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 look up to thee, thou dwellest in glory, therefore all power is in thy hands, and thou knowest how to use that power on the behalf of thy people!
Psalms 123:2. 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.
The servant looks to his master's hand for direction and for support. If he has a work to do that is too heavy for him, he looks to his master to send him help, and he also looks to his master's hand for his reward when his work is done. So, dear friends, are we day by day walking as in our Master's light?
Psalms 123:3. Have mercy upon us, O LORD, have mercy upon us: for we are exceedingly filled with contempt.
The best thing that the best of men can ask for, is God's mercy; and that mercy is so great even to the heavens, that, under the weariness of trials and troubles, it is a sufficient help for them. When we are not only in contempt, but even filled with contempt, and, as the text puts it, «exceedingly filled with contempt,» so that we have lost our good name amongst men, still may we turn to our God, and seek his mercy.
Psalms 123:4. Our soul is exceedingly filled with the scorning of those that are at ease, and with the contempt of the proud.
This was the lot of God's people in David's day; it is the same with believers now, and I suppose that, so long as the earth standeth, the saints of the Lord will have to cry unto him concerning their adversaries. Let them remember always to use the same remedy that the godly ones of old used; and not plead in earthly courts of law, but take the case to the great Court of King's Bench in heaven, let not any of the Lord's children ever be concerned about defending their own characters, but let them always go at once to him whose bare arm is quite sufficient to right all wrongs, and to deliver the oppressed.
This exposition consisted of readings from Psalms 123, 124, 125.