Rest is a largely neglected theme escaping Old Testament studies, yet is notably prominent in the text itself, arising at many of the key moments of the Old Testament--the creation, the flood, the conquest and exile of the land, the covenant with David, and the construction of the temple. Haydock explores the ways in which God's rest interacts with the direction of the narrative, noting also its role in shaping both Israel's worship and their messianic expectation. In this fascinating study, Haydock considers the importance and place of rest in the ancient Mesopotamian worldview, arguing that Israel's theology of rest played an important part in their message to the nations. This message of a sovereign and gracious God offering his rest to all peoples contrasts sharply with the nations' false perception of how "rest" was to be experienced and enjoyed.

The Old Testament is more than a religious history of the nation of Israel. It is more than a portrait gallery of heroes of the faith. It is even more than a theological and prophetic backdrop to the New Testament. Beyond these, the Old Testament is inspired revelation of the very nature, character, and works of God. As renowned Old Testament scholar Bruce Waltke writes in the preface of this book, the Old Testament’s every sentence is “fraught with theology, worthy of reflection.” This book is the result of decades of reflection informed by an extensive knowledge of the Hebrew language, the best of critical scholarship, a deep understanding of both the content and spirit of the Old Testament, and a thoroughly evangelical conviction. Taking a narrative, chronological approach to the text, Waltke employs rhetorical criticism to illuminate the theologies of the biblical narrators. Through careful study, he shows that the unifying theme of the Old Testament is the “breaking in of the kingdom of God.” This theme helps the reader better understand not only the Old Testament, but also the New Testament, the continuity of the entire Bible, and ultimately, God himself.

Rest is a largely neglected theme escaping Old Testament studies, yet is notably prominent in the text itself, arising at many of the key moments of the Old Testament--the creation, the flood, the conquest and exile of the land, the covenant with David, and the construction of the temple. Haydock explores the ways in which God's rest interacts with the direction of the narrative, noting also its role in shaping both Israel's worship and their messianic expectation. In this fascinating study, Haydock considers the importance and place of rest in the ancient Mesopotamian worldview, arguing that Israel's theology of rest played an important part in their message to the nations. This message of a sovereign and gracious God offering his rest to all peoples contrasts sharply with the nations' false perception of how "rest" was to be experienced and enjoyed.

Wilf Hildebrandt carefully explores the meaning of "the Spirit" in the Old Testament. He examines the role of God's Spirit in creation, in the establishment and preservation of God's people, in prophecy, and in Israel's leadership. He unveils the central role that the Spirit plays in creatively bringing about the directives of God. Through the Spirit, God brings order out of chaos, ushers the invisible into reality, makes a separation between the sacred and the profane, enables specific people to meet particular needs, and supersedes natural laws. This work sheds light on the Spirit of God in both the Old Testament and the New Testament.

Waiting for the Rest That Still Remains. A Biblical Theology of the Former Prophets focuses on Israel’s squandering of God’s gift of rest from the enemy all around by worshiping at the altars of other gods, and its ultimate consequences: a second exile, this time from the landed presence of the Lord. Where land is the Pentateuch’s promised future, the Former Prophets proffer a future tied to the Lord’s dynastic covenant with David and Solomon’s dedicatory prayer. Pleas that God hear in heaven the prayers his people direct toward the temple in Jerusalem express hope for the good life in the land, but the culmination of Solomon’s prayer pleads that upon repentance their captors be compassionate to them in the land of their captivity; there is no plea for return to the land from exile. Outside of God’s promise to David Joshua-Kings do not identify an earthly place, like Noah’s ark or the land filled with God’s presence, to which they might return. Israel awaits the fulfillment of God’s promise to David.

Walter Moberly is a top Old Testament theologian known for his creative, accessible, and provocative writing. His Old Testament Theology has been well received. This book, written in a similar vein, combines biblical criticism with constructive theology and engages both Jewish and Christian interpretations. Moberly offers robust readings of eight pivotal Old Testament passages that unpack the nature of God in Christian Scripture, demonstrating a Christian approach to reading the Old Testament that holds together the priorities of both scholarship and faith.

The heart of the biblical understanding of idolatry, argues Gregory Beale, is that we take on the characteristics of what we worship. Employing Isaiah 6 as his interpretive lens, Beale demonstrates that this understanding of idolatry permeates the whole canon, from Genesis to Revelation. Beale concludes with an application of the biblical notion of idolatry to the challenges of contemporary life.