Malachi - Introduction

INTRODUCTION

Malachi ministered in Jerusalem in the mid-fifth century B.C., most likely during the time of Nehemiah (see the book of Nehemiah). A century had passed since the first JEWS had returned from exile in Babylon, and about eighty years had passed since the temple had been rebuilt. But in spite of the encouraging PROPHECIES of Haggai and Zechariah, things weren’t going so well for the returned Jews. Judah remained small and weak; it had no king, no independence; economic conditions were poor. So the people grew discouraged; they wondered if God had abandoned them; their worship became empty, and they began to neglect God’s LAW.

To address this situation, God raised up Malachi. In his book, Malachi rebukes both leaders and people for their unfaithfulness. He tells them that only if they repent and turn to God will they again enjoy His blessings. Malachi assures the people that God has not forgotten them and that He will come; but whether He comes as Judge or Deliverer will be up to them.

At the end of the book, Malachi says that God will send the prophet Elijah to prepare the people for the great and dreadful day of the LORD (Malachi 4:5–6). Jesus Himself identified Malachi’s “prophet Elijah” with John the Baptist (Matthew 11:13–14; Mark 9:11–13). And thus the final words of the Old Testament look ahead to John the Baptist and to the coming of the Lord. “I will send my messenger ahead of you . . . Prepare the way for the Lord” (Mark 1:2–3).