Albert Barnes Commentary


Albert Barnes Commentary
"Let my prayer be set forth as incense before thee; The lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice." — Psalms 141:2 (ASV)
Let my prayer be set forth before you - Margin, “directed.” The Hebrew word means to fit, to establish, to make firm. The psalmist desires that his prayer should not be like that which is feeble, languishing, or easily dissipated, but that it should be like that which is firm and secure.
As incense - See the notes and illustrations at Luke 1:9-10. Let my prayer come before you in such a manner as incense does when it is offered in worship; in a manner of which the ascending of incense is a suitable emblem. See the notes at Revelation 5:8; notes at Revelation 8:3.
And the lifting up of my hands - In prayer; a natural posture in that act of worship.
As the evening sacrifice - The sacrifice offered on the altar at evening. Let my prayer be as acceptable as that is when it is offered in a proper manner.