Using a question-and-answer approach, the prophet revealed deep underlying problems of superficial devotion and worship, self-centered lifestyle, blatant mixed marriages and divorces, and a prevailing arrogance of self-conceit in the leaders and people. The nation as a whole had sunk so low that God's Word no longer had any effect on them. As a result, no prophetic voice was heard for four hundred years after Malachi—until John the baptist appeared.
What had caused the returned Jews to degenerate to such a sad spiritual state? It seems that the people were impatient to wait for the prophecies of Haggai and Zechariah to be fulfilled, and had become disillusioned and doubtful their faith gave way to cynicism. Like many Christians today, the Jews wondered if it's worth fearing and serving God, while outwardly they carried on a meaningless empty ritual fraught with insincerity and irreverence. They offered God blind and lame sacrifices, short-changed God on tithes and offerings, and exhibited temerity against Malachi's protest on their callous attitude: "Oh, come on, it's not that bad!"
When our view of God grows dim, materialism and externalism invariably supplant true devotion, and we end up with either ritualism or rationalism. Obligations and duties soon replace our love for God and devotion becomes a drudgery instead of delight. No wonder Malachi ended his message with the bitter word 'curse' as the final word in the Old Testament!
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