Malachi contains four chapters and 55 verses. It is the 39th and final Old Testament book and the last Minor Prophet. Some have called it "a bridge between the Old and New covenants." The name Malachi means "messenger of Jehovah." The book says nothing about the man Malachi, and our knowledge of him is limited. His name is not mentioned elsewhere in the sacred text. Some have questioned whether this was really just an anonymous writer called "the messenger." I doubt this, since all the other Minor Prophets were given names. Malachi's writing style is more in the form of a debate. He used the expression "yet you say" to voice his anticipation of the reply. Let us examine some of the exchanges in this book.
"I have loved you, says the Lord. Yet you say, in what way have you loved us? ..." {Malachi 1:2} Surely God's people could not be blind to His expressions of love. He secured their release from Egyptian bondage; aided in their conquest of the promised land; helped them grow into a mighty nation; and secured their release from Babylonian captivity. Though they continually disobeyed, God was willing to give them another chance, even after the Babylonian captivity. Who could doubt God's love for mankind?
"A son honors his father, and a servant his master, If I am the father, where is My honor? And if I am Master, where is My reverence? Say the Lord of hosts to you priests who despise My name. Yet you say, "in what have we despised your name?" {Malachi 1:6} In the verses that followed, He answered them, showing that they offered Him defiled things -- things lame, sick, and blind. Even the governors would not accept such sacrifices. This shows their contempt for Him and His guidelines for their sacrifices. He was not pleased.
"You have wearied the Lord with your words; yet you say, in what way have we wearied Him? In that you say, everyone who does evil is good in the sight of the Lord, and He delights in them, or where is the God of justice." {Malachi 2:17} What an understatement! How many times did they promise to obey His law? To pledge allegiance to His covenant? Talk is cheap, and God's people, by their sinful conduct, proved it.
"Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, in what way have we robbed you? In tithes and offerings. You are cursed with a curse, for you have robbed Me, even this whole nation." {Malachi 3:8,9} He challenges them to bring their tithes into the storehouses and see whether they can out-give God! In their relationship, who had been on the receiving end? God was the one who was short-changed!
"Your words have been harsh against Me, says the Lord, yet you say, what have we spoken against you?" {Malachi 3:13} Again, one would have to be incredibly naïve to believe that God had done anything but good toward them. God's character is above reproach or question. He points out that their outward show of faithfulness meant nothing, because their hearts were far from Him.
The book ends with a reminder to "remember the Law of Moses" (Malachi 4:4). Why? He wanted them to repent of their sinful conduct and walk uprightly again before Him. Then he points to one "who would prepare the way for the Lord in the spirit of Elijah." It would be 400 years before God again spoke. They would do well to remember and obey Him! This is good advice in any age. Read and obey God's law! Amen!!