The NIV Application Commentary Series The setting: Jerusalem. Recently returned from Babylonian captivity, the Jews are occupied with personal pursuits while the temple of Yahweh lies in ruins. To the prophets Haggai and Zechariah falls the task of calling God's people to their forgotten priority: rebuilding his house. Heeding prophetic admonition, the people overcome the obstacles that face them and prosper in their work----thanks largely to the vision and encouragement of the prophets. The books of Haggai and Zechariah represent a golden period in Old Testament history, but they are often overlooked. Yet these two minor prophets speak a major message to the church today. It is one that calls us, as a community of faith, to the priority of God's house, and inspires us with glimpses of its future glory. Exploring the links between the Bible and our own times, Mark J. Boda shares perspectives on Haggai and Zechariah that reveal their enduring relevance for our twenty-first-century lives. Most Bible commentaries take us on a one-way trip from our world to the world of the Bible. But they leave us there, assuming that we can somehow make the return journey on our own. They focus on the original meaning of the passage but don't discuss its contemporary application. The information they offer is valuable----but the job is only half done! The NIV Application Commentary Series helps bring both halves of the interpretive task together. This unique, award-winning series shows readers how to bring an ancient message into our present-day context. It explains not only what the Bible meant but also how it speaks powerfully today. "This series promises to become an indispensable tool for every pastor and teacher who seeks to make the Bible's timeless message speak to this generation. BILLY GRAHAM Some commentaries build walls that isolate you back in the ancient world. The NIV Application Commentary builds bridges that make the Bible come alive with meaning for contemporary lift----and the series does so concisely, clearly, and accurately. No wasted words or academic detours----just solid help and practical truth!" WARREN W. WIERSBE