Evangelicals Now
<< March 2004 >>

The message of Zechariah

Puzzles made plain

THE MESSAGE OF ZECHARIAH
The Bible Speaks Today
By Barry Webb
IVP. 188 pages. £9.99
ISBN 0 85111 294 3

The book of Zechariah can seem daunting with its vivid imagery and (to us) strange visions.

Barry Webb (Head of Old Testament Studies at Moore College, Sydney) has served us well by providing a reliable guide to the book. While the book is written by a theological lecturer, it is highly accessible to any reader who is willing to take time to think about its contents. As the author says 'Someone who is committed to Jesus as their Lord cannot but be also a dedicated and appreciative reader of the Old Testament'.

The introduction gives helpful instruction on the interpretation and application of prophecy, as well as setting the book in its historical context.

The text is explained clearly, puzzles are made plain, and our minds and hearts are warmed by contemporary applications to Christian and church life. God will triumph, and the glory of his kingdom is tied totally to the glory and triumph of his Messiah.

Zechariah calls us to repentance, to purity of life, to trust in God's mighty cleansing. At the same time, he teaches us to live in the light of the unfailing promises of God. Their lives were lived in unpromising times, their numbers were small, opposition was substantial, and the future uncertain. But God had spoken.
Some of the declared aims are i) to bring us to praise God for our believing forbears, Zechariah, Joshua, Zerubbabel; ii) to have the vision of the triumph of the kingdom of God fire our hearts; iii) to change 'Your kingdom come' to 'Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.' These aims are fully realised. Recommended.

Peter Ninnis,
minister of Truro Evangelical Church (FIEC}