Author: Although some attribute Malachi to some anonymous writer, possible Ezra, who had used the Hebrew pseudonym Mal'aki ("My messenger"), most consider it to be the work of the prophet of that name. In no other place in the Bible is Malachi mentioned, but by his book we known that he felt a great love for the people of Judah and the temple ceremonies. He seems to have been a contemporary of Nehemiah.
Date: The lack of mention of any king, or identifiable historical incident, makes it a little difficult to date the book. The use of several Persian words in the text, and the references to the reconstruction of the temple (1:10, recommend a post-exilic date concordant with the time in which Nehemiah was written (around 450 B.C.). Malachi wrote as the last of the twelve minor prophets, the last inspired author of the Scripture until the times of the New Testament.
Background: As was said above, Malachi was the last of a long series of men inspired by GOD, who, during a period of a thousand years, preached the coming of the Just. Not only did they prophesy the coming of the Messiah, but they went on to expose the sins of the people and to warn them about the deserved divine judgment.
After their return from exile, the people of Israel lived as a restored community in the land of Palestine. Instead of learning from the negative experiences of their past, and returning to the worship and service of the GOD of their ancestors, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, they became an immoral and indifferent people. The religious and political reforms initiated by leaders like Nehemiah and Ezra didn't prevent the serious spiritual decline that was manifested in the heart of the Israelite population. This grave situation make Malachi feel profoundly affected with the problems of his people. With divine fervor he referred then to the collective apathy that prevailed toward his beloved GOD.
Content: Right at the beginning of his book, Malachi mentions the invariable love of GOD for his people, born from his eternal mercy. This serves as a background of the condemnations and exhortations that follow. First, the prophet directs himself to the arrogant, the open repudiation of the priests for the Law and their negative influence on the people. He signals them out as responsible for having made many stumble in sin. Thus he warns them that the LORD won't remain a mere spectator but, unless they repent, he will punish them severely.
Following that he refers, in energetic terms, to the betrayal of the priests and laics who divorce their faithful spouses and marry pagan women who practice the worship of idols. This is followed by an earnest call to contain their passions and be faithful to the spouses that GOD gave them in their youth.
Further on, the prophet rejects the irreligious practices of the people, their denial of divine justice, and their defrauding the LORD by holding back the tithes and offerings that are due Him.
In a prose that is ardent and filled with fervor, in the following line Malachi describes the qualities of the priesthood in the past. He prophesies about the Sun of Righteousness, the Messenger of the covenant, and the extraordinary and terrible day of divine judgment, when the just will be rewarded and the unholy punished.
Finally, he exhorts the people to observe the laws given to Israel through Moses and promises a future Messiah and his precursor, Elijah (John the Baptist). This prophecy closes the Old Testament and links it to the good news of the provision of GOD in the Sun of Righteousness described in the New Testament.
Theological Contributions: (IBD) The prophecy of Malachi is noted for its vivid portrayal of the love of GOD as well as His might and power. Israel needed to be reminded of these truths at a time when widespread doubt had dashed its expectations of the Messiah.
Special Considerations: (IBD) Malachi leaves us with the feeling that the story is not yet finished, that GOD still has promises to fulfill on behalf of His people. After Malachi came 400 long years of silence. But when the time was right, heaven would burst forth in song at the arrival of the Messiah.
Personal Application: Malachi's criticism of religious abuses and indifference has validity in our time. The people of GOD always need to confess the insufficiency of the response to divine love. The initial enthusiasm and devotion for GOD can diminish. Genuine worship is frequently transformed into mechanical observation of religious practices. Withholding tithes, divorcing faithful spouses, and unions between believers and unbelievers, often cause destruction of families. Selfish desires, combined with prideful and arrogant attitudes, lead to serious problems for which GOD is blamed. Instead of recognizing our negligence and changing our lives by the power of the Holy Spirit, we ask, "Where is the GOD of justice" (2:17). However, true repentance still prepares the way for necessary reforms and revivals inspired by the Holy Spirit.
Christ Revealed: In this final book of the Old Testament we find clear prophetic messages about the sudden appearance of Christ, the angel of the (new) covenant (3:1). That is a day of judgment. "And who can bear the time of his coming?" (3:2). Nobody thanks to his own efforts, because for all those who fear the LORD, "the Sun of righteousness will arise ["the angel of the covenant", Jesus (3:1)]; and in his wings will bring salvation" (4:2).
The Holy Spirit in Action: The action of the Holy Spirit in Malachi is made evident in his own personal life and prophetic ministry. His writings show him to be a consecrated prophet, a person who maintained a close contact with the Holy Spirit. In this way, he could be used to warn the people of the sinful behavior and to urge them to conform their lives in accordance with the Law of the LORD. The Holy Spirit gave him, furthermore, the privilege of being included in the lineage of the consecrated prophets and faithful who wrote his messages, allowing him to clearly and fervently proclaim his long-range vision about the coming of Christ.
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