Malachi was faced with a disillusioned people. Ministering some 80 years after the temple had finally been rebuilt, Israel remained a weak and insignificant little nation. There was no prosperity, no glory, no Messianic reign establishing Jerusalem as the center of the world's attention. The people were wondering if all the prophets had been feeding them a line. God himself seems somewhat of a letdown, even unjust.
Malachi's assignment was to recharge these people and straighten out their thinking and their lives. Malachi begins by affirming God's covenant love for Israel and then sets out to rebuke their unfaithfulness. He first addresses the unfaithfulness of the priests, the leaders and teachers of the people. And then he rebukes the unfaithful people. He tells them that the Lord really is going to return. He will purify the priesthood and he will judge the people. Malachi calls them to respond with repentance. He closes this short four-chapter book, and the final book of the Old Testament, by announcing the Day of the Lord.
