Psalm 123:1-4 · Psalm 123

1 I lift up my eyes to you, to you whose throne is in heaven.

2 As the eyes of slaves look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a maid look to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the Lord our God, till he shows us his mercy.

3 Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us, for we have endured much contempt.

4 We have endured much ridicule from the proud, much contempt from the arrogant.

Seeking Mercy with Eyes Lifted Heavenward
Psalm 123:1-4
Understanding Series
by Craig C. Broyles
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This psalm is a patient prayer for mercy. The voice of a liturgist is evident in the “I” who begins the psalm and speaks on behalf of the “we/our” throughout the remainder. The psalm is performed not only by singing but also by the “lifting of the eyes” heavenward, an action emphasized in the first two verses. It contains no explicit connection to the temple. Yahweh is sought above: “I lift up my eyes to you, to you whose throne is in heaven.” (When viewed in sequence, this claim regarding Yahweh’s throne qualifies the relative authority of David’s throne men…

Baker Publishing Group, Understanding the Bible Commentary Series, by Craig C. Broyles