Joel, Micah and Habakkuk - these ancient prophets have urgent relevance for a church and a world living at the beginning of a new millennium. They emphasise the life-or-death importance of listening to what God has to say, in times of disaster, disobedience and destruction.

Joel, facing the bleakness of national disaster, anticipates a future outpouring of God's Spirit. Micah declares that God's punishment for wickedness is certain and thorough, but that he will preserve a faithful remnant. Facing imminent destruction of the city, the land and the people, Habakkuk is sure that God's hidden purposes are being worked out.

The prophets stood in the market-place, powerfully applying their message from God. David Prior believes that, like them, the church today is to take its values into the market-place into the church. Only this stand will bring hope rather than despair to a society under God's judgment.

David Prior has pastored churches in Surrey, Cape Town, Oxford and London. He is the author of a number of books, including The Message of Joel, Micah and Habakkuk in The Bible Speaks Today series. He was formerly Director of the Centre for Marketplace Theology, based in the City of London.

General preface ix
Author's preface xi
Chief abbreviations xiii
Select bibliography xiv
The message of Joel
Introduction 3
1. Cry to God (1:1-20) 8
2. Return to God (2:1-17) 37
3. Rejoice in God (2:18-32) 54
4. Fear God (3:1-21) 72
The message of Micah
Introduction 99
5. Preface (1:1) 106
The first cycle: pervasive evil and a promised king (1:2 - 2:13) 108
6. Micah's message to the world (1:2-16) 108
7. The preacher for this people (2:1-13) 122
The second cycle: ungodly leadership and God's promised leader
(3:1 - 5:15) 133
8. Micah's message to the leadership of the nation (3:1-12) 133
9. Micah's message of a future beyond the ruin of Jerusalem
(4:1 - 5:15) 146
The third cycle: a time of disintegration and desolation (6:1 - 7:20) 167
10. A message of gloom and doom (6:1 - 7:7) 167
11. A message of light and love (7:8-20) 193
The message of Habakkuk
Introduction 205
12. Dialogue with God (1:1-17) 209
13. A double vision (2:1-20) 231
14. Habakkuk's prayer (3:1-19) 270