THE MESSAGE OF JOEL, MICAH AND HABAKKUK:
Listening to the voice of God
(The Bible Speaks Today series)
By David Prior
IVP. 279 pages. £9.99
ISBN 0 85111 586 1
The publication of a new volume in the excellent BST series is always eagerly anticipated - especially by busy pastors who have learned to look to this series for reliable help in faithfully expounding the Scriptures and also for helpful insight into how to apply that teaching to contemporary life. It is good to see that at long last we have another volume on the minor prophets - the last was on Hosea published nearly 20 years ago.
What are the strengths? David Prior is clearly convinced that the Bible does 'speak today', and throughout he admirably succeeds in showing that the three prophets lived and spoke God's word in times and situations with a great many similarities to our world. Joel telling us what the Lord has to say in times of disaster, Micah what he has to say in times of disobedience, and Habakkuk speaking his word in times of destruction. Consistently the message which the Bible speaks is thoughtfully applied to our world. There are many illustrations reflecting the author's wide pastoral experience in Africa as well as in the UK. Prior is now 'Director of the Centre for Marketplace Theology' in the City of London, after pastorates in South Africa and England. Equally clearly he is concerned to expound the biblical text with accuracy. The result of having a single volume on three short prophecies is that Prior is able to go into a fair amount of detail in commenting on individual words and phrases. He also picks up themes, such as 'the day of the Lord' in Joel, and sets them into the wider biblical context.
What are the weaknesses? Sometimes I feel he fails to see the wood for the trees. At the end of a section, you feel you have been acquainted with a lot of detail and many helpful lines of application, but are left finding it hard to summarise in a sentence what the prophet's message was. Perhaps this is an example of a pastor unreasonably expecting the BST series to deliver three-point sermons served ready to use?! We have been spoiled on occasion in the past!
Any real grumbles? One in particular. We are told: 'Our first, foundational task is to ask the question (as always): what did these words mean to Joel and to his contemporaries?' But our Lord insisted that all Scripture spoke of him (Luke 24.27). And Peter teaches us that the prophets were not serving themselves but us, Christians who live after the coming of Christ. Indeed, Peter directly links what the prophets spoke with the preaching of the gospel (1 Peter 1.10-12). Our foundational task is to ask of any passage the question: how does this point to Christ and to the gospel? So we must ask: is the gospel clear, is Christ central? It is disturbing, for example, that the section on Joel 2.18-27 has no mention of the Lord Jesus Christ as the one in whom God has had pity on his people. More about Jesus please.
All in all, a useful commentary to refer to as one among others if you are a preacher, but not the best single volume if as, say, a Bible study group leader you want just one to guide you.
