REC: Zephaniah, Haggai, Malachi

To the people of Judah, distressed by changing political realities, it seemed that God had lost control of the situation.

Zephaniah warned of imminent judgment and pointed to hope close at hand: God is both Judge and a Refuge from judgment.

Haggai declared that God’s struggling people needed to reorder their priorities and invest in building the Lord’s house so that God’s renewed presence in their midst would bring renewed blessing.

Malachi, when doubt of the Lord’s love and watchfulness led the people into sin and distress, addressed their concerns and failings one by one. God would not abandon those who feared him, despite a history of rebellion against him.

Practical, devotional, and expositional, this commentary delves into the ways these three prophets point us to the sufferings of Christ, the forgiveness of God, and anticipated glories to come.

Author

Matthew P. Harmon (MDiv, ThM, Westminster Theological Seminary) is pastor of Christ Presbyterian Church (ARP) in Grove City, Pennsylvania.

Iain M. Duguid (PhD, University of Cambridge) is professor of Old Testament at Westminster Theological Seminary, Philadelphia. He has written numerous works of biblical exposition, including Esther & Ruth in the Reformed Expository Commentary series, Ezekiel in the NIV Application Commentary series, and Numbers in the Preaching the Word series.