Look To The LORD In Troubled Times
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[SLIDE 1] Introduction
If you have your Bible, then please turn to Psalm 123.
Today would the 2nd last message in our summer series in the Song of Ascents.
I know we didn’t cover all the Song of Ascents, but I trust that you got some samples of those Psalms.
And then tomorrow, I’ll be off to the Youth Retreat, and preach six messages to the students.
And then next Sunday, brother Masao will finish off our series with the shortest Song of Ascents.
So, I have “saved the best for last.”
No pressure Masao.
After I return from my holidays, we’ll continue in our series in the gospel of John, Lord willing.
We’ll pick up where we last left off.
A Song of Ascents. 1 To you I lift up my eyes, O you who are enthroned in the heavens! 2 Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a maidservant to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the Lord our God, till he has mercy upon us. 3 Have mercy upon us, O Lord, have mercy upon us, for we have had more than enough of contempt. 4 Our soul has had more than enough of the scorn of those who are at ease, of the contempt of the proud.
Illustration
Have you ever worshipped God in the midsts of your troubled life?
Just think about that question for a moment.
Have you ever worshipped God in the midst of your troubled life?
Let me give you some examples of what a troubled life looks like.
You’re dealing with a personal loss.
You’re facing financial hardship.
You’re suffering with chronic illness.
You’re persecuted for your faith.
You have received an unfair criticism and slander at your workplace.
You’re experiencing family conflict with your spouse, parents, children, in-laws.
It is quite possible that the first thing you and I do is not worshipping God.
It is easy to drown yourself in that mire of darkness.
But, is it even possible to praise and worship God in difficult times?
If you know anything about Job in the Bible, then yes, it is possible!
Job can teach us that true worship can arise even in the darkest of times.
When Satan took everything from Job, such as his wealth and children, except for the wife who told him to curse God, when Satan struck Job with health problems...
how did Job respond?
20 Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped. 21 And he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”
Biblical Theology
Context
So, having read Psalm 123, we don’t exactly know the historical context of when this took place.
We only know that the Psalmist and the people of God were facing scorn, mockery, and contempt from the proud.
Despite the troubled time he’s in, the Psalmist worships God and looks to Him for help.
This message will sort of piggyback on Pastor Jack’s message from last Sunday on Psalm 124.
Psalm 123 is where the Psalmist looks to the LORD and waits for Him to help.
Psalm 124 is where God helps.
Before we get into the main body of the message, it is important to know how the Psalmist structured this poetic Psalm.
From verses 1-4, the Psalmist is connecting each verse with an idea.
Notice that the “EYES” connect verses 1-2a.
And mercy connects verses 2b-3a.
A few Bible translations would use anothe translation such as “grace” or “favour.”
Most Bible translations say “mercy.”
And “more than enough” connects with verses 3b-4.
And God’s mercy is probably the central theme of this Psalm as the Psalmist put that theme in the middle.
So, we’re going to answer this question: Why should our eyes look to the LORD in troubled times?
Based that question, we’ll learn several truths about who God is.
The LORD is Sovereign (v. 1)
The LORD is Gracious and Merciful (v. 2)
Therefore, Await God’s Help (vv. 3-4)
Exposition
First, because the LORD is sovereign, we look to the LORD in troubled times. Take a look at verse 1.
1 To you I lift up my eyes, O you who are enthroned in the heavens!
Second, because the LORD is merciful and gracious, we look to the LORD in troubled times. Take a look at verse 2.
2 Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a maidservant to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the Lord our God, till he has mercy upon us.
Third, because the LORD is sovereign, merciful, and gracious, we Await God’s Help in troubled times.
We’ll look at this in verses 3-4. Let’s read Psalm 123:3
3 Have mercy upon us, O Lord, have mercy upon us, for we have had more than enough of contempt.
And now in verse 4, the Psalmist says Psalm 123:4
4 Our soul has had more than enough of the scorn of those who are at ease, of the contempt of the proud.