One of the main and underlying themes of the Book of Malachi is: ‘The Messenger'. Indeed, the very name of Book means “My Messenger” in English. While the book refers to the author as the Lord's Messenger, Malachi also refers to the priests as the Lord's messenger as well. Then, in one of the climaxes of the Book, there is the prophecy of the coming John the Baptist as the Lord's messenger (note Malachi 4:5) who will prepare the way for the Messiah-Christ - who will be Ultimate messenger, the LORD Himself:
“Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before
Me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to His temple; and the Messenger of the Covenant in whom you delight, behold, He is coming, says the LORD of hosts." (Malachi 3:1)
Malachi has thus revealed his hand. He is a messenger of the Lord chastising those who were called to be the messenger/s of the LORD but rebuking them for their apostasy, and announcing that the end of the Old Covenant will come with a special messenger who will be like Elijah, the 'father' of the prophets (note Matt. 17) who we know to be John the Baptist. It will be John the Baptist, the last of the Old Covenant prophets, who will pave the way for the Ultimate Messenger: Jesus the Christ.
God has sent His Messenger into our world, which is actually His world, with a message for you. Are you listening?
