Malachi
Malachi is the last of the minor prophets and the closing book of the Old Testament. It also closes the testimony of Jehovah to the Jews until the coming of John the Baptist. Malachi prophesied after the rebuilding of the temple. There was an established priesthood with sacrifices and feasts (Mal. 1:7-8; Mal. 2:3). Although we do not read of idolatry, the people had sunk into a state of total indifference and insensibility. Their moral condition had never been worse. Though professing to carry on, they lacked all spiritual discernment. Malachi’s message is directly addressed to the state of the people.
The book opens with an expression of Jehovah’s love for Israel, “I have loved you, saith the LORD” (Mal. 1:2). God had chosen Jacob over Esau—this was sovereign election—but where was His honor? They offered that which the law expressly prohibited, completely insensible to Jehovah’s rightful claims. All was weariness to them (Mal. 1:13).
Chapter 3 begins with the promise of the Lord’s return, heralded by His messenger John the Baptist. “Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple” (Mal. 3:1; Matt. 11:10). The Angel of the covenant whom they sought would come in judgment (Mal. 3:1-2 JND). As the refiner’s fire he would purify the sons of Levi, “that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness” (Mal. 3:3). Here, as elsewhere, the Lord’s first coming is connected with the full result of the second. Before that great and dreadful day of the Lord, Elijah would come and complete his mission to call back an apostate Israel (Mal. 4:5-6). John came in the spirit and power of Elias (Luke 1:17), but was rejected (Mat. 11:14; 17:12).
Even in the midst of all this evil, there is a remnant. “Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name” (Mal. 3:16).
The lukewarm state of Christendom today is morally not unlike Malachi’s time. Philadelphia is likewise commended for having thought upon His name: “Thou … hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name” (Rev. 3:8). This is a very needful exhortation as we await the coming, not of the Sun of Righteousness (Mal. 4:2), but of the Bright and Morning Star, our blessed Lord Jesus (Rev. 22:16).