Well here we are on the last book of the Old Testament, and the last book of the Old Testament in this Bible blog. Just one book to go, Revelation.
The name Malachi means "my messenger". Some have thought that this was purely a title and not the actual name of the prophet, but it seems best to treat it as a name as all other prophet books were by a named prophet, and names had much more meaning then than they do now.
Malachi was probably a contemporary of Nehemiah and Ezra. Zerubbabel had completed the temple in 516 BC. Nehemiah had returned to Jerusalem in 444 BC to oversee the rebuilding of the walls. He also taught the Law, focusing on helping the poor, avoiding mixed marriages, keeping the Sabbath, bringing tithes and offerings. In 433BC Nehemiah returned to Persia but then returned again only to find that Jerusalem had once again fallen in to sin. Tithes, intermarriage and the sabbath were all being abused. Malachi addresses many of these concerns. So we see again that prophets were not otherworldly mystics, but were closely related to current events.
The central theme of the book is that the Lord will return both in judgement and with blessing. There is instruction for people to repent and to obey the Lord, and of encouragement for those who remained faithful.
He addresses a time when there was little faith and much disobedience. In such times it can be very difficult to be a faithful follower of the Lord as things can seem very discouraging at times. Malachi provides vital teaching for those living in such times.
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