Let my prayer be counted as incense before you, and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice!
English Standard Version (ESV)
What's really striking here is David's understanding that prayer itself, in his difficult circumstances, could become the prescribed worship. He wasn't just asking for his prayers to be like incense and sacrifice; he was asking for them to be accepted as the very things he couldn't physically offer due to his exile or distress. This shows a profound grasp of worship being about the heart's sincere offering, not just the ritual location.
Let my prayer be counted as incense before you, and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice!
English Standard Version (ESV)
David is facing intense opposition and feels desperate, crying out to God for help while acknowledging his own limitations. He's essentially saying that even though he can't be at the Temple to offer the prescribed sacrifices, he wants his prayers and the raising of his hands in worship to be just as acceptable to God as the regular morning and evening offerings.
Ever feel like your prayers are just words floating away? David felt that too, but he knew how to frame his pleas to God.
Discover what made his prayers like the fragrant incense offered daily in the Temple.
The Fragrance of Incense
In ancient Israel, incense wasn't just a pleasant smell; it was a vital part of worship. Offered every morning and evening on a special altar before the Holy of Holies, its rising smoke symbolized prayers and praises ascending to God.
David's desire, "Let my prayer be counted as incense before you," reveals a deep longing for his prayers to be:
We often lift our hands when we pray, but what does this gesture truly signify?
David connects this physical act to a profound spiritual reality – an offering accepted by God.
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More Than a Gesture
The "lifting up of hands" was a common posture for prayer in ancient times, symbolizing openness, surrender, and supplication. David takes this physical expression and elevates it to the level of sacrifice.
He asks that the "lifting up of my hands" be received as "the evening sacrifice." This signifies:
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.
This psalm reflects a time when the writer was separated from the Jerusalem Temple, perhaps during the Babylonian exile. The longing for prayer to be as acceptable as the daily incense and evening sacrifice highlights the deep spiritual connection maintained even in absence from the prescribed worship.
c. 1000 BC
Davidic Kingdom Established
David unites Israel and establishes Jerusalem as the capital, setting the stage for the Temple's future construction.
c. 960 BC
Solomon's Temple Dedicated
Solomon completes the First Temple in Jerusalem, the central place for Israelite worship and sacrifice.
c. 730 BC
Assyrian Threat Looms
The Assyrian Empire's power grows, leading to a period of political instability and fear for the kingdoms of Israel and Judah.
c. 701 BC
Sennacherib's Invasion
Assyrian King Sennacherib invades Judah, capturing many cities and besieging Jerusalem, creating immense hardship and anxiety.
c. 609 BC
Josiah's Reforms
King Josiah implements religious reforms, centralizing worship in Jerusalem, but the political climate remains volatile.
c. 605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon conquers Judah and begins deporting elites to Babylon, including Daniel. This marks the start of the Babylonian exile.
c. 600-500 BC— this verse
Psalmist in Exile or Distress
The author of Psalm 141 likely lived during or after the Babylonian exile, or under severe personal distress, separated from the Temple in Jerusalem.
This passage details the daily evening sacrifice commanded by God, providing the direct Old Testament context for the 'evening sacrifice' David refers to as a comparison for his prayer.
Hosea 14:2This verse speaks of offering 'the words of our lips' instead of calves, showing the prophetic understanding that prayer and praise could be spiritual sacrifices accepted by God.
Luke 1:9-10This New Testament account describes the priest's duty to burn incense in the temple, highlighting the beautiful imagery of ascending prayer that the Psalmist was evoking.
Revelation 5:8This book of prophecy beautifully connects incense with the prayers of God's people, fulfilling the imagery David used and showing the enduring value of prayer as an acceptable offering.
Malachi 1:11This prophecy anticipates a time when worship will be offered to God from all nations, not just through prescribed sacrifices, but through the pure offering of prayer and praise, echoing David's sentiment.
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…
What's really striking here is David's understanding that prayer itself, in his difficult circumstances, could become the prescribed worship. He wasn't just asking for his prayers to be like incense and sacrifice; he was asking for them to be accepted as the very things he couldn't physically offer due to his exile or distress. This shows a profound grasp of worship being about the heart's sincere offering, not just the ritual location.
David is facing intense opposition and feels desperate, crying out to God for help while acknowledging his own limitations. He's essentially saying that even though he can't be at the Temple to offer the prescribed sacrifices, he wants his prayers and the raising of his hands in worship to be just as acceptable to God as the regular morning and evening offerings.
David is facing intense opposition and feels desperate, crying out to God for help while acknowledging his own limitations. He's essentially saying that even though he can't be at the Temple to offer the prescribed sacrifices, he wants his prayers and the raising of his hands in worship to be just as acceptable to God as the regular morning and evening offerings.
"Let my prayer be counted as incense before you, and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice!" — What's really striking here is David's understanding that prayer itself, in his difficult circumstances, could become the prescribed worship. He wasn't just asking for his prayers to be like ince…
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Last reviewed October 2026