Psalms 123

A Cry for Mercy

¹A song of ascents. I lift up my eyes to You, the One enthroned in heaven. ²As the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a maidservant look to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes are on the LORD our God until He shows us mercy.

The Plight of the Servants

³Have mercy on us, O LORD, have mercy, for we have endured much contempt. ⁴We have endured much scorn from the arrogant, much contempt from the proud.

The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible, BSB. Public domain.

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Insight

Psalms 123:1-2

The psalmist begins with a posture of humility, lifting his eyes to the Lord, who is enthroned in heaven. This imagery emphasizes the greatness and sovereignty of God, contrasting human frailty with divine majesty.

The act of looking to the Lord signifies dependence and expectation. The psalmist is not merely seeking help but is earnestly waiting for God's mercy, indicating a deep trust in God's character.

Scripture references

1 Kings 8:30Open this cross-reference in BSB.Psalms 2:4Open this cross-reference in BSB.Psalms 11:4Open this cross-reference in BSB.Psalms 25:15Open this cross-reference in BSB.