Malachi was not a man, it was a message to the Isrealites who had turn their backs on God. They were going through the motions of worship but their faith was not behind it. Hebrews says, “Faith without works is dead”. That message is still true. God will soon be returning for His church; a believing, working church. It is past time we acted like we actually belive God is real and that He loves us and the words of Christ are to be put into action. He gave us a commission. A commission to Go out into the world and give our love and share the gifts he has established within the church. “Greater things then these shall you do in my name”.
This is considered a minor prophecy by most churches but I put to you that no message from God is small. They are all given in love for His church.
This prophecy came some time during 500-350 BC after the construction and consecration of the 2nd temple of Jerusalem finished in 515BC.
The message? Turn from your sins, for the day of the Lord is coming. The prophecy goes on to tell Isreal that God is done talking to them because they refuse to hear. For the next 400 yrs God wasI silent. There are only false prophets among the people until the day that Zacharias entered into the temple to burn the incense with prayer for atonement. “…an angel appeared before him, standing in the right side of the alter of incense”. The angle told him, “…your wife, Elizabeth, will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at His birth. For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the holy spirit, even from his mother’s womb. And he will turn many of the children of israel to the Lord their God. He will also go before him in the spirit, and power of Elijah, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children’ and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord”. Luke 1: 11 – 25
In the understand of the human mind, Zacharias didnt believe him so once again God brought silence. He took Zacharias’ voice.
*N* All scriptures are from The Orthodox Study Bible unless noted.
The Making of a Community 