‘I am the LORD, I change not’
(3:6) — the covenant's ground when the community's faithfulness wavers. The book's theological anchor.
Old Testament · Book 39 of 66
Malachi
The last Old Testament voice — a prophet in dialogue with a community grown cynical about covenant. ‘I am the LORD, I change not.’
4
Chapters
6 disputations
Rhetorical form
Elijah foretold
4:5–6 — Malachi's close
“For I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.”
- Author
- Malachi (1:1) — whose name means ‘my messenger’; possibly a personal name, possibly a title
- Date
- c. 430 BC, the late post-exilic period (contemporary with Nehemiah's second term)
- Audience
- The post-exilic community become cynical about covenant
- Position
- Old Testament · Book 39 of 66
Structure
- Six disputations1–3
‘Wherein have we…?’ — the people's challenges answered. Priestly failure (1); faithless marriages (2); robbery in tithes (3); the LORD sudden to his Temple and the Messenger of the covenant.
- The day that comes; Elijah foretold4
The day burning as an oven; the Sun of righteousness with healing in his wings; Elijah sent before the great and dreadful day.
Section pages
Each section is one focused part of Malachi — purpose, key movements, key verses, Christ-in-this-section. Roughly five minutes each.
Themes
The messenger of the covenant
(3:1) — John the Baptist prepares the way (Matt 11:10); the LORD himself comes suddenly to his Temple.
Elijah foretold
(4:5–6) — Jesus identifies John the Baptist as the promised Elijah (Matt 11:14). Malachi's closing note is the seam into the Gospels.