This verse teaches us that prayer is a sacred and pleasing gesture to the Lord, resembling a fragrant offering of worship.
“May my prayer be counted as incense before You; The lifting up of my hands as the evening offering.” (v.2) David, the second king of Israel who ruled from around 1010 to 970 BC, prays these words with a profound awareness of God’s holiness. By likening his prayers to incense and the raising of his hands to the evening offering, David pictures prayer as something that rises up and pleases the LORD just as the sweet smoke and ritual sacrifices did at the tabernacle. Incense in David’s time was a rare and precious commodity, signifying devotion and reverence when offered. This imagery of prayer as fragrant incense is later echoed in the book of Revelation, where golden bowls filled with the prayers of the saints are lifted before God (Revelation 5:8).When David pleads, “May my prayer be counted as incense before You” (v.2), he shows that intercession is not merely a spoken act. It is an offering from the heart, intended to be just as significant as the sacrifices performed each evening at Israel’s place of worship. In Israelite tradition, the evening offering was a constant reminder that God’s people depended on Him daily. Raising his hands to the LORD, David demonstrates a posture of humility and surrender, longing for his contrite spirit to be acceptable in the sight of God. The phrase underscores a solemn dedication, seeking to transform devotion into a continual act of worship.
David’s identity as king made him a public figure of worship, yet these words remain personal and intimate. They echo across centuries to remind God’s people how prayer unites them with His presence. Much as incense lingers in the air even after it’s offered, sincere prayer leaves a lasting impact in the lives of believers, forging an ever-deepening relationship with the Creator. For Christians, this verse also foreshadows the idea that through Christ, any sincere petition offered in faith becomes a pleasant aroma to the Lord (John 15:7).
Set to dark mode
Psalms 141:2 meaning
“May my prayer be counted as incense before You; The lifting up of my hands as the evening offering.” (v.2) David, the second king of Israel who ruled from around 1010 to 970 BC, prays these words with a profound awareness of God’s holiness. By likening his prayers to incense and the raising of his hands to the evening offering, David pictures prayer as something that rises up and pleases the LORD just as the sweet smoke and ritual sacrifices did at the tabernacle. Incense in David’s time was a rare and precious commodity, signifying devotion and reverence when offered. This imagery of prayer as fragrant incense is later echoed in the book of Revelation, where golden bowls filled with the prayers of the saints are lifted before God (Revelation 5:8).When David pleads, “May my prayer be counted as incense before You” (v.2), he shows that intercession is not merely a spoken act. It is an offering from the heart, intended to be just as significant as the sacrifices performed each evening at Israel’s place of worship. In Israelite tradition, the evening offering was a constant reminder that God’s people depended on Him daily. Raising his hands to the LORD, David demonstrates a posture of humility and surrender, longing for his contrite spirit to be acceptable in the sight of God. The phrase underscores a solemn dedication, seeking to transform devotion into a continual act of worship.
David’s identity as king made him a public figure of worship, yet these words remain personal and intimate. They echo across centuries to remind God’s people how prayer unites them with His presence. Much as incense lingers in the air even after it’s offered, sincere prayer leaves a lasting impact in the lives of believers, forging an ever-deepening relationship with the Creator. For Christians, this verse also foreshadows the idea that through Christ, any sincere petition offered in faith becomes a pleasant aroma to the Lord (John 15:7).