“Although the Jews had been allowed to return from exile and rebuild the temple, several discouraging factors brought about a general religious malaise: (1) Their land remained but a small province in the backwaters of the Persian Empire, (2) the glorious future announced by the prophets (including the other postexilic prophets, Haggai and Zechariah) had not (yet) been realized and (3) their God had not (yet) come to his temple (3:1) with majesty and power) to exalt his kingdom in the sight of the nations. Doubting God’s covenant love (1:2) and no longer trusting his justice (2:17; 3:14-15), the Jews of the restored community began to lose hope. So, their worship degenerated into a listless perpetuation of mere forms, and they no longer took the law seriously.”

- NIV Study Bible

The Message of Malachi

The Great King (1:14) will come not only to judge His people (3:1-5; 4:1) but also to bless and restore them (3;6-12; 4:2).