Malachi 2:17-5

MALACHI—NOTE ON Malachi 2:17 Fourth Dispute: Is God Unjust? Malachi accuses the people of wearying the Lord with their insulting complaints: “Everyone who does evil is good in the sight of the LORD” and “Where is the God of justice?” Many of the people were distressed at the apparent failure of the prophetic promises of restoration (see Haggai 2:1; Zechariah 1:16; Zechariah 2:1; Zechariah 8:1). Israel was experiencing continued social and political oppression and economic hardship (Nehemiah 1:3; Nehemiah 9:36; Malachi 3:11). Worse, they had been promised that God would return to his temple with greater glory than was seen at Moses’ tabernacle or Solomon’s temple (e.g., Zechariah 1:16; Zechariah 2:4, Zechariah 2:10; Zechariah 8:3; Zechariah 9:9), but the rebuilt temple lacked any visible display of glory. Now, however, Malachi promises that “the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple” (Malachi 3:1). This prophecy was fulfilled ultimately in Jesus Christ (John 1:14; 2 Corinthians 4:6).