redesigned inside and out and have been sensitively updated with contemporary language and Bible translations to help you follow, study and teach the Bible in today's world.

"Go and marry a prostitute." These are the first words God spoke to his prophet Hosea. Why would he ask this of one of his special spokesmen? Because he wanted to teach Hosea, the nation of Israel, and all of us today a lesson we will not forget, a lesson that is painful yet joyous.Hosea's sombre portrait of the human condition is our lesson in pain. All of us have played the harlot by forsaking God and his ways. The picture is not pretty but it's true. Yet Hosea's clear illustration of God's love for us brings joy. While we are yet sinners, God comes to us and loves us.Derek Kidner imaginatively takes us through the unfolding story of Hosea and his wife Gomer, explaining the basic message, pointing out the subtleties, and encouraging readers to live lives worthy of the God who loves the loveless.

Joel, Micah and Habakkuk - these ancient prophets have urgent relevance for a church and world at the beginning of a new millennium. They emphasise the life-or-death importance of listening to what God has to say, in times of disaster, disobedience and destruction.- Joel, facing the bleakness of national disaster, anticipates a future outpouring of God's Spirit.- Micah declares that God's punishment for wickedness is certain and just, but that he will preserve a faithful remnant.- Finally, facing imminent destruction of the city, the land and the people, Habakkuk remains sure that God's hidden purposes are being worked out.These prophets stood in their marketplace, powerfully applying their messages from God. David Prior shows that, like them, the church needs to be willing to share God's word in today's marketplace. Only this stand will bring hope, rather than despair, to a society under God's judgment.The Bible Speaks Today series covers every book of the Old and New Testaments, as well as Bible themes that run through the whole of Scripture. These revised editions are redesigned inside and out and have been sensitively updated with contemporary language and Bible translations to help you follow, study and teach the Bible in today's world.

The 'great fish' has probably made Jonah the best known of the twelve minor prophets of the Old Testament. The book bearing his name, comprising just 48 verses, has tantalized and intrigued its readers throughout the ages.However, undue preoccupation with the fish may cause us to miss what is actually going on in this narrative. Although the story of Jonah seems fairly straightforward on the surface, Rosemary Nixon explores its fascinating complexity to show how the author grapples with conflicting perceptions of God. While we might question some of the story's extra-ordinary features, we ourselves are also questioned by the God who called Jonah, and challenged to hear His word afresh.The Bible Speaks Today series covers every book of the Old and New Testaments, as well as Bible themes that run through the whole of Scripture. These revised editions are redesigned inside and out and have been sensitively updated with contemporary language and Bible translations to help you follow, study and teach the Bible in today's world.

Obadiah, Nahum and Zephaniah are probably among the least-read books of the Bible and are rarely preached. However, Gordon Bridger encourages us to study and apply these three Old Testament prophets for several compelling reasons.As part of Scripture, they claim to bring a message from God and teach us some major truths:- the importance of focusing on God, who is personal, sovereign, righteous, and loving - facing up to sin and judgment - responding in repentance and faith - the hope of future salvation and restoration. They also relate to the real world, in touch with the social and political issues of their day (the seventh century BC), as well as spiritual and moral issues: sleaze amongst political leaders, unfaithfulness of religious leaders, national and personal pride, crimes against humanity and the persecution of God's people.Hence, these challenging books are expounded on here with clarity and conviction, tackling themes and issues that are especially relevant to today's church and world.The Bible Speaks Today series covers every book of the Old and New Testaments, as well as Bible themes that run through the whole of Scripture. These revised editions are redesigned inside and out and have been sensitively updated with contemporary language and Bible translations to help you follow, study and teach the Bible in today's world.

