Let my prayer be set forth before thee [as] incense; [and] the lifting up of my hands [as] the evening sacrifice.
Ver. 2. Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense] Faithful prayer is αναβασις του νου (saith Darnasen), the ascension of the heart to God. In this incense how many sweet spices are burned together by the fire of faith, as humility, hope, love, &c., all which come up for a memorial before God, Acts 10:4; and the saints (as Manoah's angel) ascend up in the flame, and do wondrously, Judges 13:19,20, while their pillars of smoke are perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, with all powders of the spice merchants, Song of Solomon 3:6, that is, with the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ, Hebrews 9:24, those sweet odours poured into the prayers of saints, Revelation 5:8; Revelation 8:4, for want whereof the incense of the wicked is abomination, Isaiah 1:13, as stinking of the hand that offereth it.
As the evening sacrifice] The sacrificium iuge, that was offered every morning and evening, Exo 29:39 Numbers 28:4, in reference to that immaculate Lamb of God, slain from the beginning, for an offering and a sweet smelling savour, Ephesians 5:2. Chrysostom telleth us, that the Greek Church made use of this psalm in their evening liturgy.