Psalm of Ascent: Psalm 123

Psalms of Ascent

Psalms 120 – 135 are a series of 15 Psalms sung by pilgrims either on their way to Jerusalem to celebrate one of the festivals or at the festivals themselves. Together they are called the "Psalms of Ascent". 

Over the next several days, I want to explore some of the ways these ancient Psalms sung by pilgrims many years ago relate to us today. 

These Psalms speak of hope, passion, future dreams, desire and trust while on a journey that reminds them, and us, of past memories, present sufferings and future promises. 

The Psalms of Ascent point us to the hope that is present in the midst of whatever journey you are on.

Psalm 123 NLT
I lift my eyes to you,
    O God, enthroned in heaven.
2 We keep looking to the Lord our God for his mercy,
    just as servants keep their eyes on their master,
    as a slave girl watches her mistress for the slightest signal.
3 Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy,
    for we have had our fill of contempt.
4 We have had more than our fill of the scoffing of the proud
    and the contempt of the arrogant.

A couple of days ago we looked at Psalm 121, where the psalmist spoke about looking to the ‘hills’ and asking the question as to whether help comes from those hills.

Here the psalmist declares that we must lift our eyes higher than the hills to the one who sits ‘enthroned in heaven.’ But this is not just another psalm on praying to God for help. It is a desperate cry of one who has prayed but tasted the bitterness of a seemingly empty heaven.

Have you ever experienced that? You want to pray, but you "hear" silence.

For some, this has led to emotionally charged writing - poems - songs. For others, it has led to a loss of faith, because they think that the silence of God is rejection.

Here’s where the psalmist points to hope in the midst of silence.

We keep looking

Sometimes we think, "How realistic is this?" I've cried out to God, again and again. How many times before I hear anything, any indication that God has heard my cry?

We keep looking to the Lord our God for his mercy, just as servants keep their eyes on their master, as a slave girl watches her mistress for the slightest signal.

Sometimes all we need is just the ‘slightest signal’ that you have been heard. That’s enough; that's all I need; I can hang in there. 

This is why the Psalms are so powerful. They give voice to our cries, to our longings, to our hopes, to our emotions.

Prayer

Dear Lord God, I acknowledge my humanity and my weakness and my doubts. And so, Lord, I ask for even the slightest sign that you have heard my prayers. Forgive my doubts, and like young children who ask their parents many times for the same thing, give me even the slightest sign that you have heard me? I will hang on to that Lord, as I continue to look towards you, for all my hope is in you. Amen.