The Minor Prophets are not minor because they are less important, but only because of their smaller size. Their importance is not negated by their size, either. They are descriptive in a special sort of way, in that they tend to graphically describe our present time, though they were written thousands of years ago.

The prophecies and warnings of Malachi are a good example. The people of this time had no television, no iPods, no internet, no cell phones, but they had the same nagging problems we have today. They took longer to travel from place to place than do we, they didn’t have the possibilities provided by modern medicines as we do, but their moral deviations, their self-righteousness, their disdain for any kind of governance was essentially the same as ours today.

Actually, it’s astounding how little things have changed in man’s life, even in the midst of all his technological advancements. I wrote a little piece in The Family Together some time ago. I have extended it some. It fits what I’ve just said. See if your don’t agree.

Malachi prophesied at essential the same time as Zechariah and Haggai. His work undoubtedly deals with the time of Nehemiah, or a like period that followed, since the conditions with which he deals are essentially the same as those dealt with by Nehemiah. Notice some of the problems with which this great “minor” prophet deals.

The people had failed to honor God (Mal. 1:6). Such neglect will bring about the sure judgment of God. Now, as then. So many people do what they want to do in this age—both morally and religiously. They have developed their own, looser code of morals, as well as their own brand of what they describe, erroneously, as worship. In doing so, they failed to honor God. It is the same today as then.

They had cheapened the worship (Mal. 1:8). Even today people have the notion they can change the worship to suit themselves, paying no attention to what God has approved. They want an accommodative worship, one that makes them feel good. Whatever feels like worship is worship today, and whatever is popular with the people is ingeniously injected into the worship without regard as to whether or not God approves. Just because it feels good doesn’t mean it’s worship. People have decided, just as they did in Malachi’s time, that it makes no difference what you offer.

They had ceased to contend for the faith (Mal. 1:10). The people felt no need to stand for piety and holiness as defined by God. Instead, they capitulated to the world round about them, much as many do today. People today have constructed their own plan of salvation, devised their own rules of righteousness, and invented their own theological system. The heart of the people is managed by emotion, not by what God says. And they feel no compunction about not having Bible authority for what they do. If it feels good they can do it. Subjectivism runs rampant today. Emotion rules, not faith. When we cease to contend for Bible authority, sin is the result.

They had lost their enthusiasm (Mal. 1:12). They no longer felt any fire for God, no zeal for His cause, not enthusiasm for His ways. They recommended them to no one and felt no conscience for not having done so. They saw how the people had adulterated and polluted the ways of God and they turned away in indifference. They felt a weariness when it came to worship: it was too much trouble to praise God, too hard to be religious, too inconvenient to be involved. It’s the same today. People don’t have time for God. If religion calls for expenditure of their precious leisure time, they will reject it.

God will not always strive with us. We best notice what is important in life and expend our energies on that.

Malachi speaks to us today. We best listen.