{"id":51751,"date":"2020-07-10T23:58:05","date_gmt":"2020-07-10T20:58:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wingulamashahidi.org\/?p=51751"},"modified":"2025-06-30T16:49:52","modified_gmt":"2025-06-30T13:49:52","slug":"malachi-the-final-prophet-of-the-old-testament","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wingulamashahidi.org\/en\/2020\/07\/10\/malachi-the-final-prophet-of-the-old-testament\/","title":{"rendered":"Malachi \u2013 The Final Prophet of the Old Testament"},"content":{"rendered":"

Malachi was a prophet of God, just like others such as Isaiah, Jeremiah, Samuel, and Daniel. However, unlike these prophets, Scripture gives us <\/span>very little personal detail<\/strong> about Malachi’s life. His name only appears in the <\/span>book that bears his name<\/strong>, and nowhere else in the Bible.<\/span><\/p>\n

He is known as the last prophet of the Old Testament<\/strong>, and the Book of Malachi<\/strong>, written around 441\u2013400 B.C.<\/strong>, is the final book in the Old Testament. Though short \u2014 with just four chapters \u2014 it contains deep and powerful messages from God to His people.<\/p>\n

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Was Malachi Really the Last Prophet?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Saying Malachi was the “last prophet” doesn’t mean no other prophets ever came<\/strong> after him. During the 400 years between Malachi and the New Testament (called the intertestamental period)<\/strong>, other people may have claimed to speak for God. However, the Holy Spirit did not authorize their words<\/strong> to be part of the inspired Scriptures (2 Peter 1:20\u201321).<\/p>\n

2 Peter 1:21<\/strong>
\n“For prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.”<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Any writings not included in the Old Testament canon are not inspired by God<\/strong>, and trying to give them equal authority is spiritually dangerous<\/strong>. This can open the door for deception and confusion (Revelation 22:18\u201319).<\/p>\n

Therefore, Malachi’s book marks the close<\/strong> of the Old Testament. All later additions are considered non-canonical<\/strong> (not divinely inspired).<\/p>\n

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Malachi\u2019s Prophecy About Elijah<\/strong><\/h2>\n

One of the most unique revelations<\/strong> Malachi received was the prophecy about the return of Elijah<\/strong> before the great judgment day of the Lord:<\/p>\n

Malachi 4:5\u20136\u00a0<\/strong>
\n\u201cBehold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.
\nAnd he will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers,
\nLest I come and strike the earth with a curse.\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

This prophecy was fulfilled in John the Baptist<\/strong>, who came in the spirit and power of Elijah<\/strong> to prepare the way for the coming of Jesus the Messiah:<\/p>\n

Matthew 17:11\u201313\u00a0<\/strong>
\nJesus answered and said to them, \u201cIndeed, Elijah is coming first and will restore all things.
\nBut I say to you that Elijah has come already, and they did not know him but did to him whatever they wished.
\nLikewise the Son of Man is also about to suffer at their hands.\u201d
\nThen the disciples understood that He spoke to them of John the Baptist.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

This fulfillment shows how God uses prophetic symbols and forerunners<\/strong> in redemptive history, leading to Christ\u2019s first coming<\/strong> and preparing us for His return.<\/p>\n

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Malachi\u2019s Message About Tithing<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Malachi also received one of the clearest revelations in the Bible about tithing and offerings<\/strong>. God accuses the people of robbing Him by withholding what belongs to Him<\/strong>:<\/p>\n

Malachi 3:8\u201310\u00a0<\/strong>
\n\u201cWill a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, \u2018In what way have we robbed You?\u2019 In tithes and offerings.
\nYou are cursed with a curse, for you have robbed Me, even this whole nation.
\nBring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house,
\nAnd try Me now in this,\u201d
\nSays the Lord of hosts,
\n\u201cIf I will not open for you the windows of heaven
\nAnd pour out for you such blessing
\nThat there will not be room enough to receive it.\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Here, God invites His people to test His faithfulness<\/strong>, promising to bless those who give in obedience (see also 2 Corinthians 9:6\u20138<\/strong>).<\/p>\n

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God\u2019s Emotions and Values Revealed<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Malachi also reveals God\u2019s emotional response<\/strong> to His people\u2019s behavior. Through him, God exposes attitudes and actions that offend or grieve His heart<\/strong>, even when people are unaware of it.<\/p>\n

1. God Hates Divorce<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Malachi 2:16\u00a0<\/strong>
\n\u201cFor the Lord God of Israel says
\nThat He hates divorce,
\nFor it covers one\u2019s garment with violence,\u201d
\nSays the Lord of hosts.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

This shows God\u2019s view of marriage as a sacred covenant<\/strong>, not something to break lightly (see also Matthew 19:6<\/strong>).<\/p>\n

2. God Is Weary of Empty Words<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Malachi 2:17\u00a0<\/strong>
\n\u201cYou have wearied the Lord with your words;
\nYet you say,
\n\u2018In what way have we wearied Him?\u2019
\nIn that you say,
\n\u2018Everyone who does evil is good in the sight of the Lord,
\nAnd He delights in them,\u2019
\nOr, \u2018Where is the God of justice?\u2019\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

God is grieved when people distort justice<\/strong> or question His character, calling evil good and ignoring accountability (see Isaiah 5:20<\/strong>).<\/p>\n

3. God Hears Our Complaints<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Malachi 3:13\u201314\u00a0<\/strong>
\n\u201cYour words have been harsh against Me,\u201d says the Lord,
\n\u201cYet you say,
\n\u2018What have we spoken against You?\u2019
\nYou have said,
\n\u2018It is useless to serve God;
\nWhat profit is it that we have kept His ordinance,
\nAnd that we have walked as mourners
\nBefore the Lord of hosts?\u2019\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Some people were discouraged and cynical<\/strong>, thinking serving God had no reward. But God warns us not to speak faithless words<\/strong>, especially in hard times.<\/p>\n

\n

God Remembers the Faithful<\/strong><\/h2>\n

In contrast, God honors those who fear Him and speak rightly<\/strong> about Him. Their names are written in His Book of Remembrance<\/strong>:<\/p>\n

Malachi 3:16\u201317\u00a0<\/strong>
\nThen those who feared the Lord spoke to one another,
\nAnd the Lord listened and heard them;
\nSo a book of remembrance was written before Him
\nFor those who fear the Lord
\nAnd who meditate on His name.
\n\u201cThey shall be Mine,\u201d says the Lord of hosts,
\n\u201cOn the day that I make them My jewels.\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

This is a reminder that God is not unjust to forget our work<\/strong> (Hebrews 6:10). Every act of faith and every word of reverence is precious to Him.<\/p>\n

God\u2019s Word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path<\/strong> (Psalm 119:105). Though the Book of Malachi is short, it contains powerful spiritual lessons<\/strong> about faithfulness, reverence, stewardship, marriage, and God\u2019s judgment.<\/p>\n

If we take time to read it prayerfully \u2014 inviting the Holy Spirit to teach us<\/strong> \u2014 we will gain much that will build us up and help the Church of Christ.<\/p>\n

May God help us not just to read His Word<\/strong>, but to live it out<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\n

Malachi 1<\/strong><\/h3>\n

(\u201cOur Lord is coming\u201d \u2013 1 Corinthians 16:22)<\/em><\/p>\n