one hand it will soften the tone of the messages—they will be delivered in love, but on the other hand it will underscore the nation’s ingratitude. Even though God loved them, they had failed to show any appreciation for it or any response to it. In fact, even when the prophet declared this message, the response was a skeptical challenge for Malachi to convince them that God loved them. If people are in any way open to the word of God, the constantly repeated message of God’s faithful love for his