Where, how and why to look
Psalm 123
A song for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem.
1 I lift my eyes to you,
O God, enthroned in heaven.
2 We keep looking to the Lord our God for his mercy,
just as servants keep their eyes on their master,
as a slave girl watches her mistress for the slightest signal.
3 Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy,
for we have had our fill of contempt.
4 We have had more than our fill of the scoffing of the proud
and the contempt of the arrogant.
This short psalm is one of the ‘Songs of Ascents’. The steps of the temple in Jerusalem were large, and ‘ascents’ referred to both ascending to Jerusalem itself in the times of the feasts and praying as they went up the steps into the temple to meet with God and His people. Today, we can think of these psalms as helping us to examine and prepare our hearts before God.
The psalm is a prayer, crying out to go for his mercy during difficult times. It shows us where to look, how to look and why to look to God during these times.
‘Where to look’ is to God, who is king in heaven. It’s easy to keep our focus on our circumstances, especially when others are afflicting us, like in this Psalm. But looking to God reminds us that He is merciful, powerful and kind. “When God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31).
‘How to look’ is attentively, continuously and obediently, watching for any sign of God acting – just as servants watch for a sign from their masters.
Finally, it shows us ‘why to look’ – because God is good, and His actions make a difference in our lives.
Heavenly Father, thank you for your mercy and goodness in our lives. Help me to remember to look to you attentively, knowing that my help comes from the Lord. Amen
Written by Megan Cornell