“Truth for Truckers” *June 3, 2014* Psalm 123 “Our
eyes wait upon the LORD”
Waiting for the mercy of the LORD is the title and theme of this brief
‘Song of Degrees’ which begins: ‘Unto
Thee lift I up mine eyes, O Thou that dwells in the heavens. Behold, as the
eyes of servants look unto the hand of their masters, and as the eyes of a
maiden unto the hand of her mistress; so our eyes wait upon the LORD our God,
until that He have mercy upon us.’ (v.1, 2)
The longing gaze of someone who is under
the authority of another and fully dependent upon them for their needs is the
picture being portrayed here. In addition, the word mercy implies the kind and
compassionate treatment of one who is under the power of another. Servitude is
also emphasized in the illustrations used by the Psalmist which rightly
portrays the New Testament teaching of the obedient Christian as the authors of
the letters and epistles usually included this truth in the introduction to
their writings.
‘Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ’ (Romans
1:1), ‘James, a servant of God’ (James 1:1), ‘Simon Peter, a servant and an
apostle of Jesus Christ’ (II Peter 1:1), ‘Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ’
(Jude 1:1), ‘The Revelation of Jesus Christ...unto His servant John’
(Revelation 1:1) are brief quotes showing that each of these men saw themselves as
faithful servants of the Lord Jesus Christ whose eyes waited upon the Lord as
faithful servants, which indeed was and still is a high and holy calling for
all who are saved.
Therefore, the attitude of servitude which
this Psalm promotes and teaches is one for all of God’s dear children today as
we give ourselves fully to His service. It is this attitude that receives God’s
attention and the complete benefit of His mercies which ‘Are new every morning’. (Lamentations 3:23) In (v.3) the appeal is
doubled: ‘Have mercy upon us, O LORD,
have mercy upon us: for we are exceedingly filled with contempt.’ This
request is magnified by its repetition showing the urgent need of an answer
with the reason given for the appeal being the reproach and dishonor thrown
upon them.
‘Our
soul is exceedingly filled with the scorning of those that are at ease, and
with the contempt of the proud.’ (v.4). The expressions of disdain by those
who ‘Are at ease’ and the statements
of dishonor from ‘The proud’ are the
basis for the Psalmists appeal for mercy. His testimony is at stake and he
knows His LORD can vindicate him, but it will only be accomplished through the
bestowal of mercy from his God.
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