A Brief Book Notice from Books At a Glance
by Fred G. Zaspel
The messianic hope / messianic prophecy has long been an area of interest for me and so many others. Michael Rydelnik’s The Messianic Hope: Is the Hebrew Bible Really Messianic? stands apart from others in that his approach is not simply to expound given prophecies. Rather, he sets out to demonstrate that “the Messiah is a central feature of Old Testament biblical theology.” Its anticipation of Messiah is not simply vague and occasional but explicit, pervasive, and of shaping significance. As such, the book is a bit on the academic side, but it is entirely accessible. And for my money, it is essential reading for any pastor who is seeking a better understanding of the Old Testament hope and how to interpret the Old Testament Scriptures accordingly.
Rydelnik examines those approaches that treat the messianic hope as less explicit and direct and shows a thorough acquaintance with their works. He then explores his subject on the level of the Hebrew text (Masoretic and otherwise), the canon, and the use of the Old Testament in the Old Testament and the New. He examines many specific Old Testament passages along the way and offers more detailed analyses of Genesis 3:15, Isaiah 7:14, and Psalm 110 as sample studies. For my money, his chapter on Isaiah 7:14 by itself is worth the price of the book. His examination of this famous but often puzzling prophecy of Immanuel’s virgin birth weighs carefully all the exegetical details; in my judgment, it offers the most reliable interpretation available.
Rydelnik’s The Messianic Hope: Is the Old Testament Really Messianic? is a most rewarding study in the nature of messianic prophecy, and it has deservedly won praise from all sides. I wish it had been available back in my seminary years when my interest in this subject was young.
Very highly recommended. Required reading.