Why does God hate sacrifices when he commanded them in the first place?

Jeremiah looking super sad

If you’ve spent time in the prophets of your Old Testament, chances are you’ve encountered several — dozens, even — examples of God confronting his people with his own disdain for burnt offerings and sacrifices. Many of the prophets say in their own way that the blood of bulls or birds will only make the frustration of YHWH, the God of Israel, continue. As a modern Christian pastor who is simultaneously grateful to not be required to cut open animals and certain I will never have to, I always “amen” these passages with a kind of quickness and certainty. “Yes,” I say to myself as I read them, “we don’t need sacrifices! We just need to know God loves us.” You know the passages to which I’m referring? Like this:

For I desire mercy, not sacrifice,

and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings.

-Hosea 6:6

Or this…

22 Even though you bring me burnt offerings and grain offerings,

I will not accept them.

Though you bring choice fellowship offerings,

I will have no regard for them.

23 Away with the noise of your songs!

I will not listen to the music of your harps.