I lift up my eyes to you, to you whose throne is in heaven.

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.

Have mercy on us, O LORD, have mercy on us, for we have endured much contempt.

We have endured much ridicule from the proud, much contempt from the arrogant (Psalm 123:1-4 NIV).

When reading this Psalm, depending on your frame of mind in your current circumstances, your eyes and attention may come to rest on verses three and four. You may be feeling beaten, bruised, and burdened by those who seem to find great joy in your struggles. "The Message" version may appropriately describe your feelings, "We've been kicked around long enough." You may be ready for the Lord to step in and do a number on your enemies.

Before your camaraderie with the Psalmist in the last two verses goes too far, first reflect on the first two verses of the Psalm for more Godly advice.

Before you react, look to the Lord.

First, he tells us, "I lift my eyes to you, to you whose throne is in heaven." Where do you look when you are tired of being picked on? Where do you look when things are not going your way? Where do you look when you are frustrated with life and feeling like you have been "kicked around long enough?" You are ready to fight back. You are ready to get your revenge. You are ready to set the record straight. The Psalmist probably felt the same things when he said, "I lift my eyes to you, to you whose throne is in heaven." Before he demanded revenge, before he lashed out, and before he settled into a state of perpetual self-pity he said, "I lift my eyes to you, to you whose throne is in heaven."

Second, he paints an image of one who waits. "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 servant waits for his master's command. A maid takes her cues from her mistress. As servants of God we are to wait for God to deliver His mercy to us. It is not for us to determine who gets revenge. It is our task to wait for God to act and show us his mercy. Look to the Lord.

Before you react ... lift your eyes to the One whose throne is in heaven. Before you seek revenge ... lift your eyes to the One whose throne is in heaven. Before you demand that your side of the story is heard ... lift your eyes to the One whose throne is in heaven.

Tired of being kicked around? Lift your eyes to the One whose throne is in heaven.

Ready to go on the attack? Let your eyes look to the Lord and wait for him to show you mercy. "I lift my eyes to you, to you whose throne is in heaven."

 

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Title: "Our Eyes Look to the Lord"
Author: Tom Norvell
Publication Date: October 19, 2008

Not Even a Hint: Guarding Your Heart Against Lust by Joshua Harris Straightforward without being graphic, Harris's handbook offers practical advice for combating unholy urges, preparing young people for a lifetime of resisting temptation, and embracing godly desire.

Tom Norvell is the author of "A Norvell Note." He ministers at the Hermitage Church of Christ in Hermitage, Tennessee.

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