Psalms 123 Study Notes: Eyes Lifted to the Enthroned LORD
A short prayer looks up to the LORD reigning in heaven, the way servants watch their master's hand, and waits for His mercy. The people plead for help because they have endured long ridicule and contempt from proud and arrogant people.
General
What reason do the people give in 123:3-4 for pleading for mercy?
Answer: They have been mocked and despised by proud people
The people repeat their cry for mercy and explain why: they have had more than enough of contempt and ridicule from the arrogant and proud (123:3-4). They bring their humiliation to God. Nehemiah prayed like this when enemies mocked the rebuilding of Jerusalem's wall, asking God to hear because His people were despised (Nehemiah 4:4). Scripture teaches that the LORD cares for the lowly while keeping the proud at a distance (Psalm 138:6), and that God resists the arrogant and shows favor to the humble, lifting them up in His own time (1 Peter 5:5-6).
- Psalm 123:3-4 (BSB)“Have mercy on us, O LORD, have mercy, for we have endured much contempt. We have endured much scorn from the arrogant, much contempt from the proud.”The people plead for mercy because they have endured contempt and scorn from the proud.
- Nehemiah 4:4 (BSB)“Hear us, O God, for we are despised. Turn their scorn back upon their own heads, and let them be taken as plunder to a land of captivity.”Nehemiah prays for God to hear because His people are despised.
- Psalm 138:6 (BSB)“Though the LORD is on high, He attends to the lowly; but the proud He knows from afar.”The LORD attends to the lowly, but knows the proud from afar.
- 1 Peter 5:5-6 (BSB)“Young men, in the same way, submit yourselves to your elders. And all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, so that in due time He may exalt you.”God opposes the proud and gives grace to the humble, lifting them up in due time.
Theological
On what ground do the people plead for mercy in 123:3-4?
Answer: They have been mocked and despised by proud people
The doubled plea for mercy is grounded in the contempt and scorn the people have endured from the arrogant (123:3-4). They entrust their humiliation to God, as Nehemiah did when Judah's builders were derided (Nehemiah 4:4). God's regard for the lowly and His distance from the proud (Psalm 138:6) mean the humble can expect His grace: He opposes the proud and exalts the humble in due time (1 Peter 5:5-6).
- Psalm 123:3-4 (BSB)“Have mercy on us, O LORD, have mercy, for we have endured much contempt. We have endured much scorn from the arrogant, much contempt from the proud.”The people plead for mercy because they have endured contempt and scorn from the proud.
- Nehemiah 4:4 (BSB)“Hear us, O God, for we are despised. Turn their scorn back upon their own heads, and let them be taken as plunder to a land of captivity.”Nehemiah prays for God to hear because His people are despised.
- Psalm 138:6 (BSB)“Though the LORD is on high, He attends to the lowly; but the proud He knows from afar.”The LORD attends to the lowly, but knows the proud from afar.
- 1 Peter 5:5-6 (BSB)“Young men, in the same way, submit yourselves to your elders. And all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, so that in due time He may exalt you.”God opposes the proud and gives grace to the humble, lifting them up in due time.
General
To whom does the psalmist lift his eyes in 123:1?
Answer: To the LORD who reigns from heaven
This short song of ascents has no named author. It opens with the psalmist looking up in prayer to the LORD, who is seated as King in heaven (123:1). The heavenly throne means God rules over all and is able to help. David also says the LORD reigns from His throne in heaven and watches over people (Psalm 11:4), and another psalm says God dwells in the heavens and does all that pleases Him (Psalm 115:3). Yet the high and holy God is not far off from the humble: Isaiah says He also lives with the downtrodden and lowly, reviving them (Isaiah 57:15).
- Psalm 123:1 (BSB)“A song of ascents. I lift up my eyes to You, the One enthroned in heaven.”The psalmist looks up in prayer to the LORD, who reigns from heaven.
- Psalm 11:4 (BSB)“The LORD is in His holy temple; the LORD is on His heavenly throne. His eyes are watching closely; they examine the sons of men.”David says the LORD is on His heavenly throne, watching over all people.
- Psalm 115:3 (BSB)“Our God is in heaven; He does as He pleases.”God is in heaven and does whatever He pleases.
- Isaiah 57:15 (BSB)“For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in a high and holy place, and with the oppressed and humble in spirit, to restore the spirit of the lowly and revive the heart of the contrite.”The high and holy God also dwells with the humble and lowly.
Theological
To whom does the psalmist direct his gaze in 123:1?
Answer: To the LORD who reigns from heaven
This anonymous song of ascents begins with the psalmist lifting his eyes to the LORD enthroned in the heavens (123:1). Prayer is directed to God in His sovereign rule: He reigns from His throne in heaven (Psalm 11:4) and does all that He pleases (Psalm 115:3). That transcendence does not mean distance, for the exalted God dwells with the contrite and lowly (Isaiah 57:15).
- Psalm 123:1 (BSB)“A song of ascents. I lift up my eyes to You, the One enthroned in heaven.”The psalmist looks up in prayer to the LORD, who reigns from heaven.
- Psalm 11:4 (BSB)“The LORD is in His holy temple; the LORD is on His heavenly throne. His eyes are watching closely; they examine the sons of men.”David says the LORD is on His heavenly throne, watching over all people.
