Guided Bible Study 1

Eyes on the Lord

Before you read this scripture take time to prepare to hear from God:

Put yourself in a quiet place.

Be still.

Confess anything separating you from His presence.

Ask Him to join you there.

Psalm 123 ESV

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.

This psalm was written at a time when Israel would have been greatly opposed, maybe even during Babylonian captivity. In times of difficulty it is wise to turn our attention to the Lord.

The phrasing of v.1 is an obvious spiritual ‘lifting of the eyes’. But the physical example in v.2 gives the reader something they can relate to. Watching the hand of the master allowed them to move before a spoken command was even given. This was careful attentiveness born out of respect for the position.

Saints are servants. No longer of sin, nor of the enemy but of the Lord. Because of redemption we have access to the presence of God.

Vv.3-4 give us insight to the political situation of this writing. Israel was treated with contempt. They were scorned. But the psalm, in context, keeps us from focusing on the scorn. To take our eyes off those doing the scorning. This psalm sets the stage for the believer to look to God, for He is faithful to have mercy on us.

The words of John Newton are a good way to close this:

Approach my soul the mercy seat,

Where Jesus answers prayer,

There humbly fall before His feet,

For none can perish there.