Malachi

• Where it fits: End of the Exile & Restoration era (ca. 550–400 BC), still within the post-exile world.
• Core message: God wants faithful love, not half-hearted religion.
• Big themes: covenant faithfulness, worship integrity, justice, repentance, hope for future renewal.
• Structure: built like a series of disputes: God speaks → people push back → God exposes the real issue.
• Why it matters: Malachi targets “religious autopilot.” It’s a gut-check for anyone going through motions.

After Malachi → 400 years of silence → John the Baptist.