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I have made choice of this passage to show that sacrifice was a rite of supplication to God, wherein the supplicant came not with his naked prayer, but presented something unto God whereby to find favour in His sight. The thing presented was a federal gift, consisting of meat and drink, in the tender whereof as a sinner he recognised himself to be his God's vassal and servant, so by acceptance of the same he was reconciled and restored to His covenant by the atonement and forgiveness of his sins. For as according to the custom of mankind, to receive meat and drink from the hand of another was a sign of amity and friendship, much more to make another partaker of his table, as the sinner was here of God's, by eating of His oblation: hence those who came to make supplication of the Divine Majesty whom they had offended were wont by this rite to make way for their suit by removing the obstacle of His offence.

1. It is often said of Abraham and Isaac that where they pitched their tents they also built an altar, and "there called upon the name of the Lord"; but an altar is a place for sacrifice; therefore sacrifice must be a rite whereby they called upon the name of God.

2. The same appears by the speech of Saul (1 Samuel 13:12), which shows that to offer a burnt-offering was to make supplication (1 Samuel 7:8, 9).

3. This is further proved by Psalm 116:13: "I will take the cup of salvation" (or drink offering) "and call upon the name of the Lord."

4. The same is implied in Micah 6:6 and also in Proverbs 15:1, where sacrifice and prayer are taken the one for the other.

5. The like may be inferred out of Solomon's prayer at the dedication of the temple and the Lord's answer thereto. In the prayer no mention is made of sacrifice to be there offered, but only that God would be pleased to hear the prayers that should be made in that place or towards it. Nevertheless, when God appeared to Solomon in the night, He said unto him, "I have heard thy prayer, and have chosen this place to Myself for a house of sacrifice" (2 Chronicles 7:12). From what has been said we can understand in what sense the ancient Church called the Eucharist a sacrifice, and how harmless that notion was, viz., they took this sacrament to have been ordained by Christ to succeed the bloody sacrifices of the law, and to be a means of supplication and address to God, in the New Testament as they were in the Old, by representing the body and blood of Christ unto His Father, according to His appointment.

(J. Mede, B. D.)

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KJV: And that which they have need of, both young bullocks, and rams, and lambs, for the burnt offerings of the God of heaven, wheat, salt, wine, and oil, according to the appointment of the priests which are at Jerusalem, let it be given them day by day without fail:

WEB: That which they have need of, both young bulls, and rams, and lambs, for burnt offerings to the God of heaven; [also] wheat, salt, wine, and oil, according to the word of the priests who are at Jerusalem, let it be given them day by day without fail;