11-19-23 Sermon "Always Here" 14 Minutes

Psalm 123

This morning I'll be reading Psalm 123. And I'll be reading from the Holman Christian Standard Bible. Psalm 123 This psalm is one of the group of psalms called "ascent psalms". Probably written during their exile in Babylon. Psalm 123 (HCSB) — A song of ascents. 1 I lift my eyes to You, the One enthroned in heaven. 2 Like a servant’s eyes on his master’s hand, like a servant girl’s eyes on her mistress’s hand, so our eyes are on the Lord our God until He shows us favor. 3 Show us favor, Lord, show us favor, for we’ve had more than enough contempt. 4 We’ve had more than enough scorn from the arrogant and contempt from the proud. The word of God for the people of God,,, thanks be to God! God bless the reading and the hearing of your word this morning. Let us pray: Dear Lord,,, as we begin this morning,,, with everyone here today and all that are listening and watching by video,,, we ask that you open our ears to hear and our hearts and minds to receive the message that you have for us today,,, In Jesus' name I pray,,, Amen. ___________________________________ Last Sunday we looked at Joshua 24:14-25,,, and we seen that Joshua has done everything that he can,,, to help the Israelites remain obedient to God after he leaves them.

Of course we know that they didn't keep their word,,, and that they paid the penalty for it as well!

They should have heeded Joshua's warning,,, and apparently they meant to at the time,,, but it didn't last!

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I told you,,, this is something that we need to remember going forward as well.

We are beginning our own covenant with God,,, as we begin our new journey as we leave the UMC,,, and we must be sure that from this day forward that we follow God the way that He leads,,, as He shows us the way!

Being sure that we don't let the world around us pull us down.

Being sure that we keep our eyes and thoughts on God,,, and God alone,,, without any idols of our own tearing us away from His love and guidance!

The way that we have followed God's voice to get us to this day,,, we must continue to follow the rest of our days,,, and we must be careful to maintain that relationship so that we,,, as a church,,, can prosper the way that God intends for us!

Just as Joshua asked the Israelites then,,, and expected an answer,,, we too are asked and must answer,,, who we will follow?

And our answer must be,,, to worship and serve the Lord, our God,,, while at the same time,,, remembering the mistakes that the Israelites made,,, and being focused on our path forward,,, so that we remain on course,,, and don't let the world pull us down!

Today,,, and tomorrow,,, our answer must be,,, the same as Joshua's,,, As for me and my family, "this church family",,, we "will" worship Yahweh.”

This morning we will look at these verses in Psalm 123,,, and see how they will help us in our walk with God this week.

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The "Songs of Ascent",,, as I mentioned at the beginning,,, are a special group of psalms that include Psalms 120—134.

They are also called Pilgrim Songs.

Four of these songs are attributed to King David (122, 124, 131, 133),,, and one to Solomon (127),,, while the remaining ten are anonymous.

The city of Jerusalem is situated on a high hill.

Jews traveling to Jerusalem for one of the three main annual Jewish festivals traditionally sang these songs on the “ascent”,,, or,,, the uphill road,,, to the city.

Biblical writers regularly describe individuals,,, as going up to Jerusalem,,, no matter where the people are located in relationship to the city.

According to some traditions,,, the Jewish priests also sang some of these "Songs of Ascent" as they walked up the steps,,, to the temple in Jerusalem.

Each of the psalms in this collection begins with the title “A Song of Ascents.”

While they were probably not written for this purpose,,, these psalms were later grouped together for use in traveling toward Jerusalem for the yearly Jewish festivals.

The theme of each "Song of Ascent" offers much encouragement for those who seek to worship God today: and,,, they continue to find a place among the many hymns and songs of worship,,, of Jews and Christians today.

They serve as powerful examples of how we can express our worship and love for God through the power of song.

___________________________________ Verse 1 said: 1 I lift my eyes to You, the One enthroned in heaven.

There are two key words in this "Song of Ascents",,, “eyes” and "favor",,, the King James uses,,, “mercy” in their translation.

The first,,, eyes,,, is found four times,,, the second,,, favor,,, or mercy,,, is found three.

The scene is the land of captivity—an all-too-familiar setting for the oppressed people of Israel.

