September 19 — Psalm 141

“I call upon you, O LORD; come quickly to me; give ear to my voice when I call to you. Let my prayer be counted as incense before you, and the lifting up of my hands as an evening sacrifice. Set a guard over my mouth, O LORD; keep watch over the door of my lips. Do not turn my heart to any evil, to busy myself with wicked deeds in company with those who work iniquity; do not let me eat of their delicacies. Let the righteous strike me; let the faithful correct me. Never let the oil of the wicked anoint my head, for my prayer is continually against their wicked deeds. When they are given over to those who shall condemn them, then they shall learn that my words were pleasant. Like a rock that one breaks apart and shatters on the land, so shall their bones be strewn at the mouth of Sheol. But my eyes are turned toward you, O GOD, my Lord; in you I seek refuge; do not leave me defenseless. Keep me from the trap that they have laid for me, and from the snares of evildoers. Let the wicked fall into their own nets, while I alone escape.”

“Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense, and the lifting up of my hands as an evening sacrifice.”

Incense was widely used in the act of worship in the ancient church — and it is still used today. This is the image the Psalmist uses for his prayers to the Lord. “Let my prayer be set forth to you as incense” — there is intentionality and forethought in this image. We too often treat the need for prayer lightly — or as an afterthought. Prayer is not to be considered lightly, without thought or without care. Yes, we are to consider any time as prayer time — for those spontaneous times when we need to utter words of thanksgiving, or words of concern. But, we are also supposed to set aside time for prayer that is intentional — purposeful — meaningful — and reverent.

Whatever form all of our prayers might take, our one wish is that each one might be acceptable to G-d. Prayer is sometimes presented without words by the very motions of our bodies — we might be on bended knees — we might lift our hands as a gesture of expectant prayer. The Psalmist makes a bold request: he would have his prayers offered and hopes to have them accepted just as we might recite the service of evening prayer, of which this Psalm is used in our Vesper service in the Lutheran Book of Worship.

May our prayers always be acceptable and welcome as a means for offering thanksgiving and praise.

Let us Pray:

Let the incense of our repentant prayer ascend before you, O God, and let your lovingkindness descend upon us, that with purified hearts we may sing your praises with the church on earth and the whole heavenly host, and may glorify you forever and ever.

Amen.

September 18 — Psalm 140

“Deliver me, O LORD, from evildoers; protect me from those who are violent, who plan evil things in their minds and stir up wars continually.They make their tongue sharp as a snake’s, and under their lips is the venom of vipers. Guard me, O LORD, from the hands of the wicked; protect me from the violent who have planned my downfall. The arrogant have hidden a trap for me, and with cords they have spread a net, along the road they have set snares for me. I say to the LORD, “You are my God; give ear, O LORD, to the voice of my supplications.” O LORD, my Lord, my strong deliverer, you have covered my head in the day of battle. Do not grant, O LORD, the desires of the wicked; do not further their evil plot. Those who surround me lift up their heads; let the mischief of their lips overwhelm them! Let burning coals fall on them! Let them be flung into pits, no more to rise! Do not let the slanderer be established in the land; let evil speedily hunt down the violent! I know that the LORD maintains the cause of the needy, and executes justice for the poor. Surely the righteous shall give thanks to your name; the upright shall live in your presence.”

This psalm is about evil people — those who seek to do harm to the Psalmist with their wicked plans. There are many terms for evil, but here the psalmist chooses a specific Hebrew word, chamas. This is important for this word refers to a specific type of wickedness. When in the generation of Noah, the people began to cheat, steal, deceive and act with total corruption, the Bible laments that G-d saw chamas in the land (Genesis 6:11). Later, in the days of Jonah, the people of Nineveh are also described as engaging in chamas (Jonah 3:8). The specific crimes described as “chamas” are particularly insidious, as they undermine the very framework of society.

Here the Psalmist speaks about the evil that people can enact upon one another — the people who live by “chamas” and wish to constantly stir up violence. Ultimately, we all pray to acknowledge G-d’s great name and merit the presence of the Almighty.

Let us Pray:

O God, our deliverance, you keep guard over your faithful people. Protect us from those who would seek to do us harm, and bring justice to the poor, that we may praise and bless your name, and live in righteousness before you through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.

Amen.