Psalm 141:2

Psalm 141:2

Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.

a. NLT: Accept my prayer as incense offered to you, and my upraised hands as an evening offering.

b. NIV: May my prayer be set before you like incense; may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice.

c. YLT: My prayer is prepared -- incense before Thee, The lifting up of my hands -- the evening present.

d. Amplified Bible Classic: Let my prayer be set forth as incense before You, the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.

e. Septuagint: I will pour out before him my supplication: I will declare before him mine affliction.

f. Stone Edition Torah/Prophets/Writings: Let my prayer stand as incense before Yoy; the lifting of my hands as an afternoon offering.

1. “Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense…”

a. Let my prayer [8605 * tphillah] [Strong: from 6419; intercession, supplication; by implication, a hymn:--prayer.]

b. be set forth [3559 * kuwn] [Strong: a primitive root; properly, to be erect (i.e. stand perpendicular); hence (causatively) to set up, in a great variety of applications, whether literal (establish, fix, prepare, apply), or figurative (appoint, render sure, proper or prosperous):--certain(-ty), confirm, direct, faithfulness, fashion, fasten, firm, be fitted, be fixed, frame, be meet, ordain, order, perfect, (make) preparation, prepare (self), provide, make provision, (be, make) ready, right, set (aright, fast, forth), be stable, (e-)stablish, stand, tarry, X very deed.]

c. before thee [6440 * paniym] [Strong: plural (but always as singular) of an unused noun (paneh {paw-neh'}; from 6437); the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposition (before, etc.):--+ accept, a-(be- )fore(-time), against, anger, X as (long as), at, + battle, + because (of), + beseech, countenance, edge, + employ, endure, + enquire, face, favour, fear of, for, forefront(-part), form(-er time, -ward), from, front, heaviness, X him(-self), + honourable, + impudent, + in, it, look(-eth) (- s), X me, + meet, X more than, mouth, of, off, (of) old (time), X on, open, + out of, over against, the partial, person, + please, presence, propect, was purposed, by reason of, + regard, right forth, + serve, X shewbread, sight, state, straight, + street, X thee, X them(-selves), through (+ - out), till, time(-s) past, (un-)to(-ward), + upon, upside (+ down), with(- in, + -stand), X ye, X you.]

d. as incense [7004 * qtoreth] [Strong: from 6999; a fumigation:--(sweet) incense, perfume.]

1). It is established here clearly that prayer is linked symbolically with incense. Another verse that does the same is found in Revelation.

a). Revelation 8:3 And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.

2). This of course is why in daily operation in the Temple that there was prayer at the time of offering the incense.

a). Luke 1:8-10 And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest’s office before God in the order of his course,

1:9 According to the custom of the priest’s office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord.

1:10 And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense.

3). Offering incense was symbolic but done in much reverence in the fear of God. The offering of incense during the day of atonement illustrates this truth very effectively.

a). Leviticus 16:12, 13 And he shall take a censer full of burning coals of fire from off the altar before the LORD, and his hands full of sweet incense beaten small, and bring it within the vail:

16:13 And he shall put the incense upon the fire before the LORD, that the cloud of the incense may cover the mercy seat that is upon the testimony, that he die not:

4). The incense used was not just any kind of incense, it had to be incense made just as the Lord instructed.

a). Exodus 30:34-38 And the LORD said unto Moses, Take unto thee sweet spices, stacte, and onycha, and galbanum; these sweet spices with pure frankincense: of each shall there be a like weight:

30:35 And thou shalt make it a perfume, a confection after the art of the apothecary, tempered together, pure and holy:

30:36 And thou shalt beat some of it very small, and put of it before the testimony in the tabernacle of the congregation, where I will meet with thee: it shall be unto you most holy.

30:37 And as for the perfume which thou shalt make, ye shall not make to yourselves according to the composition thereof: it shall be unto thee holy for the LORD.

30:38 Whosoever shall make like unto that, to smell thereto, shall even be cut off from his people.

5). Chumash, Exodus 30:34-38, p489. “The sages derive exegetically that there were eleven ingredients in the incense. It was offered twice a day, morning and afternoon on the Golden Altar, inside the Tabernacle. The fragrance of the incense represented Israel’s responsibility and desire to serve God in a manner pleasing to Him…”

2.  “…and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.”

a. and the lifting up [4864 * mas'eth] [Strong: from 5375; properly, (abstractly) a raising (as of the hands in prayer), or rising (of flame); figuratively, an utterance; concretely, a beacon (as raised); a present (as taken), mess, or tribute; figuratively, a reproach (as a burden):--burden, collection, sign of fire, (great) flame, gift, lifting up, mess, oblation, reward.]

b. of my hands [3709 * kaph] [Strong: from 3721; the hollow hand or palm (so of the paw of an animal, of the sole, and even of the bowl of a dish or sling, the handle of a bolt, the leaves of a palm-tree); figuratively, power:--branch, + foot, hand((-ful), -dle, (-led)), hollow, middle, palm, paw, power, sole, spoon.]

c. as the evening [6153 * `ereb] [Strong: from 6150; dusk:--+ day, even(-ing, tide), night.]

d. sacrifice [4503 *  minchah] [Strong: from an unused root meaning to apportion, i.e. bestow; a donation; euphemistically, tribute; specifically a sacrificial offering (usually bloodless and voluntary):--gift, oblation, (meat) offering, present, sacrifice.]

