Psalm 123

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1 A song of ascents. I lift up my eyes to You, the One enthroned in heaven. 2 As 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. 3 Have mercy on us, O LORD, have mercy, for we have endured much contempt. 4 We have endured much scorn from the arrogant, much contempt from the proud.

What Is This Chapter About?

Theme: Trusting in God's Mercy

Psalms 123 is a psalm of trust, where the psalmist lifts his eyes to God, seeking mercy and rescue from contempt and scorn. The central message of the chapter is one of dependence on God's character and faithfulness. The psalmist's trust in God is rooted in his understanding of God's nature and his past experiences of God's deliverance.

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Key Verse

Psalms 123:2 "Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a maidservant to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the Lord our God, until He has mercy on us."

This verse is central to the chapter because it expresses the psalmist's posture of trust and dependence on God. The image of servants looking to their master's hand for direction and provision is a powerful one, highlighting the psalmist's recognition of his own helplessness and his need for God's mercy. The verse also underscores the psalmist's patience and perseverance, as he waits for God to act on his behalf.

Key Words in Psalms 123

"Mercy"

The psalmist's cry for mercy is a dominant theme in the chapter, highlighting his recognition of his need for God's deliverance and rescue.

"Contempt"

The scorn and contempt of the proud is a major challenge that the psalmist faces, and he looks to God for relief from it.

"Faithfulness"

The psalmist's trust in God's faithfulness is a key aspect of his relationship with God, and he looks to God's past actions as a guarantee of His future faithfulness.

"Trust"

The psalmist's trust in God is the central theme of the chapter, and he expresses it through his posture of dependence and his cry for mercy.

Christ in This Chapter

The psalmist's trust in God's mercy and faithfulness is ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ, who is the embodiment of God's mercy and faithfulness. As the perfect servant, Jesus looked to His Father's hand, trusting in His goodness and provision (John 1:1, Hebrews 4:15). The psalmist's expression of trust in God, as seen in Psalms 123:1-2, is a beautiful example of the kind of faith that Christ exhibits, and the kind of faith that we are called to have in Him. Furthermore, the psalmist's cry for mercy, as seen in Psalms 123:3, is a cry that is answered in the person and work of Christ, who is the mercy of God incarnate. (John 1:1 · Hebrews 4:15)

Names of Deity

Names and pronouns referring to God are marked throughout the text.

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Psalm 123

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