Personal Reading & Reflection on Malachi

Not much information was available regarding the historical

background of prophet Malachi. Talmudic tradition, however, placed

Haggai, Malachi and Zechariah as post-exilic prophets. We may deduce

the book was written after the return from Babylonian exile. The

temple had been rebuilt but certain apathy towards temple rituals and

Mosaic laws had crept in (1:6). There was also rampant intermarriage

with unbelievers (2:11) and divorce rate was mounting (2:16). Some

people had become cynical by questioning God’s love and justice (1:2-

5, 2:17); neglecting their duty to tithe (3:6-12) and offering blemished

animal offerings (1:6 – 2:9). They have quickly neglected the covenant

by oppressing the widows, aliens and orphans (3:5). In view of such

spiritual needs in the post exilic period, the dating of Malachi’s book

cannot be earlier than 516/515 BC when the second temple was

completed.

The message of Malachi began with an affirmation of God’s love for

Israel by choosing them as a nation over Edom. God is portrayed as

sovereign over all nations, not only for Israel (1:11). It was because of

His immutable love that Israel is not destroyed completely (3:6). But

the Lord was not honored by His people presenting defiled food on the

altar. Offering sick and lame animals as gifts would be unbecoming

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even for a human governor. How could such sacrifices be acceptable to

the great King over all nations?

There was an indictment on the priests who ought to be a source of

true instruction and turned many from sin (2:1-17). But they had

corrupted the Levite ministry by turning away from the way and

showing partiality in instruction. Their prayers and offerings were not

acceptable because their lives were not consonant with their rituals.

The people were indicted of unfaithfulness to their wives and marriage

to women of a foreign god. The Lord was tired of their complaints

about His justice.

In chapter 3, Malachi contributed to Messianic prophecy by predicting a

messenger who will clear the way before the Lord, who will suddenly

come to His temple. He will be refiner’s fire, purifying the priests like

gold and silver so they may offer acceptable sacrifices. The New

Testament would apply this verse to John the Baptist (Matthew 11:10).

Christ came to the temple first as a baby to be dedicated and finally at

the last week of his life where he cleansed the temple of abusers. But

who could stand on the day of His righteous judgment? (2:2-4) Justice

would be executed against wicked doers and oppressors of the weak

and needy. The people were invited to return to the Lord in

repentance. One way of doing so would be to fulfill their duties in tithes

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and offerings (3:8-10). Perhaps the people were too preoccupied with

their livelihood that they neglected the temple as in the days of Ezra.

There would be a day of reckoning for both the righteous and the

wicked. Those who fear the Lord were given a message of hope. They

shall be heard, spared and remembered with favor (3:16-18). Not only

that, they would be prepared as the Lord’s own cherished possession

and described as His children. The people were reminded to keep the

covenant instituted at Horeb (4:4). However for the arrogant and

evildoer, there would be a day of fiery judgment. Again, the promise of

God is the sending of another messenger like the prophet Elijah before

the coming of this great day. His purpose would be to reconcile the

hearts of fathers and children to each other. Jesus would understand

this “Elijah” figure as reference to the ministry of John the Baptist (Matt

11:14, 17:12, Mk 9:11-13, Lk 1:17).