The Bible: Psalms Chapter 123: with Audio and Commentary.

Version: World English Bible.

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Psalms Chapter 123 A Song of Ascents.

1 I lift up my eyes to you, you who sit in the heavens.

2 Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress; so our eyes look to the LORD, our God, until he has mercy on us.

3 Have mercy on us, LORD, have mercy on us, for we have endured much contempt.

4 Our soul is exceedingly filled with the scoffing of those who are at ease, with the contempt of the proud.

Footnotes

Version: World English Bible

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Psalms Chapter 123 A Song of Ascents. Guide

Following the idea of the ascent of the worshipper to the longed-for house of Jehovah we have in this song an expression of the soul's strong confidence in Jehovah. The soul first affirms confidence as an experience, then breathes it as a prayer, and finally tells the circumstances calling forth the cry. Taking the last thing first, we can imagine this pilgrim who has been dwelling in the midst of the ungodly starting toward the place of worship, and by that very fact stirring up anew the scornful contempt of these people. This vexes his soul, but it becomes the occasion of prayer for the mercy of Jehovah.

This prayer, born of such experience, is based on the relation of the pilgrim to Jehovah. To Him, the enthroned One, the eyes are lifted. This is the reaffirmation of the truth sung in the earlier song (Psalms 121:1-8). The figures of relationship are full of beauty. The eyes look to Jehovah as to the Master of the household, who commands, and guards, and supplies all the needs of His servants. To set the life toward worship in an ungodly age is ever to be the object of scorn and contempt. What matters it? The eyes of Jehovah's pilgrims are lifted to the throne high set above all the tumult and strife of tongues.

From "An Exposition of the Whole Bible" by G. Campbell Morgan.

Psalms Chapter 123 Commentary

Chapter Outline

  1. Confidence in God under contempt.

Verses 1-4

Our Lord Jesus has taught us to look unto God in prayer as our Father in heaven. In every prayer a good man lifts up his soul to God; especially when in trouble. We desire mercy from him; we hope he will show us mercy, and we will continue waiting on him till it come. The eyes of a servant are to his master's directing hand, expecting that he will appoint him his work. And also to his supplying hand. Servants look to their master or their mistress for their portion of meat in due season. And to God we must look for daily bread, for grace sufficient; from him we must receive it thankfully. Where can we look for help but to our Master? And, further, to his protecting hand. If the servant is wronged and injured in his work, who should right him, but his master? And to his correcting hand. Whither should sinners turn but to him that smote them? They humble themselves under God's mighty hand. And lastly, to his rewarding hand. Hypocrites look to the world's hand, thence they have their reward; but true Christians look to God as their Master and their Rewarder. God's people find little mercy with men; but this is their comfort, that with the Lord there is mercy. Scorning and contempt have been, are, and are likely to be, the lot of God's people in this world. It is hard to bear; but the servants of God should not complain if they are treated as his beloved Son was. Let us then, when ready to faint under trials, look unto Jesus, and by faith and prayer cast ourselves upon the mercy of God.

From the "Concise Commentary on the Bible" by Matthew Henry.