They found themselves oppressed in Egypt,,, in Babylon,,, in Nazi Germany,,, which many remember today,,, in the Warsaw ghetto,,, and more recently in Siberian slave-labor camps.

And though the name is not mentioned,,, the country here is probably Babylon.

With eyes upturned to the heavens and straining for some sight of divine favor,,, or mercy,,, the captives plead with the Lord to end their long, dark night of persecution.

___________________________________ Verse 2 said: 2 Like a servant’s eyes on his master’s hand, like a servant girl’s eyes on her mistress’s hand, so our eyes are on the Lord our God until He shows us favor.

They compare themselves to servants looking to the hand of their masters, and as … a maid looking to the hand of her mistress.

This is usually interpreted,,, to mean a readiness to perceive and to obey the will of the master.

But that is not the picture here.

Instead,,, it indicates the attentiveness and expectancy of the Jews for God to have mercy upon them.

And the particular mercy which they have in mind,,, is a speedy end to their exile,,, and a return to the land of their heart’s desire,,, they want to go home!

They are looking to His hand for salvation from their oppressors.

My Wesleyan Commentary says: The Israelites had suffered many things from the hands of their pagan overlords and neighbors.

Now they were turning,,, in a meditative spirit,,, to God.

The word "eyes",,, suggests,,, not only the physical organs,,, but a total change of personality,,, which directed its longings toward God in the heavens.

The author must have felt humbled,,, by his own great needs,,, and,,, by the loftiness of God.

His eyes,,, were not haughty eyes,,, or demanding eyes,,, instead,,, they were the expectant eyes of servants,,, or,,, of a maid.

Those eyes would not waver from their Lord,,, even though,,, mercy might be delayed.

___________________________________ Verse 3 said: 3 Show us favor, Lord, show us favor, for we’ve had more than enough contempt.

The Israelites urgent plea for mercy ascends to the throne of God from a people who have had more than their fill of contempt.

Day after day they have had to put up with the scorn and hatred,,, dished out by their Gentile overlords.

Too long they have endured the cutting,,, snide,,, remarks,,, of those who are at ease (Zech. 1:15).

Too long they have suffered under the arrogance of their proud Babylonian captors (Jer. 50:31, 32).

___________________________________ Verse 4 said: 4 We’ve had more than enough scorn from the arrogant and contempt from the proud.

They have gone through too much!

Enough is enough!

They feel like they need help now!

And so they pour out this compelling prayer to the One who is their only refuge and security in a world of hate and sin,,, to their God,,, who they know,,, will save them!

The Wesleyan Commentary says that the psalm closes,,, almost with a suppressed sob,,, but there is no hint that the eyes of the writer had ever turned away,,, from the Master.

___________________________________ So we can see that the Israelites were oppressed,,, but,,, even though they were going through a tough time,,, they made sure that they cried out to the One that could help!

They understood that their only hope was crying out to God,,, and then waiting for Him to answer!

We can learn from them if want to.

When we are going through our own tough trials,,, it is such a great relief to know that God is there for us,,, just as He was there for the Israelites!

This week,,, we celebrate thanksgiving,,, and what better way to celebrate thanksgiving,,, than being thankful to our creator,,, for always being there for us!

God will never leave us alone.

Jesus said in the last half of Matthew 28:20“And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

That is the promise that Jesus has made.

He will always be here during our times of trouble.

We may be facing troubles unlike anything we have ever known,,, but we don't face them alone.

God can handle any situation that we might ever encounter!

And,,, I can assure you,,, that He is not taken by surprise at any of our situations or circumstances.

Isaiah 41:10 “Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will hold on to you with My righteous right hand.”

Romans 8:35 “Who can separate us from the love of Christ? Can affliction or anguish or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?”

Romans 8:37 “No, in all these things we are more than victorious through Him who loved us.”

These are just a few of the verses that show that God is always there for us during our time of need!

So this week as we go into thanksgiving,,, remember that God is "always here" for us,,, and give Him the praise and glory that He deserves,,, as we celebrate!

Because,,, just as the Israelites learned,,, God was "always here" for them,,, and He is "Always Here" for us!

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