The books of Habakkuk and Zephaniah are God's word to his people Israel at the lowest point in their history - the time of the Babylonian captivity. In the horizon, the looming national disaster is not simply contrasted with the prophetic hope of deliverance; rather the brightest light that shines is the display of God's unchanging faithfulness, power, and holiness - the foundations for divine action for the well-being of the remnant of Judah. They show us the faith of the righteous among the rebels and the ruins. These two powerful books demonstrate that faith without faithfulness is an infantile fantasy. Written in accessible language to guide readers into the world of Hebrew poetry, this volume speaks to all those who continue to desire God in life's dark places and dark times, revealing Scripture's beauty and power as we persist in seeking to understand its intricacies.
The Asia Bible Commentary Series empowers Christian believers in Asia to read the Bible from within their respective contexts. Holistic in its approach to the text, each exposition of the biblical books combines exegesis and application. The ultimate goal is to strengthen the Body of Christ in Asia by providing a pastoral and contextual exposition of every book of the Bible.
About the Author :
PETER C. W. HO is the academic dean of the School of Theology (English) at the Singapore Bible College, where he is also an associate professor of the Old Testament. He holds a PhD in theology and religious studies from the University of Gloucestershire, UK, and he is the author of "The Design of the Psalter: A Macrostructural Analysis" (Wipf and Stock, 2019).
Review :
In this commentary on Habakkuk and Zephaniah, Dr. Peter Ho has combined incisive biblical exegesis, robust theological reflection, and astute cultural observation.
-Rev. Darryl Chan
Prinsep Street Presbyterian Church, Singapore
Dr. Ho's well-informed scholarship and deeply reflective spirituality create an enriching commentary that is faithful to the historical texts and relevant to the current situation.
-Clement M. S. Chia, PhD
Singapore Bible College
Here is a commentary that builds a festoon of bridges: bridges between the ancient world of the Bible and the oracles of the prophets; bridges between scholarship and ministry; and bridges between the everyday realities of ancient West Asia and Asia today.
-Havilah Dharamraj, PhD
South Asia Institute of Advanced Christian Studies, Bangalore
With a careful attention to their literary form and setting, and placing them in their cultural context, Dr. Peter Ho's expert guidance opens up the books of Habakkuk and Zephaniah.
-David G. Firth, PhD
Trinity College, Bristol, UK
Dr. Ho's commentary on Habakkuk and Zephaniah offers many applications for the modern world, with specific reference to the Asian context. I highly recommend this book to all readers, especially pastors, ministers of the word, and seminary students.
-Patrick Fung, PhD
OMF International
Peter Ho aims to "demystify" Habakkuk and Zephaniah, who can seem rather imposing prophets. What significant prophets these are, and how helpful Peter Ho is in enabling readers to engage with them!
-John Goldingay, DD
Fuller Theological Seminary, California, USA
Dr. Peter Ho's commentary offers an excellent introduction into a relatively unfamiliar portion of Scripture and also invites the reader to dig deep for buried treasure.
-Gilbert Soo Hoo, PhD
Singapore Bible College
Through the accessible bridges that Dr. Ho builds for readers of these books, God's word from the ancient Near East comes alive in its relevance for the modern Far East!
-Jerry Hwang, PhD
Singapore Bible College
Whether you are a scholar, pastor, student, or interested lay person, I highly recommend reading this book if you seek to gain a deeper understanding of these often-neglected biblical books.
-Peter Lau, PhD
Seminari Theoloji Malaysia and Equip Gospel Ministries
As a pastor who must preach regularly, I believe that this commentary will greatly help preachers. Peter has worked hard to give us both the context of the times and the relevance for today.
-Rev. Chua Seng Lee
Bethesda Bedok Tampines Church, Singapore
Dr. Peter Ho's book is extremely well-written and is enhanced by a host of well-chosen graphic illustration of topics that occur in the texts. I commend it unreservedly.
-Gordon McConville, PhD
University of Gloucestershire, UK
Dr. Peter Ho brings his expertise on the Psalms to this terrific commentary on the prophetic books of Habakkuk and Zephaniah, which will be invaluable to all who desire to understand, to live out, and to teach these books.
-Anthony R. Petterson, PhD
Morling College and Australian College of Theology, Sydney
Readers of this volume will be greatly helped in their understanding of Habakkuk and Zephaniah. There are many insightful and challenging applications for the contemporary Southeast Asian context.
-Philip Satterthwaite, PhD
Biblical Graduate School of Theology, Singapore
Proving that the messages of the Minor Prophets are far from obsolete, Dr. Peter Ho deftly guides us through the books of Habakkuk and Zephaniah, bringing their messages clearly into focus.
-Daniel C. Timmer, PhD
Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary, Michigan, USA
