What will be the offering of Judah and Jerusalem? It will be that offering which they have not offered for so many generations—the offering of a broken heart and a contrite spirit. This is the sacrifice of righteousness for which the Lord has long awaited:
'For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering.
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem.
Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar.' (Ps 51:16-19)
The Psalmist refers to the latter-day Zion and Jerusalem, explaining, as we saw in the last verse, that the offering of a broken heart and a contrite spirit, or the sacrifices of righteousness, will be accompanied by the restitution of animal sacrifice, for then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar.