Malachi and the Church

Malachi, the last of the three postexilic prophets, appears on the scene about 100 years after the return of the Jewish exiles from their 70 years of Babylonian captivity.  His concern isn't about getting the temple restored, since Haggai and Zechariah had looked after that much earlier.  Malachi's concern was for the people - that they get their lives restored into right living with God.  The people had become morally lax in their daily living and indifferent towards worshiping God and he urgently tells them to return to God.   The prophet is God's voice to them.   In response to their query:
                                  "But how do we return?"

            God answers: "Begin by being honest." 3:8

Several of my favorite verses in this 4-chapter Book are:

"Then those whose lives honoured GOD got together and talked it over. 

GOD saw what they were doing and listened in. 

A book was opened in God's presence and minutes were taken of the meeting, 

with the names of the GOD-fearers written down,

all the names of those who honored GOD's name."  3:16

"The sun of righteousness will dawn on those who honor my name,

healing radiating from its wings" 4:3

St. Isaac's Cathedral in Moscow is huge and magnificent, topped off with a massive dome.  When we toured the inside of this place we were really impressed  with the gorgeous emerald green malachite columns inside the building.  It remains largely a tourist attraction and museum although a section is set apart for some kind of services. 

We were able to climb up to the first ring encircling the outside of the dome from where we could overlook the city.

Now, like in Malachi's day, the church buildings are repaired but what about the people...what about us?

The prophets throughout have spoken, actually thundered most of the time it seems, about the importance of getting our lives straightened around and the importance of preparing ourselves for the coming of the Lord.  Malachi closes off the Old Testament by referring back to Moses in order for us not to forget what God has done for us and then ahead to Elijah the prophet who will come to clear the way for the Big Day of GOD.

Four hundred years later God sent one final prophet known as John the Baptist to prepare the way for the promised Messiah.  John is identified by Jesus (Matthew 17:10-13)  as the Elijah promised in Malachi 4:5