Psalms 123:1-4: a reflection

1I lift up my eyes to you, you who sit in the heavens. 2Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the LORD, our God, until he has mercy on us. 3Have mercy on us, LORD, have mercy on us, for we have endured much contempt. 4Our soul is exceedingly filled with the scoffing of those who are at ease, with the contempt of the proud.

This short psalm offers a vivid picture of how we are to look to God, especially in a time of scorn and contempt. As the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the LORD, our God, until he has mercy on us. The servant watches the master's hand with patient, expectant attention, ready for the least sign, waiting on his provision and command. So the psalmist fixes his eyes on God, watching, waiting expectantly, until God shows mercy, especially amid the contempt and scorn he has endured.

Notice the posture of looking to God: the patient, expectant attention of a servant watching the master's hand. The servant does not look away, or look elsewhere; he keeps his eyes fixed on the master's hand, watching for the least sign, waiting attentively for provision or direction. So the psalmist keeps his eyes on the LORD, watching, waiting expectantly, until God has mercy. It is a posture of fixed, patient attention, of waiting on God with expectancy, not looking elsewhere for help but keeping the eyes on him until he acts. Especially amid the scorn and contempt he had endured, the psalmist fixed his eyes on God and waited for his mercy.

That posture is worth taking to heart, for we too are to look to God with the patient, expectant attention of a servant, waiting for his mercy. When we are scorned, held in contempt, in need of God's mercy, we can look everywhere else for help, or grow impatient and look away; but the psalmist fixed his eyes on God, watching like a servant for the master's hand, waiting expectantly until God showed mercy. There is a posture of fixed, patient, expectant attention to God, waiting on him for mercy. When you are scorned or in need of God's mercy, do not look everywhere else or grow impatient; fix your eyes on God, watching and waiting expectantly for his mercy, as a servant watches the master's hand. Look to God with the patient, expectant attention of a servant watching the master's hand, keeping your eyes fixed on him until he has mercy, as the psalmist did amid the contempt he endured; for our help is in God, and we do well to fix our eyes on him and wait expectantly for his mercy rather than looking elsewhere.

Lord, this short psalm offers a vivid picture of how we are to look to you, especially in a time of scorn and contempt. As the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the LORD, our God, until he has mercy on us. The servant watches the master's hand with patient, expectant attention, ready for the least sign, waiting on his provision and command. So the psalmist fixes his eyes on you, watching, waiting expectantly, until you show mercy, especially amid the contempt and scorn he has endured. Show me the posture of looking to you: the patient, expectant attention of a servant watching the master's hand. The servant does not look away, or look elsewhere; he keeps his eyes fixed on the master's hand, watching for the least sign. So the psalmist keeps his eyes on you, watching, waiting expectantly, until you have mercy. It is a posture of fixed, patient attention, of waiting on you with expectancy, not looking elsewhere for help. Take that posture to my heart, for I too am to look to you with the patient, expectant attention of a servant, waiting for your mercy. When I am scorned, held in contempt, in need of your mercy, I can look everywhere else for help, or grow impatient and look away; but the psalmist fixed his eyes on you, waiting expectantly until you showed mercy. When I am scorned or in need of your mercy, keep me from looking everywhere else or growing impatient; help me fix my eyes on you, Lord, watching and waiting expectantly for your mercy, as a servant watches the master's hand.