If you do not listen, and if you do not set your heart to honor my name," says the LORD Almighty, "I will send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings. Yes, I have already cursed them, because you have not set your heart to honor me. (Malachi 2:2)

Malachi wrote the book of Malachi to the nation of Israel calling the nation to repentance and return to righteousness. Although most of the prophets lived and prophesied in days of change and political upheaval, Malachi lived in an uneventful waiting period when God seemed to have forgotten His people who were enduring poverty and foreign domination in Judah. The day of miracles seemed to have passed with Elijah and Elisha. The Temple was not completed and nothing profound had occurred to indicate God's presence had returned to fill it with glory as Ezekiel prophesied (Ezekiel 43:4). The people continued their religious duties without enthusiasm. In reality, the promises that had been given were conditional and the people were not meeting the requirements of God to enable them to receive them. Malachi's prophecy permits us to see the strains and temptations of the waiting periods of life. More important, he also shows the way back to genuine faith in the God who does not change (Malachi 3:6); who invites men to return to Him (Malachi 3:7); and who never forgets those who respond (Malachi 3:16).

Repentance (attitude) + Returning (action) = Restoration
Both attitude (repentance from sin) and action (returning to God) are necessary for forgiveness (restoration to righteousness before God). It is difficult for man to accept the fact he has sinned. Note how the people argued with God's judgment in the book of Malachi. "Wherein" is the key word which precedes each argument of the people: Malachi 1:2, 6, 7; 2:17; 3:7, 8, 13

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