Book 39 of 39 in the Old Testament — Covenant faithfulness.
Malachi, the Old Testament's final book, confronts a spiritually apathetic postexilic community — priests offering blemished sacrifices, people withholding tithes, and widespread cynicism about whether serving God is worthwhile. Through a series of pointed questions and answers, God calls his people back to covenant faithfulness in worship, marriage, and generosity. The book closes looking forward to a coming messenger who would prepare the way before ‘the great and dreadful day of the Lord’ — language the New Testament applies to John the Baptist. It leaves the Old Testament story in a state of expectation.
“I have loved you, saith the LORD. Yet ye say, Wherein hast thou loved us? Was not Esau Jacob’s brother? saith the LORD: yet I loved Jacob,”King James Version
God opens by declaring his love for Israel, which the people question.
“For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.”King James Version
Because God does not change, Israel is not consumed despite its unfaithfulness.
“Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.”King James Version
God invites Israel to test him by bringing a full tithe and see his blessing.
“But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.”King James Version
The sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings for those who fear God.
“Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD: And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.”King James Version
God promises to send a prophet before the great day of the Lord, applied to John the Baptist.