1). One Jewish method of prayer and praise and worship is the lifting up of the hands. Indeed, one of the definitions of praise in Hebrew is “yadah” [3034] and it means “to hold out the hand, to revere or worship with extended hands.” Hence we have in Paul’s epistle to Timothy concerning prayer for our leaders and all in authority.

a). 1 Timothy 2:8 I will therefore that man pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.

2). here the simple form of prayer and worship is being compared to being equivalent  to “the evening sacrifice” which was commanded by God to Moses to be offered daily before the LORD.

a). Exodus 29:38-41 Now this is that which thou shalt offer upon the altar; two lambs of the first year day by day continually.

29:39 The one lamb thou shalt offer in the morning; and the other lamb thou shalt offer at even:

29:40 And with the one lamb a tenth deal of flour mingled with the fourth part of a hin of beaten oil; and the fourth part of a hin of wine for a drink offering.

29:41 And the other lamb thou shalt offer at even, and shalt do thereto according to the meat offering of the morning, and according to the drink offering thereof, for a sweet savour, an offering made by fire unto the LORD.

3). Here in Psalm 141:2 the lifting up of our hands in prayer and worship and praise is equivalent to the offerings of the morning and evening sacrifice. What a blessing. One of the greatest highlights of the Bible, the calling of fire down from heaven by Elijah during the confrontation with the false prophets of Baal, took place at the time of the evening sacrifice.

a). 1 Kings 18:17-40 “And it came to pass, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said unto him, Art thou he that troubleth Israel?

18:18 And he answered, I have not troubled Israel; but thou, and thy father's house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the LORD, and thou hast followed Baalim.

18:19 Now therefore send, and gather to me all Israel unto mount Carmel, and the prophets of Baal four hundred and fifty, and the prophets of the groves four hundred, which eat at Jezebel's table.

18:20 So Ahab sent unto all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together unto mount Carmel.

18:21 And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.

18:22 Then said Elijah unto the people, I, even I only, remain a prophet of the LORD; but Baal's prophets are four hundred and fifty men.

18:23 Let them therefore give us two bullocks; and let them choose one bullock for themselves, and cut it in pieces, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under: and I will dress the other bullock, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under:

18:24 And call ye on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the LORD: and the God that answereth by fire, let him be God. And all the people answered and said, It is well spoken.

18:25 And Elijah said unto the prophets of Baal, Choose you one bullock for yourselves, and dress it first; for ye are many; and call on the name of your gods, but put no fire under.

18:26 And they took the bullock which was given them, and they dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, O Baal, hear us. But there was no voice, nor any that answered. And they leaped upon the altar which was made.

18:27 And it came to pass at noon, that Elijah mocked them, and said, Cry aloud: for he is a god; either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is in a journey, or peradventure he sleepeth, and must be awaked.

18:28 And they cried aloud, and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lancets, till the blood gushed out upon them.

18:29 And it came to pass, when midday was past, and they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that there was neither voice, nor any to answer, nor any that regarded.

18:30 And Elijah said unto all the people, Come near unto me. And all the people came near unto him. And he repaired the altar of the LORD that was broken down.

18:31 And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, unto whom the word of the LORD came, saying, Israel shall be thy name:

18:32 And with the stones he built an altar in the name of the LORD: and he made a trench about the altar, as great as would contain two measures of seed.

18:33 And he put the wood in order, and cut the bullock in pieces, and laid him on the wood, and said, Fill four barrels with water, and pour it on the burnt sacrifice, and on the wood.

18:34 And he said, Do it the second time. And they did it the second time. And he said, Do it the third time. And they did it the third time.

18:35 And the water ran round about the altar; and he filled the trench also with water.

18:36 And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word.

18:37 Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the LORD God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again.

18:38 Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.

18:39 And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The LORD, he is the God; the LORD, he is the God.

18:40 And Elijah said unto them, Take the prophets of Baal; let not one of them escape. And they took them: and Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon, and slew them there.

b). Looking at the wording of the verse, the prophets of Baal did their thing for a number of hours. They started in the morning, went past noon and then until sometime in the afternoon. Elijah then built an altar and prepared the sacrifice until the time of the evening sacrifice.