Psalms 123

Psalms 123:1

Psalm 123: Eyes that Look for MercyThere are two key words in this Song of Ascents, “eyes” and “mercy.” The first is found four times, the second three. The scene is the land of captivityan all-too-familiar setting for the oppressed people of Israel. They found themselves there in Egypt, in Babylon, in Nazi Germany, in the Warsaw ghetto and more recently in Siberian slave-labor camps. Though the name is not mentioned, the country here is probably Babylon. 123:1 With eyes upturned to the heavens and straining for some sight of divine mercy, the captives plead with the Lord to end their long, dark night of persecution. 123:2 They compare themselves to servants looking to the hand of their masters, and as . . . a maid looking to the hand of her mistress. This is usually interpreted to mean a readiness to perceive and to obey the will of the master. But that is not the picture here. Rather it indicates the attentiveness and expectancy of the Jews for Jehovah to have mercy upon them. And the particular mercy which they have in mind is a speedy end to their exile and a return to the land of heart’s desire. They are looking to His hand for salvation from their oppressors. 123:3, 4 Twice the urgent plea for mercy ascends to the throne of God from a people who have had more than their fill of contempt. Day after day they have had a diet of scorn and hatred, dished out by their Gentile overlords. Too long they have endured the cutting, snide remarks of those who are at ease (Zec_1:15). Too long they have suffered under the arrogance of their proud Babylonian captors (Jer_50:31-32). Now they are surfeited. Enough is enough! They feel that the breaking time has come. And so they pour out this compelling prayer to the One who is their only refuge and security in a world of anti-Semitism and discriminationto the Friend of the oppressed and downtrodden.