Rumble
A wonderful model for prayer comes from the throne room in Heaven that we see in Revelation 5, which speaks of two items, THE HARP AND BOWL, which were given to the 24 elders for praise and prayer.
Revelation 5:8
The harp is God’s instrument of praise so often used by King David.
Psalms 33:2
Too often we approach the throne of grace with hearts burdened with the cares of this world and bypass the “harp of praise” before praying. According to the Revelation 5:8 model, praise for God’s goodness and thankfulness for his blessings should precede cries for help and mercy.
Praise drives away worry, depression, and fear as in the example of David playing his harp for King Saul (1 Sam. 16:23). We are reminded by Isaiah that the garment of praise brings deliverance from the spirit of heaviness (Isaiah 61:3). Praise also brings clarity to the Word of God as in the case of the sons of Jeduthun, “who prophesied with a harp, to give thanks and praise to the Lord” (1 Chron. 25:3). Praise lifts the spirit and sets the tone for our time of worship and prayer.
On the other hand, “bowls full of incense” represent our prayers. Prayer was pictured by the incense in Moses’ Tabernacle. Fresh incense was sprinkled over the hot coals on the golden altar of incense twice a day by the priest. David makes this connection when he says,
The lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.
Ps. 141:5
Praise and prayer combined gives a more passionate experience with those who have an insatiable desire to remain in the presence of my GOD.
