Introduction
Malachi 1:1-5
Malachi (My Messenger) was the last book of the Old Testament to be written, and dates from the 5th century BC, some placing it as late as 420 BC.
There is no certainty as to the person who wrote this prophecy: nothing is known of him beyond what is contained in this book of prophecies; the book is quoted six times in the New Testament, all but one by the Lord Jesus, but his name isn't mentioned (Matthew 11:10;17:12; Mark 1:2; 9:11, 12; Luke 1:17; Romans 9:13); Jewish tradition has it that he belonged to the "great Synagogue" and was a Levite from Supha in Zebulun; some have even supposed that the name is simply a title descriptive of his character as a messenger of the LORD, and not a proper name.
The author was possibly a contemporary with Nehemiah (compare Malachi 2:8, 2:10-16, with Nehemiah 13:15; 13:23), having written the prophecy just before or after Nehemiah's return from Persia (Nehemiah 13:6). He must have prophesied after Haggai and Zechariah: no allusion is made to him by Ezra; the temple had been finished (no mention is made of the rebuilding), the rituals re-instituted and the walls of Jerusalem had been rebuilt.
God had a burden (an oracle, prophecy, judgement) for Israel to be transmitted by Malachi. The LORD had not given up his covenant with Israel, nor would He forget the promises made to their patriarchs.
The temple had been rebuilt for almost a century, and the people were losing their godliness. Apathy and disillusionment had set in because the exciting Messianic prophecies of Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Micah had not yet been fulfilled. Many of the sins that had been attended to by Nehemiah and Hosea were again being practised. Malachi portrays a graphic dialogue between a righteous God and His hardened people.
Malachi puts on record the last pleading of the LORD with His people found in the Old Testament. There were no more prophets to be heard until John the Baptist, four centuries later. The book presents a sad graphic picture of God's chosen people at that time, indicating the need for great reforms to prepare the way for the coming Messiah.
Spiritual decline had set in once again. Malachi was a bold and severe writer, concerned with calling his people back to their covenantal relationship with the LORD.
Throughout the book the prophet reminds Israel of Jehovah's love to them. The contents of the book are divided into four chapters, but it consists of three sections, preceded by an introduction (Mal 1:1-5), the third and fourth chapters being joined into one in the Hebrew text.
The first section (Mal 1:6-2:9) is addressed to the priests who had despised the name of the LORD, and had been leaders in a departure from His worship; it contains a stern rebuke to them for this, and for their partiality in administering the law.
The second section (Mal 2:9-16) is addressed to those among the people who had intermarried with idolatrous Gentiles.
The third (Mal 2:17-4:6) is addressed to the people as a whole, warning them of the coming of the God of judgement, preceded by the advent of the Messiah.
R David Jones
1 The burden of the word of the LORD to Israel by Malachi.
2 "I have loved you," says the LORD. "Yet you say, 'In what way have You loved us?' Was not Esau Jacob's brother?" Says the LORD. "Yet Jacob I have loved;
3 But Esau I have hated, And laid waste his mountains and his heritage For the jackals of the wilderness."
4 Even though Edom has said, "We have been impoverished, But we will return and build the desolate places," Thus says the LORD of hosts: "They may build, but I will throw down; They shall be called the Territory of Wickedness, And the people against whom the LORD will have indignation forever.
5 Your eyes shall see, And you shall say, 'The LORD is magnified beyond the border of Israel.'
Malachi 1:1-5 (NKJV)