Psalm 123 - Look Up!

Psalm 123:1-4 NIV

I lift up my eyes to you, to you who sit enthroned in heaven. 

As the eyes of slaves look to the hand of their master, 

as the eyes of a female slave look to the hand of her mistress, 

so our eyes look to the Lord our God, till he shows us his mercy. 

Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy on us, 

for we have endured no end of contempt. 

We have endured no end of ridicule from the arrogant, of contempt from the proud.

Psalm 123 is another psalm sung by pilgrims who journey toward the temple in Jerusalem to worship. This psalm however seems to be written from the perspective of an exile. There is no mention of temple, but rather the true throne above in heaven. (At least that's how I'm reading it.)

The psalmist looks up to God in heaven as a slave looks to their master seeking favour. The favour sought is mercy. The psalmist complains that he has long endured the contempt of arrogant and proud people. Who could this enemy be? I can assume it's foreigners among whom the psalmist lives. Are they Babylonians? Assyrians? Persians? We don't know. We only know he is in distress.

The King James translation renders the last verses differently than the New International Version.

Psalms 123:3-4 KJV

Have mercy upon us, O Lord, have mercy upon us: for we are exceedingly filled with contempt. Our soul is exceedingly filled with the scorning of those that are at ease, and with the contempt of the proud.

The psalmist speaks for his group saying their souls are full of contempt, meaning that the insults of others fill their hearts and minds. Some suggest that this psalm might recount the days of Hezekiah when the Assyrians laid siege to Judah. The general of the Assyrian army taunted the Israelites trapped in Jerusalem. Another idea is that this psalm was written during the restoration period. Under Nehemiah the Israelites rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem. They endured death threats and intimidation from the local inhabitants who did not want to see Jerusalem rebuilt.

The point of course is that when we are in distress, when our souls carry the burden of insults, threats and contempt from others we should also look up. Look up as a servant of the Lord looking for kindness from your Master. Trust in His lovingkindness. Listen for words of assurance. Allow the word of the Lord to drown out the ridicule and contempt you have endured and pray for relief.

May the peace of our God give rest to your weary souls. Amen.