The Prophetic Book of Malachi is written using a unique literary style called ‘a Disputational’. The Lord would bring a charge of wrongdoing and the people would dispute the charge. Malachi 1:2, '“I have loved you,” says the LORD. But you say, “How have you loved us?”' This constant disputing by Malachi’s audience reveals their stubborn hearts. With each charge against the people by GOD, the LORD also introduced another theme He wanted To re-emphasise through the prophet Malachi:
Theme #1 / God’s Love For His People
Theme #2 / The Father-Heart of God
Theme #3 / God is Worthy of Sacrificial Worship
Theme #4 / The Obligations of The Mosaic Covenant
Theme #5 / The Marriage Covenant is a Type of Covenant with God
Theme #6 / The Coming of the Messenger-Redeemer
Theme #7 / The Separating of the Righteous from the Wicked / (Final Judgment)
Throughout the Old Testament, GOD is often described as being a like the sun - Psalm 84:11, "For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favour and honour. No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly." And the prophet Malachi brings his prophecy to close by declaring that GOD would one day rise like the sun upon His people to bring judgment. Mal. 4:1-3, “For behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble. The day that is coming shall set them ablaze, says the LORD of hosts, so that it will leave them neither root nor branch. But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall. And you shall tread down the wicked, for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet, on the day when I act, says the LORD of hosts."
For the wicked there will be condemnation, but for the righteous there will be healing, life, and bliss. Thus, when Jesus the Christ came, He came as the Sun prophesied by Malachi, and because of His atoning, sacrificial death and then resurrection, He now extends this offer of healing, life, and bliss, to all who will turn to Him as the Saviour.