Psalms of Ascent Part 4

Psa 123:1 Unto thee lift I up mine eyes, O thou that dwellest in the heavens.
Psa 123:2 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.
Psa 123:3 Have mercy upon us, O LORD, have mercy upon us: for we are exceedingly filled with contempt.
Psa 123:4 Our soul is exceedingly filled with the scorning of those that are at ease, and with the contempt of the proud.

This Psalm shows the reliance of the pilgrim upon God. The pilgrim is in distress from complacent people and proud people. Those who have ceased to move forward wonder why anyone else would go on and scorn them. Also those who are proud and are resisted by God have contempt for those who are going on by the mercy and grace of God.

The pilgrim appears to have no other recourse but God. He is waiting earnestly looking for the slightest sign of movement, just as a servant waits for a signal from his master. The pilgrim waits for a sign of mercy, because he knows “it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy” (Rom. 9:16). As we study these Psalms it becomes more and more clear that as we go on with God there will be opposition and the only way we will make it through is the mercy of God. Unto Him be glory forever and ever!