WATCHFUL (Psalm 123)

"Saddlerock"--a popular hiking destination in our valley--is 

said to be an old volcanic neck and definitely (with its prominence)

a sight we "look up" to!

(Part of an ongoing series of the 48 psalms commended for times of "feeling down," from pastor/counselor Dr. David Seamand's book, Healing for Damaged Emotions.)

This psalm makes me think of the arrogant king in the musical/film “The King and I.”  His arms crossed in a position of power, he was tended to by servants who watched for some hand signal (was it snapped fingers?) to tend to his needs. When this psalm was composed, it likely referred to the Jews under Babylonian captivity, when many were slaves to the wealthy or political leaders. The Jewish servants—male or female—constantly had to watch for the hand signals that indicated what they had to do.

The analogy is right in the opening words:

I lift up my eyes to you, to you whose throne is in heaven. (v. 1)

In Psalm 121, the believer looked to “the hills”—presumably the location of the holy city of Jerusalem or further skyward in aspiring to the invisible God who is “high and lifted up.” But Psalm 123 is more intimate, and thus more encouraging for times when discouraging circumstances drag us down. I pick that up from the two key words of this psalm: “eyes” and “mercy.”  With our spiritual eyes we watch for mercy and help in trying times.

TRYING TIMES

The psalm describes these “trying times” as enduring “much ridicule from the proud…much contempt from the arrogant” (v. 4). If this psalm reflects the trials of Jews who returned to rebuild Jerusalem after their 70-year captivity in Babylon, that’s a good description of what happened. The books of Nehemiah and Ezra show it wasn’t a smooth transition. Through those ancient stories come the lessons that apply to our own trials from another's grudges, bitterness, or unkind actions.

The very first verse offers the key instruction for times when we feel put down and discouraged: “I lift up my eyes to you.”  Lifting our spiritual eyes to God cancels the “lower vision” of discouraging trials. The author of Hebrews took this analogy to Christ’s example:

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. (Hebrews 12:2-3)

In its purest distillation, this verse says: “Jesus understands. He endured the worst of it.” If that’s not enough, remember the seasoned counsel of John, one of Jesus’ closest disciples. In his letters, believed written in very old age, he couldn’t find enough words to describe the Lord’s love:

How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!  And that is what we are! (1 John 3:1)

We’re not stuck in the throne room of an earthly palace, on constant edge for the whims of a potentate. Nor do we need to live on “edge” for events or people who threaten our security. Those who are “children of God” can look to His throne and rejoice in being secure and loved. For times of “feeling down,” it’s the best perspective-changer ever.