Hi Gena,
I checked in the commentaries and here's a few things I thought would be helpful to understand this last of the prophets.
Malachi forms the transition link between the two dispensations, the Old and the New, “the skirt and boundary of Christianity” [Tertullian], to which perhaps is due the abrupt earnestness which characterizes his prophecies. (by A.R. Faussett)
Malachi was the last of the prophets, and is supposed to have prophesied B.C. 420. He reproves the priests and the people for the evil practices into which they had fallen, and invites them to repentance and reformation, with promises of the blessings to be bestowed at the coming of the Messiah. And now that prophecy was to cease, he speaks clearly of the Messiah, as nigh at hand, and directs the people of God to keep in remembrance the law of Moses, while they were in expectation of the gospel of Christ.
(MHCC)
The general design of it is to reprove the Jews for their ingratitude to the Lord, their neglect and contempt of His worship, and breach of His laws; and to raise in the minds of the truly Godly an expectation of the Messiah, and His forerunner, John the Baptist. (GILL)
Malachi, is like a late evening, which brings a long day to a close; but he is also the morning dawn, which bears a glorious day in its womb (Herzog's Cyclopaedia).
mercy, peace, and love
Kat