(REFLECTIONS ON Psalm 141:1-10)

2 May my prayer be counted as incense before You;
The lifting up of my hands as the evening offering.

What a beautiful image of prayer as an incense offering to the Lord. May our prayers be a pleasing aroma to the Lord as our words go from our hearts, through our lips, up to the heavens above.

Yes, our prayers are more than just empty words with no direction, but as the smoke from incense rises up into the air, so do our prayers.

Let our prayers then be words of praise, thanksgiving, and worship, because they are lifted up to the Lord as an evening offering to the Lord who cares for us and gives us a voice.

Culturally and religiously, incense is a sign of honor, reverence, and an offering to deity. In the ancient world, people did not just burn incense merely because it smelled nice, but as part of worship.

In many Taiwanese temples and homes, incense functions as a kind of bridge between the human world and the spiritual world.

During Old Testament times, incense was a part of Israel’s worship, but it was also common in the surrounding nations. Incense carried a broad ancient meaning, but Israel’s worship gave it a covenant meaning before the Lord their God.

In Israel, incense was offered especially at the altar of incense inside the tabernacle/temple, before the veil that separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place, that is presence of God.

Just as incense was a fragrant offering to the Lord in Old Testament times, may our prayers be an incense offering to the Lord. Have we ever realized that our prayers are our offerings?

Have we ever thought about our prayers as more than just requests and petitions, but our worship, praise, and the way we glorify the Lord?

May our prayers be an incense offering to the Lord, the way that we bless the Lord’s Name with our lips.

Pastor Michael Lu
Enduring Word Bible Commentary: Psalm 141