TO YOU, O LORD, I LIFT MY EYES

Psalm 123:1-4 / Keywords 123:2

As the eyes of slaves look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a maid look to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the LORD our God, till he shows us his mercy.

 

A song of ascents.

123:1 I lift up my eyes to you,

    to you who sit enthroned in heaven.

2 As the eyes of slaves look to the hand of their master,

    as the eyes of a female slave look to the hand of her mistress,

so our eyes look to the Lord our God,

    till he shows us his mercy.

3 Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy on us,

    for we have endured no end of contempt.

4 We have endured no end

    of ridicule from the arrogant,

    of contempt from the proud.

 

1. As the eyes of slaves (1-2). God calls us to serve him. A servant of God does not act on his own; he tries to do his master's will. A slave watches his master's hand to see what he is doing. Then he participates in his master's work. We can be God's servant when we lift up our eyes to the throne of God, looking away from ourselves and giving up our own strong ideas. We should wait on God, and when God shows us what he is doing and what he wants us to do, we should do it with all our heart, for his glory. Jesus said, "My Father is working still, and I am working" (Jn 5:17 RSV).

 

2. Have mercy on us, O Lord (3-4). When we come to God in prayer, we should not bring a shopping list. We come to serve him, not to seek small benefits. He has set us free from bondage to sin. We belong to him. When we live as God's people and serve him, many times we suffer because of worldly people. So we need his mercy.

 

Prayer Lord, I lift my eyes to you as a servant watching his master's hand. Show me how to serve you, and grant me your mercy.

One Word Lift your eyes to the Lord