Malachi was the last Old Testament prophet. All of his writings are contained in the book of Malachi, which are only four chapters long. Malachi was a minor prophet. The label of minor prophet means that Malachi had a small book, not necessarily a small purpose. Malachi touched on Judah’s unfaithfulness, Elijah coming, and the Day of Judgment.
Malachi prophesied for about 15 years, from 445-430 B.C., after Judah returned from captivity. They still showed unfaithfulness. The people of Judah had recently returned to their homeland, but they still disobeyed God in many ways. Through Malachi God told the people of Israel to stop bringing unworthy sacrifices.
In Malachi chapters 4 verses 5-6, Malachi speaks the word of the Lord to the people: “See, I will send the prophet Elijah before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers.” Elijah came to prepare the way for Jesus, as the Bible says in Isaiah 40:3 “a voice of one calling in the desert, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’”
Malachi also prophesied about the Lord’s Judgment. The Lord was angry about many things concerning Israel’s behavior, and he told them that when he spoke through Malachi. The people were not bringing acceptable offerings to God. Malachi said that if they brought adequate offerings to God, he would answer their prayers. Many of the people wouldn’t listen to Malachi’s prophecies. Most of the people wouldn’t listen to what Malachi was saying. God set the people who did apart as righteous because of their faithfulness. Malachi’s life teaches us to follow God in everything we do.
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