Psalm 123

Psalm 123 is a short psalm of lament, expressing the writer’s deep dependence on God in the face of opposition. It reflects a heart of humility and trust, looking to God for mercy and relief from contempt and mockery.

Psalm 123:1 (NKJV)
1 Unto You I lift up my eyes, O You who dwell in the heavens.

The psalmist begins by directing their gaze toward God, recognizing His position of authority as the One who resides in the heavens. This acknowledges God's sovereignty and the psalmist's dependence on Him. Looking up symbolically reflects faith and hope that God will provide help from His exalted position above.

Psalm 123:2 (NKJV)
2 Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their masters, 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.

Here, the psalmist compares their reliance on God to the dependence of servants on their masters. Just as servants watch for direction or provision, the psalmist and the community are waiting for God’s mercy. This simile emphasizes their complete trust in God's timing, knowing that He will provide relief when the time is right.

Psalm 123:3 (NKJV)
3 Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us! For we are exceedingly filled with contempt.

The repetition of the plea for mercy shows the intensity of their suffering. The psalmist acknowledges the weight of the scorn and ridicule they have been enduring, which has become overwhelming. This highlights their desperate need for God's intervention to remove the burden of contempt from their lives.

Psalm 123:4 (NKJV)
4 Our soul is exceedingly filled with the scorn of those who are at ease, with the contempt of the proud.

The psalmist concludes by emphasizing the source of their distress: the mockery and disdain they face from those who are "at ease" and "proud." These groups represent people who live without care or concern, often looking down on those who are struggling. The psalmist turns to God as their only hope for relief from such oppression.