Malachi means “My messenger.”
The last of our five books telling of the conditions of that little group which returned to Jerusalem about 475 years before the Lord Jesus came to earth. They too became generally careless, and so the prophet Malachi is raised up by God to stir up the people. It is like a conversation between God and His people. They had sunk down to a very low state. Only with the outward form were they worshipping God. He in mercy, grace and love, had brought His people back from captivity. Yet they were so forgetful and disobedient! What a debt they owed to God! The Lord desires to find in us a heart that looks to Him each day.
V.1-2 He had to remind them! They ask Him in what way He loved them! They were insensible to the Lord’s authority.
V.6 The priests despised His Name! They ask Him how they did this.
V.7 They brought unclean bread to His altar! They ask, when!
They had gone far away from God and weren’t even conscious of it. Many believers today are the same. The Lord was just about to come then — and did. He is about to come again — and will. Are we looking for Him?