Psalms 141:2 “Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.”
After praying for the Lord to “make haste unto me; give ear unto my voice” (Psalms 141:1), the Psalmist added urgency and sincerity to His prayer by adding, “Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense”. In the Temple/Tabernacle worship, the burning of “incense” was a physical emblem of prayer. As the sweet smell of “incense” rose up toward heaven, so we desire that our prayers will rise up to our Lord and that He would receive them as a pleasant aroma. “Aaron” was commanded to “burn thereon sweet incense every morning” (Exodus 30:7) and the Psalmist referred to “the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice”; thus, setting the pattern for “morning” and “evening” prayers. Spirit led prayers, offered in sincerity and humility, are as the pleasant “incense” offered up to our Lord and the worshipful “lifting up of” “hands”. Our Lord shows the contrast between “The Pharisee” who “stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.” (Luke 18:11) “And the publican,” who “standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.” (Luke 18:13). Thus, we experience great peace when we spend much time in sincere and humble prayer to our Gracious and Almighty God.