For those who may wish to ‘study’ this chapter, the following simple resources are provided for you. Each passage has a four-Part approach to help you take in and think further about what you have read.

Passage:  Psa 123

1 I lift up my eyes to you,
    to you who sit enthroned in heaven.
2 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.

3 Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy on us,
    for we have endured no end of contempt.
4 We have endured no end
    of ridicule from the arrogant,
    of contempt from the proud.

A. Find Out

1. What does the psalmist do? v.1
2. To whom does he liken himself? v.2a,b
3. So what does he do until when? v.2c
4. What does he ask, and why? v.3
5. What does he say they have endured? v.4

B. Think:

1. What does he see his position is before God?
2. What has obviously happened?
3. So why is he there?

C. Comment:

                In this fourth of these ‘songs of ascent’, the pilgrim makes his position before the Lord very clear. He lifts his eyes to the Lord (v.1a) in prayer and acknowledges the Lord in heaven (v.1b). That is the first statement or acknowledgement of the Lord’s greatness. He acknowledges that the Lord rules from His throne in heaven and so the Lord is high above all else, the King if kings.

                He compares himself, coming before the Lord, as a slave who bows before his master, waiting on his will, acknowledging his superiority (v.2a). Secondly he compares himself to a maid waiting upon her mistress (v.2b). Both examples are of an inferior waiting upon a superior. It is in this way that he waits upon the Lord, looking to Him in prayer until the Lord will respond in mercy and act on their behalf (implied v.2c)

                Thus far the reason for his waiting on God has not been revealed, simply that he recognises he is totally dependant on the Lord. Finally he shares why he is coming like this: they have endured or put up with ridicule from the proud and boastful and contempt from the arrogant (v.4). The implication is that he is a believer, a follower of the lord but he has been subject to the derogatory comments of those around him who are not. In this he distinguishes himself from those with wrong attitudes.

D. Application:

1. Do we distinguish ourselves from the Lord in His greatness?
2. Do we distinguish ourselves from those who are not His followers?