Psalm 141:2 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 141:1-4

Mercy to accept what we do well, and grace to keep us from doing ill, are the two things which we are here taught by David's example to pray to God for. I. David loved prayer, and he begs of God that his prayers might be heard and answered, Ps. 141:1, 2. David cried unto God. His crying denotes fervency in prayer; he prayed as one in earnest. His crying to God denotes faith and fixedness in prayer. And what did he desire as the success of his prayer? 1. That God would take cognizance of it:... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 141:2

Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense ,.... Which was offered every morning on the altar of incense, at which time the people were praying, Exodus 30:1 ; and was an emblem of it, even of pure, holy, and fervent prayer; which being offered on the altar Christ, which sanctifies every gift, and by him the High Priest; through whom every sacrifice is acceptable unto God; and through whose blood and righteousness, and the sweet incense of his mediation and intercession, it becomes... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 141:2

As incense - Incense was offered every morning and evening before the Lord, on the golden altar, before the veil of the sanctuary. Exodus 29:39 , and Numbers 28:4 . As the evening sacrifice - This was a burnt-offering, accompanied with flour and salt. But it does not appear that David refers to any sacrifice, for he uses not זבח zebach , which is almost universally used for a slaughtered animal; but מנחה minchah , which is generally taken for a gratitude-offering or unbloody... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 141:2

Verse 2 In the second verse the allusion is evidently to the legal ceremonies. (235) At that time the prayers of God’s people were according to his own appointment sanctified through the offering up of incense and sacrifices, and David depended upon this promise. (236) As to the conjecture some have made, that he was at this time an exile, and cut off from the privileges of the religious assembly, nothing certain can be said upon that point; their idea being that there is a tacit antithesis in... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 141:1-10

1. That prayer may be with him a settled institution ( Psalms 141:2 ). 2. That he may be saved from sins of the tongue ( Psalms 141:3 ). 3. That he may be saved from sins of thought or act ( Psalms 141:4 ). 4. That he may be given grace to welcome reproof ( Psalms 141:5 ). The circumstances of the time are then shortly touched. There has been a severe judgment on the rulers of the people ( Psalms 141:6 ), and a great national calamity ( Psalms 141:7 ), with the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 141:1-10

Acceptable sacrifices. The more distinctive teaching of this psalm respects— I. THE SACRIFICE OF PRAYER . ( Psalms 141:2 , Psalms 141:8 , Psalms 141:9 .) When the sacrificial services of the tabernacle (or temple) could not be rendered, it was open to the devout Israelite to "lift up his hands" in reverent, believing prayer. And this, we are sure, was acceptable to "him that heareth prayer." The essence of all sacrifice was an appeal to God by the spirit of man, the going... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 141:1-10

Keep me from the snares. This difficult psalm seems to be the cry of a greatly tempted soul. And the temptation now did not arise so much from the persecutions of the ungodly as from their seducing favors—what he calls "their dainties" ( Psalms 141:4 ). And he seems to have found this even harder to resist than their cruelty and harshness. Consider— I. THE SPIRIT OF THIS PRAYER . 1. Note its impassioned earnestness . ( Psalms 141:1 .) "Lord, I cry unto thee." No... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 141:1-10

A comprehensive prayer. The psalm has some peculiar difficulties, due to the extreme abruptness with which the thoughts follow one another, and the great obscurity which hangs over the allusions. Let us try and select the principal thoughts. 1. The psalmist was threatened with some immediate danger which could brook no delay . ( Psalms 141:1 .) Like the disciples in the storm on the lake. If relief comes at all, it must come at once. 2. He seeks that his prayer to this end... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 141:2

Let my prayer be set forth (or, "established") before thee as incense ; i . e . with the regularity of the incense, and with its acceptableness. And the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice . The hands were "lifted up" in prayer, which was reckoned a serf of sacrifice ( Hosea 14:2 ). read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 141:2

Prayer as incense. From the mention of the evening sacrifice we may gather that the psalmist is actually praying in the evening. Incense was offered when the lamps were trimmed in the morning, and when the lamps were lighted "between the evenings," after the evening sacrifice. Incense, offered after sacrifice, is the symbol of the worship of the soul already reconciled to God. The evening sacrifice is the regular burnt offering of self-dedication. "As incense is carefully prepared,... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 141:1-4

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 141:2

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 141:2

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 141:2

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 141:1-10

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 141:1-10

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 141:1-10

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 141:1-10

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 141:2

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 141:2

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