Psalms 141:2
Let my prayer be counted as incense before you, and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice!
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The Psalmist isn't just asking for his prayers to be noticed; he's asking for them to be established and made acceptable, just like the continuous smoke of incense or the solemnity of the evening sacrifice. This reveals a deep understanding that even when physical worship at the temple is impossible, God accepts the sincere heart offered through prayer and lifted hands as a true sacrifice.
David finds himself in a desperate situation, crying out to God for help against wicked enemies who are pressing in on him. He's asking God to hear his prayer and to accept it as a pleasing offering, comparing it to the daily incense burned in the temple and the evening sacrifice. This plea for acceptance comes as he feels distant from the prescribed worship, but he trusts that God values sincere prayer as much as any ritual.
In the Old Testament, incense wasn't just for a nice smell. It was a vital part of worship, symbolizing a prayer that reaches God's very presence. What does this mean for how we pray today?
The psalmist asks that his prayer be like incense offered to God. Think about the daily incense ritual in the Temple:
Even though David might have been far from the Temple, he understood that his prayer, offered with a sincere heart, could ascend to God just like the fragrant smoke. It's a powerful picture of prayer not just being words, but an offering that God accepts and draws near to.
The 'lifting up of hands' is a familiar prayer gesture. But here, it's linked to the evening sacrifice. What ancient worship practice does this echo, and why the evening?
The psalmist likens the "lifting up of my hands" to the evening sacrifice. This gesture, common in prayer, was seen as a visible sign of devotion and supplication.
Understand the original words
qetoreth · Hebrew Noun
A sweet-smelling substance burned in the tabernacle/temple; biblically, it symbolizes the rising of prayer and intercession to God, indicating that the worship is pleasing and acceptable to Him.
minchah · Hebrew Noun
An offering brought before God to provide atonement, express devotion, or express gratitude. In the evening, it signifies the culmination of the daily worship cycle.
The Psalmist's plea to have his prayers accepted as incense and his lifted hands as the evening sacrifice likely arises from a time when he is physically distant from the Temple or even in exile, unable to offer the prescribed sacrifices. It highlights a deep understanding that true worship transcends physical location and ritual, focusing on the heart's posture toward God.
c. 1000 BC - 931 BC
Davidic Monarchy and Temple Worship
King David establishes Jerusalem as the capital, and his son Solomon later builds the First Temple. This era is marked by the formalization of Temple worship, including the daily offerings of incense and sacrifices.
c. 931 BC
Division of the Kingdom
Following Solomon's death, the united kingdom splits into the Northern Kingdom of Israel and the Southern Kingdom of Judah. This division impacts worship practices and political stability.
c. 722 BC
Fall of Samaria and Assyrian Exile
The Assyrian Empire conquers the Northern Kingdom of Israel, leading to the exile of its population. This event serves as a stark warning to Judah about the consequences of disobedience.
c. 605 BC - 586 BC— this verse
Babylonian Exile
The Babylonian Empire conquers Judah, deports much of its population, and eventually destroys Jerusalem and the First Temple. This is a period of profound loss and spiritual reassessment for the Jewish people.
This passage describes the daily morning and evening sacrifices, which were a regular and acceptable offering to God, providing context for David's desire for his prayers to be similarly received.
Malachi 1:11This verse speaks of a pure offering being presented to God from the rising of the sun to its setting, paralleling David's hope that his prayer, like incense or sacrifice, would be acceptable regardless of his physical location.
Hosea 14:2This passage directly links prayer and praise to a sacrifice of our lips, echoing Psalm 141:2's theme of prayer being accepted as a form of worship when traditional sacrifices are not possible.
Luke 1:9-10Here, the priest is burning incense outside the temple at the appointed hour, illustrating the sacredness and timing associated with incense offering, similar to the 'evening sacrifice' David mentions.
Revelation 5:8This New Testament vision shows incense representing the prayers of the saints offered to God, directly connecting the ancient imagery of incense to the perpetual presentation of prayer in heaven.
pulpitPsalms 141:2: "Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice."
Verse 2. - Let my prayer be set forth (or, "established") before thee as incense; i.e. with the regularity of the incense, and with its acceptableness. And the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice. The hands were "lifted up" in prayer, which was reckoned a serf of sacrifice (Hosea 14:2).
clarkePsalms 141:2: "Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice."
As incense - Incense was offered every morning and evening before the Lord, on the golden altar, before the veil of the sanctuary. Exodus 29:39 , and Numbers 28:4 . As the evening sacrifice - This was a burnt-offering, accompanied with flour and salt. But it does not appear that David refers to any sacrifice, for he uses not זבח zebach, which is almost universally used fo…
The Psalmist isn't just asking for his prayers to be noticed; he's asking for them to be established and made acceptable, just like the continuous smoke of incense or the solemnity of the evening sacrifice. This reveals a deep understanding that even when physical worship at the temple is impossible, God accepts the sincere heart offered through prayer and lifted hands as a true sacrifice.
David finds himself in a desperate situation, crying out to God for help against wicked enemies who are pressing in on him. He's asking God to hear his prayer and to accept it as a pleasing offering, comparing it to the daily incense burned in the temple and the evening sacrifice. This plea for acceptance comes as he feels distant from the prescribed worship, but he trusts that God values sincere prayer as much as any ritual.
David finds himself in a desperate situation, crying out to God for help against wicked enemies who are pressing in on him. He's asking God to hear his prayer and to accept it as a pleasing offering, comparing it to the daily incense burned in the temple and the evening sacrifice. This plea for acceptance comes as he feels distant from the prescribed worship, but he trusts that God values sincere prayer as much as any ritual.
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c. 538 BC
Edict of Cyrus and Return from Exile
Cyrus the Great of Persia allows exiled Jews to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the Temple. This marks the beginning of the Second Temple period, with a renewed focus on worship and law.
"Let my prayer be counted as incense before you, and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice!" — The Psalmist isn't just asking for his prayers to be noticed; he's asking for them to be established and made acceptable, just like the continuous smoke of incense or the solemnity of the evening s…
