Psalms 123:2

Unto thee lift I up mine eyes, O thou that dwellest in the heavens. The Psalmist's looking up to God is like that of servants patiently looking for mercy from their master (Psalms 123:1); prayer for mercy, based on the scorning of the foe (Psalms 123:3) - namely, Israel's foes afar her return from Babylon-Moab, Ammon, Arabia (Nehemiah 2:19), and especially Samaria, favoured by the ruling world- power, Persia, while Israel, with all her high claims as the people of God, was poor and low (Nehemiah 1:3). The Psalmist is representative of Israel (cf. "I,...

2._Behold as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their masters. _This similitude is very suitable to the present case. It implies that without the protection of God true believers have no comfort, are completely disarmed and exposed to all manner of wrongs, have neither strength nor courage to resist; in short, that their safety depends entirely upon aid derived from another. We know how shamefully servants were treated in ancient times, and what reproaches might be cast upon them, whilst yet they durst not move a finger to repel the outrage. Being therefore deprived of all means of defending themselves, the only thing which remained for them to do was, what is here stated, to crave the protection of their masters. The same explanation is equally applicable to the case of _handmaids _Their condition was indeed shameful and degrading; but there is no reason why we should be ashamed o...

Verse Psalms 123:2. _AS THE EYES OF SERVANTS_] We now wait for thy commands, feeling the utmost readiness to obey them when made known to us. The words may be understood as the language of dependence also. As slaves expect their _support_ from their masters and mistresses; so do we ours from thee, O Lord! Or, As servants look to their masters and mistresses, to _see how they do their work_, that they may do it in the same way; so do we, O Lord, that we may learn of thee, and do thy work in thy own Spirit, and after thy own method. Some think that there is a reference here to the _chastisement of_ _slaves_ by their masters, who, during the time they are receiving it, keep their eyes fixed on the hand that is inflicting punishment upon them, professing deep sorrow, and entreating for mercy. And this sense seems to be countenanced by the following words:-...

BEHOLD, AS THE EYES OF SERVANTS LOOK UNTO THE HAND OF THEIR MASTERS ... - Or, are to the hands of their masters; or, regard the hands of their masters. That is, we look to God with the same spirit of deference, dependence, and readiness to mark the will of God, which is evinced by servants in regard to their masters, and by maidens in regard to the will of a mistress. There has been some difference of view in regard to the meaning of this comparison. Some have supposed that the allusion is to the fact that servants, when in danger, look to their masters for protection; others, that they look to them for the supply of their needs; others, that when they have been guilty of an offence they look to them alone for pardon. See Rosenmuller, _in loc_. The true idea, however, seems to be, that they look to them with deference and respect; that they attentively mark every expression of their will...

EXPOSITION PSALMS 123:1 UNTO THEE LIFT I UP MINE EYES (comp. Psalms 121:1, where the psalmist "lifted up his eyes" to God's dwelling-place). Now the expression is bolder. The eyes are lifted up to God himself. OH THOU THAT DWELLEST IN THE HEAVENS (comp. Psalms 2:4; Psalms 11:4; Isaiah 57:15; Isaiah 66:1). Psalms 123

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,.... To direct them in their work and business, to point out unto them what they shall do; which is often done by a motion of the hand of the master or mistress, or rap of their fingers without speaking e, which the servant observes: or to help and assist them against their enemies, and protect them from them; servants unarmed, and molested in their masters' service, have no other to flee to for protection but them; so Aben Ezra: or to receive food and sustenance from them, as servants and maidens do, from their masters and mistresses, in whose service they are; see Proverbs 31:15; so Kimchi and Arama; the latter observes, that they have their food in a way of mercy, and not justice; contrary to what the apostle says,...

We shall read, this evening, three short Psalms, the 123 rd, 124 th, and 125 th. May the Holy Spirit, who inspired the writers of them, strengthen our faith while we read these songs of joyous confidence! Psalms 123:1. _Unto thee lift I up mine eyes,_ Instead of looking downward in despair, or looking to the right hand or to the left to human confidence, or looking within in pride, «Unto thee lift I up mine eyes,» Psalms 123:1. _O thou that dwellest in the heavens._ It is always delightful to the Christian to remember what the title of his God is: «Our Father, which art in heaven.» It is the place of prospect from which God looketh down, and seeth all men, and understandeth all their ways; and it is also the place of his power and his glory. Lord, I loo

PSALM 120-134 The Psalms of Degrees Fifteen brief Psalms follow, called songs of degrees, or, ascents. They were in all probability used by Israel going up to Jerusalem three times a year to celebrate the feasts of the Lord--”Whither the tribes go up, the tribes of the LORD, a testimony for Israel, to give thanks unto the name of the LORD.” They are indeed Psalms of “the goings-up” for we rise higher and higher as we read through them. Prophetically they give us again the steps from trial and suffering to the glorious consummation. As they are so simple in language and construction no lengthy annotations are needed. Psalms 120:1 begins with distress, picturing again the suffering of the righteous godly remnant. In Psalms 121:1 the Keeper of Israel, the Covenant Keeping God, is revealed

CXXIII. WAITING FOR GOD. Psalms 123:4. The contempt of the proud may have been caused by their own wealth, and by the poverty of the godly (see on Psalms 4). Poor and godly are almost synonymous. The Heb. Bible often uses one and the same word for poor. afflicted, humble....

BEHOLD. Figure of speech _Asterismos._ App-6. AS. Figure of speech _Simile._ App-6. THE LORD. Hebrew. _Jehovah._ App-4. GOD. Hebrew. _Elohim._ App-4. HAVE MERCY. Be gracious. Figure of speech _Anaphora_. App-6....