Psalms 123

4 verses

TL;DR

Psalm 123 is a prayerful plea for mercy, likening the faithful’s gaze toward God to servants and a maiden looking to their masters, while expressing humility amid contempt for the proud.

Summary

Psalm 123 begins with the psalmist lifting his eyes to the heavens, acknowledging God’s dwelling above. He compares the faithful’s attentive wait for God to servants and a maiden who look to their masters, emphasizing devotion. The psalmist then cries out, repeating, "Have mercy upon us," underscoring urgency and dependence on divine compassion. He admits that their souls are filled with contempt toward the well‑to‑do and the proud, revealing a sense of humiliation. The prayer intertwines longing, reproach, and hope, urging trust in God rather than worldly status. Through vivid imagery, the psalm highlights humility versus pride and the need for mercy. It concludes by reminding believers that only God can truly judge the heart.

Outline

1. Lifting of eyes to the heavens
2. Comparison of servants/maiden to waiting on God
3. Plea for mercy and expression of contempt

Themes

Dependence on GodMercyHumility vs Pride

Keywords

lifteyesservantsmaidenmasterLORDmerciescontemptscorn

People

LORDour God

Places

heavens

Things

eyesservantsmaidenhand of mastersmercycontemptscorn

Key Verses

Psalms 123:2: Illustrates the faithful’s attentive wait toward God using servant imagery.
Psalms 123:3: Central plea for mercy, repeated to emphasize urgency.
Psalms 123:4: Highlights the psalmist’s feelings of contempt toward the proud and the well‑to‑do.

Questions

What does it mean to "lift your eyes" toward God in modern life?
How does the comparison to servants and a maiden help us understand faithfulness?
Why might the psalmist feel contempt toward the proud?
In what ways can we respond to God’s mercy when we feel humbled?
How does the imagery of waiting influence our daily prayers?

Sentiment

mixed
Contains pleading for mercy and lament over contempt, balanced with trust in God’s compassion.