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Any complaints? Blame God!God's message for today - Habakkuk the prophet speaksFrom protest to praise!ANY COMPLAINTS? BLAME GOD! Martin Goldsmith’s aim is to enable readers to understand the message of the whole of Habakkuk, rather than just know a few well-known verses. He urges readers to understand the book in its original context and, in so doing, hopes that it will stimulate and equip readers to tackle longer Old Testament prophets. Goldsmith splits the three chapters of Habakkuk into seven sections which become the chapters of the book. The reader is taken section by section through Habakkuk and we are shown how Habakkuk’s complaints are answered by the Lord and, in so doing, how Habakkuk moves from complaining against the Lord to being full of praise to the Lord. The text of Habakkuk itself is not reproduced, meaning that the reader needs the Bible open. The book is not a technical commentary, though Goldsmith (who teaches at All Nations Christian College) has studied the Hebrew text and shares his understanding of the original. He further demonstrates how New Testament writers quote from Habakkuk, showing how their use of Habakkuk fits into their own argument. Goldsmith is very keen to apply the message of Habakkuk. This is no arid academic work. He constantly wants to show its relevance today. My only question is whether Goldsmith shows the basis on which he sometimes applies the situation in Judah to secular nations today and sometimes to Christians. The person who wants to understand the message of Habakkuk will be well served by this book. Its readership shouldn’t be confined to just those who are preaching Habakkuk or studying it, though they will certainly find this book a help in understanding Habakkuk in its original context. Justin Mote, © Evangelicals Now - April 2009 |