Ps 141
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Psalm 141 is another psalm of David. LORD, I cry unto thee: make haste unto me; give ear unto my voice, when I cry unto thee. Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice (Psa 141:1-2).
Now here David actually begins to spiritualize the offerings of the Old Testament. As he asks the Lord, "And let my prayer be set before Thee as incense." Now incense being offered in the tabernacle, and later in the temple, were actually symbols of prayer. The smoke of the incense, the sweet odor arising symbolized the prayers of the saints coming before God as a sweet smelling incense. In other words, God loving and enjoying the prayers of the saints. In the New Testament, the book of Revelation, chapter 5, when Jesus takes the scroll out of the right hand of the Father who sits upon the throne, the twenty-four elders come forth with little golden vials, bowls, that are filled with odors, the scriptures said, which are the prayers of the saints and they offer them before the throne of God. So much as you have in the Old Testament the priest offering the incense in these little bowls swinging from the chain before the altar, so we have it happening in heaven, which, of course, is correct because the earthly tabernacle was a model of the heavenly scene.
God over and over said to Moses, "Now be sure you make it exactly according to the specifications that I gave you because," the Lord declared, "this is a model of heaven." So the priest offering the little golden bowl with the incense and the smoke before the altar of the Lord, the mercy seat there, is symbolic of what happens in heaven as the twenty-four elders offer their incense before the throne. So David is saying now, "Let my prayer, Lord, just be as incense unto Thee. And the lifting up of my hands, let it be just like an evening sacrifice." It's just the lifting up of my hands in worship unto the Lord.
Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; and keep the door of my lips (Psa 141:3).
Oh, yes, Lord, please. How many things I've said that I'd have like to have taken them back before they were even completely out of my mouth. But once spoken, there's no retracting. "God, set a watch before my mouth; keep the door of my lips."
Incline not my heart to any evil thing, to practice wicked works with men that work iniquity: and let me not eat of their dainties. Let the righteous smite me; it will be kindness: let him reprove me; it shall be an excellent oil, which shall not break my head: for yet my prayer also shall be in their calamities (Psa 141:4-5).
"Let the righteous smite me, Lord." That's good for me. That's a kindness. The Bible says, "Faithful are the wounds of a friend" (Proverbs 27:6). Sometimes it's necessary to talk to our friends about personal issues that are hurting. And they hurt when you talk about, but it's faithful as the wounds of a friend. That's kindness.
When their judges are overthrown in stony places, they shall hear my words; for they are sweet. Our bones are scattered at the grave's mouth, as when one cuts and splits wood upon the earth. But my eyes are upon thee, O GOD the Lord: in thee is my trust; leave not my soul destitute. Keep me from the snares which they have laid for me, and from the traps of the workers of iniquity. Let the wicked fall into their own nets, while that I entirely escape (Psa 141:6-10).