Malachi KJV

Malachi is considered by most the last book of the Old Testament. It takes place after the second temple had been built, and many had returned from exile to their home land. Roughly 400 Years before the coming of Christ, Malachi the prophet comes to Jerusalem with a word from the Lord. Malachi starts with the statement "The burden of the word..." Let that sink in. The word of God can be a burden (in some parts) because God speaks of all truth. The Lord is all knowing and here the Lord came to give one final message before a period of silence. Sometimes, silence can speak louder than words and that might have been tough to hear this prophet come and go and to be left to think about these strong words. Sometimes the word of God can do that to you. You hear something from the spirit one day while reading and the fire of God comes on you and then all of a sudden you read something and it stings. This is because the Lord reveals truth to us even when it hurts because that is the love of a Father. Sometimes when the word stings, the Lord may walk away for a season, but this is only to test you and give you the time you need to truly reflect on what the Father has said. Have you ever been grounded, a parent says something that cuts you deep but you know they're right, and then they walk away? After some time the parent comes back but during that gounding you suffer, you cry, you might even beg, but yet most importantly you will learn from such experiences of solitude.
Malachi restates the fact that God had made a covenant with His holy people long ago, but yet, they had found ways to slack in all He had told them to do. This book is not simply getting on the people of Israel alone, but more graphically the Lord speaks against his priests, i.e. Leaders! At this time the priests have backslid and slacked in all they were commanded to do. For it is one thing for the average man to stumble, but these priests had a special covenant with the Lord to handle the things of the Lord. We must handle the gift of God with care, reverence, and fear. The fear is not out of dread, but instead think of the ways in which only the Lord can forgive, give grace, and be so Holy. Amen. This is what I fear, that fact that God can forgive people that no man can, and He is almighty in doing so. Wow! This is what Malachi is hoping to invoke in these men of God to bring them back into the understanding of why they should walk upright and do the commandments of the Lord that they had been so dedicated to in the past. Let not your fire dwindle for He is a good and Loving God. It says in chapter 3 of Malachi: "Ye have said, It is vain to serve God, and what prophet is it that we have kept his ordinance..." This is how we can become as believers when we suffer for long periods of time, but yet the Lord is faithful, for what is to come no man knows or can understand (1 Corinthians 2:9). These are the things we hope in and seek in our coming Lord.