Click here to read PSALM 123 in poetic form.
Background
Psalm 123 is in the Deuteronomy Book of the Psalms (Psalms 107-150). These 44 Psalms, like the Book of Deuteronomy in the Old Testament, show God’s Word as the source of salvation, deliverance, and healing. This would be fully carried out in the life of the coming Messiah, the living Word, Jesus Christ. Whereas Psalm 119 showed that God would raise the Messiah from the dead to eternal life, Psalm 123 is the fourth of 15 “songs of the degrees” (Psalms 120-134) regarding God keeping Hezekiah alive (see the notes on Psalm 120 for more details).
Psalm 123, written by Hezekiah, shows the Messiah looking to God for help in his suffering from those who mock and scorn him.
Structure
(Messiah’s suffering)
(Verse 1) Prayer: I lift up my eyes unto Thee
(Verse 2) The eyes of a servant to his master, or a maiden to her mistress
(Verse 3) Our eyes upon the Lord our God
(Verse 4) Prayer: have mercy O Lord, for we are filled with contempt and scorning
Key Scriptures
Verse 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.” Eastern servants in Bible times and still today keep their eyes constantly on their master or mistress. Only the slightest indication is needed for the servant to immediately respond to a request. This type of service is seen in other cultures as well.
Jesus Christ taught that God is spirit and we must worship Him in the spirit (John 4:24). As we “walk in the spirit” (Galatians 5:16,25), we keep our “spiritual eyes” on our Lord Jesus Christ. He gives us direct access to the Father (Ephesians 3:12).
Verse 3—“Have mercy upon us, O Lord, have mercy upon us: for we are exceedingly filled with contempt.” Jesus Christ endured the greatest contempt, or scorning, imaginable. Yet he kept His sites on the Father and the future rewards that awaited him at God’s right hand. Hebrews 12:2,3: “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame [disgrace], and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction [strife, gainsaying] of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.”
FOR FURTHER STUDY
All 150 of The Psalms in Poetic Form are available from Amazon in a book, either Large Print or a smaller Bedside Reader. Also available for free with a Kindle Unlimited membership. Enjoy!
You can also hear the author read them aloud on YouTube.
The entire blog series is now available in the publication The Psalms: Background & Structure with Key Scriptures Explained.
