# Psalm 123 📖: Eyes Lifted to God [[📚 Explore the Bible Books]] [[-Psalm Overview]] | [[Psalm 122]] | [[Psalm 124]] > [!info] Table of Contents > [[#📜 Scripture Text (NET)]] > [[#📖 Verse-by-Verse Commentary]] > [[#🤔 Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights]] > [[#🧠 Chapter Summary]] > [[#✝️ Christ in This Chapter]] > [[#🔎 Key Principles / 🛟 Life Application]] > [[#💬 Discussion Questions]] > [[#✍️ Key Verses to Remember]] > [[#🔗 Related Passages/Cross Reference]] > [[#🙏 Devotional Reflection]] > [[#📂 Internal Notes]] ## 📜 Scripture Text (NET) (The NET Bible: New English Translation. Biblical Studies Press, 2005) #### A song of ascents. [[#Verse 01.]] I look up toward you, the one enthroned in heaven. [[#Verse 02.]] Look, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a female servant look to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes will look to the Lord, our God, until he shows us favor. [[#Verse 03.]] Show us favor, O Lord, show us favor! For we have had our fill of humiliation, and then some. [[#Verse 04.]] We have had our fill of the taunts of the self-assured, of the contempt of the proud. ## 📖 Verse-by-Verse Commentary ###### Overall. ###### Verse 01. ###### Verse 02. ###### Verse 03. ###### Verse 04. ## 🤔 Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights 1. Psalm 123 is a Song of Ascents and has only four verses. 2. God is described as enthroned in the heavens (123:1), the ultimate King over all earthly powers. 3. Servants in the ancient world watched their master's hand for signals, commands, and provision (123:2). 4. The psalm mentions both a male servant with his master and a female servant with her mistress (123:2). 5. The plea "have mercy on us" is repeated (123:3), showing urgency. 6. The people describe themselves as filled to the full with contempt (123:3-4). 7. "Those who are at ease" (123:4) are the comfortable and self-satisfied who look down on the suffering. 8. Many scholars connect the psalm with times like Nehemiah's day, when Jerusalem's returned exiles faced mockery (Nehemiah 2:19; 4:1-4). 9. The psalm moves from "I" in 123:1 to "we" and "us" in 123:2-4, a personal prayer joined to the community. 10. The eyes of God's people are a theme here, just as Psalm 121 began by lifting eyes to the hills. ## 🧠 Chapter Summary > [!note] 🌱 Still growing. This section is on its way. ## ✝️ Christ in This Chapter Christ is the merciful Lord who answers those who look to Him. When blind men cried, "Have mercy on us, Lord, Son of David," Jesus had compassion and healed them (Matthew 20:30-34). ## 🔎 Key Principles / 🛟 Life Application > [!note] 🌱 Still growing. This section is on its way. ## 💬 Discussion Questions 1. The psalmist lifts his eyes to the One enthroned in heaven (123:1). What helps you lift your eyes to God when you are discouraged? 2. He compares himself to a servant watching the master's hand (123:2). What does it look like to watch and wait attentively for God's direction? 3. God's people were weary of contempt and mockery (123:3-4). How should Christians respond when they are mocked for their faith? ## ✍️ Key Verses to Remember - 📖 verse 1: I look up to You, the One enthroned in heaven. - 📖 verse 2: As servants look to their master's hand, we look to the Lord until He shows us favor. - 📖 verse 3: Have mercy on us, Lord, for we have endured more than enough contempt. ## 🔗 Related Passages/Cross Reference - 🔗 [[Matthew 20#Verse 29.|Matthew 20:29-34]] - Two blind men cry out for mercy. - 🔗 [[Luke 18#Verse 13.|Luke 18:13]] - God, be merciful to me, a sinner. - 🔗 [[Nehemiah 04#Verse 01.|Nehemiah 4:1-4]] - The returned exiles are mocked. - 🔗 [[Hebrews 04#Verse 16.|Hebrews 4:16]] - Approach the throne of grace to receive mercy. - 🔗 [[Psalm 121#Verse 01.|Psalm 121:1-2]] - I look up to the hills. ## 🙏 Devotional Reflection > [!note] 🌱 Still growing. This section is on its way. ## 📂 Internal Notes