Malachi 1:9

⁹And now entreat the favor of God, that he may be gracious to us. With such a gift from your hand, will he show favor to any of you? says the Lord of hosts.

Malachi 1 opens with a startling declaration of God's love for Israel, immediately challenged by the people's cynical question: "How have you loved us?" The chapter unfolds as a courtroom drama, with God as both prosecutor and plaintiff. Through the prophet Malachi, God exposes the