Zechariah the prophet's preaching was driven by the conviction that God's kingdom would come, and his will be done, whatever obstacles human beings might put in his way. Living in the small province of Yehud in the sixth century BC, Zechariah was thoroughly engaged with the realities of his own day, but never overwhelmed by them. He knew that life was to be lived in the light of the coming day when there would be 'one LORD, and his name the only name' and when this God would be 'king over the whole earth' (Zech. 14:9).This unwavering conviction gives the book of Zechariah its special character and unifies its diverse visions and oracles. Barry Webb's masterful and perceptive exposition challenges us to make Zechariah's conviction our own and focuses our longing for God's kingdom on the person of Jesus the Messiah.The Bible Speaks Today series covers every book of the Old and New Testaments, as well as Bible themes that run through the whole of Scripture. These revised editions are redesigned inside and out and have been sensitively updated with contemporary language and Bible translations to help you follow, study and teach the Bible in today's world.

'Vanity of vanities', says the Preacher, 'Vanity of vanities! All is vanity'.Is that what life is? A wisp of vapour, a puff of wind, a mere breath - nothing you can get your hands on - the nearest thing to zero? So says the Preacher in the book of Ecclesiastes. But is this the whole message of Ecclesiastes?With imagination and clarity Derek Kidner introduces this Old Testament book which speaks so powerfully to our generation. His love of Hebrew poetry and his understanding of the biblical mind shine through in his careful passage-by-passage exposition.The Bible Speaks Today series covers every book of the Old and New Testaments, as well as Bible themes that run through the whole of Scripture. These revised editions are updated with contemporary language and Bible translations to help you to follow and to teach the Bible in today's world.

The book of Isaiah is outstanding in its brilliance of style, its poetic power, and its foretaste of the hope of the gospel. It tells us how God himself has provided the highway to holiness for those who have been 'redeemed' or 'ransomed'. These are images which evoke the Exodus from Egypt, and foreshadow Christ's achievement at the cross. There is tangible joy for the reader in Isaiah's portrayal of judgment - rebuilding within the demolition, the new replacing the old. In Isaiah's masterpiece, both national and world events reveal God's hand, and its good news is the very hope of the world.Barry Webb invites his readers to see Isaiah's compelling vision of God's glory, and the wonder of access to him. Writing this book, for him, was an unforgettable flight: 'I have soared like an eagle into the heavens and seen the glory of God, and with new eyes I have seen the world and my place in it.'

The Prophet Jeremiah addressed the people of Judah and Jerusalem over a forty-year period leading up to the destruction of Jerusalem in 587 BC. The book of Jeremiah addressed the exiles, especially those in Babylon, in the years after the catastrophe.First of all then, says Chris Wright, we must encounter Jeremiah the prophet who, from his youth to old age, delivered the word of God to the people of Israel at the most terrifying time in all their troubled history. Understanding his times is essential to understanding his life and message. Next, we must strive to grasp how this enormous book (the second longest in the Bible, after Psalms) has been put together. And finally, if Jeremiah spoke in his day, and if the book still speaks today, in both cases it is because of the God who called the man to speak and commanded the book to be written. So we must encounter the God of Jeremiah, an encounter that should be both profoundly disturbing and ultimately reassuring, as it was for him.In the end, Jeremiah is a book of the victory of God's love and grace. His redemptive, reconstructive work fills the book's future horizon - a future that we see fulfilled in the New Testament through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, the Messiah; and ultimately in God's dwelling with his redeemed people forever in the new creation.

The destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians in 587 BC is the likely setting for the book of Lamentations. This was the most traumatic event in the whole of Old Testament history, with its extreme human suffering, devastation of the ancient city, national humiliation, and the undermining of all that was thought to be theologically guaranteed - the Davidic monarchy, the city of Zion, and the temple of the God of Israel. It is out of that unspeakable pain that Lamentations speaks, in poetry of astonishing beauty and intricacy, though soaked in tears.If we neglect this book, says Chris Wright, we miss the challenge and reward of wrestling with the massive theological issues that permeate it. How can suffering be endured alongside faith in an all-loving, good God? Even if these events are recognized and accepted as God's judgment, has not the flood of brutality and evil gone beyond all bounds? If anarchy, death and destruction stalk the land, can the centre of Israel's faith hold?Wright shows that as Christian readers we must not, and cannot, isolate Lamentations from the rest of the Bible; and equally, that we should not read the rest of the Bible without Lamentations. We must still let it speak for itself, as a book for today.