- Psalm 115:3 (BSB)“Our God is in heaven; He does as He pleases.”God is in heaven and does whatever He pleases.
- Isaiah 57:15 (BSB)“For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in a high and holy place, and with the oppressed and humble in spirit, to restore the spirit of the lowly and revive the heart of the contrite.”The high and holy God also dwells with the humble and lowly.
General
What does the picture of servants watching their master's hand express in 123:2?
Answer: Humble dependence, waiting on God for mercy
The psalm compares God's people to servants and a maidservant who watch their master's or mistress's hand (123:2). A servant looked to that hand for direction, provision, and help. Likewise, the people keep their eyes on the LORD, depending on Him alone for mercy. David says he keeps his gaze fixed on the LORD continually, who will free his feet from the net (Psalm 25:15), and another of David's psalms pictures all creatures looking to God, who opens His hand to satisfy them (Psalm 145:15-16). The speaker in Micah also resolves to watch for the LORD and wait patiently on the God who saves him (Micah 7:7).
- Psalm 123:2 (BSB)“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.”Servants watch their master's hand, and so God's people watch the LORD, waiting for mercy.
- Psalm 25:15 (BSB)“My eyes are always on the LORD, for He will free my feet from the mesh.”David keeps his eyes on the LORD, trusting Him for rescue.
- Psalm 145:15-16 (BSB)“The eyes of all look to You, and You give them their food in season. You open Your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing.”All creatures look to God, and He opens His hand to satisfy them.
- Micah 7:7 (BSB)“But as for me, I will look to the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation. My God will hear me.”The speaker resolves to look to the LORD and wait for the God who saves him.
Theological
What attitude toward God does the servant image of 123:2 convey?
Answer: Humble dependence, waiting on God for mercy
The simile of servants and a maidservant watching their master's or mistress's hand portrays dependent, attentive waiting (123:2). God's people fix their eyes on the LORD because mercy can come from Him alone. The same reliance appears in Psalm 25:15, where David keeps his gaze fixed on the LORD, and in Psalm 145:15-16, where all creatures look to the open hand of God. Micah 7:7 expresses it in the speaker's resolve to watch and wait on the God who saves him.
- Psalm 123:2 (BSB)“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.”Servants watch their master's hand, and so God's people watch the LORD, waiting for mercy.
- Psalm 25:15 (BSB)“My eyes are always on the LORD, for He will free my feet from the mesh.”David keeps his eyes on the LORD, trusting Him for rescue.
- Psalm 145:15-16 (BSB)“The eyes of all look to You, and You give them their food in season. You open Your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing.”All creatures look to God, and He opens His hand to satisfy them.
- Micah 7:7 (BSB)“But as for me, I will look to the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation. My God will hear me.”The speaker resolves to look to the LORD and wait for the God who saves him.
General
True or False: In 123:2 the people say they will keep watching the LORD only until their enemies are defeated.
Answer: False
This is false. The people say they will keep their eyes on the LORD until He shows them mercy (123:2). Their hope is not tied to a military outcome but to God's gracious action, and they are willing to wait for it. Isaiah says the LORD is eager to show grace and calls blessed everyone who waits on Him (Isaiah 30:18). Lamentations commends quiet, patient hope in the LORD's saving help (Lamentations 3:25-26), and another psalmist longs for the Lord with greater eagerness than night guards long for dawn (Psalm 130:5-6).
- Psalm 123:2 (BSB)“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.”The people keep their eyes on the LORD until He shows them mercy.
- Isaiah 30:18 (BSB)“Therefore the LORD longs to be gracious to you; therefore He rises to show you compassion, for the LORD is a just God. Blessed are all who wait for Him.”The LORD longs to be gracious, and those who wait for Him are blessed.
- Lamentations 3:25-26 (BSB)“The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him. It is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.”The LORD is good to those who wait quietly for His salvation.
- Psalm 130:5-6 (BSB)“I wait for the LORD; my soul does wait, and in His word I put my hope. My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning—more than watchmen wait for the morning.”The psalmist waits for the Lord more than watchmen wait for morning.
Theological
True or False: According to 123:2, the people will keep looking to the LORD only until their enemies are overthrown.
Answer: False
This is false. The goal of their watching is that the LORD show them mercy (123:2). Their waiting rests on God's grace rather than on a particular outcome against their opponents. Scripture blesses those who wait on the LORD, who is eager to show grace (Isaiah 30:18), commends quiet waiting for His salvation (Lamentations 3:25-26), and models it in the psalmist whose longing for the Lord exceeds the night guard's longing for dawn (Psalm 130:5-6).
- Psalm 123:2 (BSB)“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.”The people keep their eyes on the LORD until He shows them mercy.
- Isaiah 30:18 (BSB)“Therefore the LORD longs to be gracious to you; therefore He rises to show you compassion, for the LORD is a just God. Blessed are all who wait for Him.”The LORD longs to be gracious, and those who wait for Him are blessed.
- Lamentations 3:25-26 (BSB)“The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him. It is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.”The LORD is good to those who wait quietly for His salvation.
- Psalm 130:5-6 (BSB)“I wait for the LORD; my soul does wait, and in His word I put my hope. My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning—more than watchmen wait for the morning.”The psalmist waits for the Lord more than watchmen wait for morning.