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

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.

Table of 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

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

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