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Psalm 123 | King James Audio Bible
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Psalm 123, a Psalm of Ascent, is a prayer of a solitary figure seeking divine mercy. This Psalm’s simplicity belies depth of expression of reliance and trust in God.
The Psalm begins with a direct address, ‘Unto thee lift I up mine eyes, O thou that dwellest in the heavens.’ This line sets the tone of reverence and dependence. The psalmist, acknowledging his lowliness and God’s exalted position, looks to God for help. The act of lifting eyes to the heavens is a gesture of seeking help from a power greater than any earthly source.
The psalmist uses a comparison to express his state of waiting upon the Lord: ‘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.’ This imagery conveys a state of attentive expectation and dependence. The servant and maiden represent a posture of watchfulness and readiness to respond, mirroring the psalmist’s attitude towards God. This comparison also highlights a sense of humility and acknowledgment of one’s position before the Divine.
The psalmist’s plea, ‘Have mercy upon us, O LORD, have mercy upon us,’ repeated for emphasis, conveys a sense of urgency and desperation. The repetition is a poetic device that intensifies the call for God’s compassion and intervention. This plea for mercy is not a mere request; it is a profound expression of the psalmist’s state, ‘for we are exceedingly filled with contempt.’ This verse reveals adversity faced by the psalmist, possibly from those who scorn or disdain him.
The final verse, ‘Our soul is exceedingly filled with the scorning of those that are at ease, and with the contempt of the proud,’ provides context to the plea. It suggests that the psalmist faces mockery or disdain from the prosperous or arrogant. This, familiar to many across ages, speaks to the experience of being marginalized or belittled by others.
Psalm 123 is testament to the human condition of seeking divine grace in moments of helplessness and contempt. The psalm portrays a raw and honest appeal to God, rooted in a relationship of trust and dependency. The psalm serves as a reminder that in times of distress, turning to God is an essential and profound act of faith. The psalmist’s example encourages believers to maintain hope and seek God’s mercy, regardless of their circumstances.
Psalm 123 | King James Audio Bible
Unto thee lift I up mine eyes, O thou that dwellest in the heavens.
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.
Have mercy upon us, O LORD, have mercy upon us: for we are exceedingly filled with contempt.
Our soul is exceedingly filled with the scorning of those that are at ease, and with the contempt of the proud.
Psalm 123 | King James Audio Bible
Dependence On Divine Mercy: Psalm 123 expresses a profound dependence on God’s mercy, emphasized in the repeated plea, ‘Have mercy upon us, O LORD, have mercy upon us.’ This theme reflects the psalmist’s recognition of God as the ultimate source of help and compassion in times of need.
Humility And Submission: The psalmist uses the imagery of servants looking to their masters to symbolize a posture of humility and submission before God. This illustrates the attitude of reverence and acknowledgment of one’s own limitations and the need for divine guidance.
Seeking Relief From Contempt And Scorn: The psalm is a cry for relief from the contempt and scorn of the proud and those at ease, highlighting the struggles faced by the psalmist. This theme resonates with anyone who has experienced marginalization or disrespect from others.
Trust In God Amidst Adversity: Despite facing challenging circumstances, the psalmist demonstrates unwavering trust in God, evident in the hopeful tone of seeking God’s mercy. This theme underscores the importance of maintaining faith and hope in God, even in difficult times.
Collective Prayer For Deliverance: While the psalmist speaks in the first person, the plea for mercy has a communal dimension, suggesting a collective prayer for deliverance. This indicates the communal aspect of worship and the shared experience of seeking God’s intervention.
Contrast Between Human Frailty And Divine Majesty: The psalm contrasts the frailty and vulnerability of humans with the majesty and power of God, who dwells in the heavens. This highlights the vast difference between human limitations and God’s sovereign capability to provide aid.
Herbert structures the poem as a dramatic monologue, with Christ narrating his journey to the Cross. The refrain not only highlights the unmatched sorrow of Christ’s ordeal but also serves as a rhetorical question that invites readers to contemplate such depth of Christ’s sacrifice. The refrain anchors each stanza and reinforces a theme of unparalleled grief [ … ]
Luke’s Gospel places the calling of the first disciples after the fame of Jesus has already spread across the region. Simon Peter listens to Jesus’ words, then he experiences the miraculous catch of fish, and then he throws himself down before Jesus, acknowledging his sins and placing his life in Jesus’ hands. This is Simon Peter’s call. He gives away everything he has to follow Jesus [ … ]
The Gospel Of Saint John, Chapter 11 | Jesus Wept | Death And Resurrection Of Lazarus | KJV The account of Lazarus’s death and resurrection in John 11:1-45 is profound and moving. Central to the story is the shortest verse in the Bible: ‘Jesus wept’ (John 11:35). At first glance, ‘Jesus wept’ appears to be a simple statement of human emotion. It shows Jesus expressing sorrow and empathy, sharing in the grief of Lazarus’s sisters, Mary and Martha, and the mourning community. The moment reveals profound humanity of Jesus. Despite Jesus’ divine knowledge that he would raise Lazarus from the dead, Jesus yet experiences fully human emotions. Jesus is not distant or detached but is intimately connected with the suffering of those he loves. The verse also underscores the reality of death’s impact, even for the Son of God. Although Jesus knows that death is not the final word and that he has power over it, Jesus still mourns. This weeping is not only for Lazarus but for the brokenness of the world that death represents. It reflects sorrow that God feels over the pain and suffering that humanity endures as a result of sin and death. The verse ‘Jesus wept’ highlights compassion of Jesus. Jesus’ tears are an expression of his deep love for Lazarus and Lazarus’ family. In the act of weeping, Jesus demonstrates that God’s response to human suffering is not indifference or cold logic, but rather profound empathy and compassion. The God of the universe is not immune to our pain but enters into it with us. Theologically, this moment is also significant because it foreshadows the passion of Christ. Just as Jesus wept over Lazarus, Jesus would later weep in Gethsemane over the soon-to-be agony of the Cross. Jesus’ tears in John 11 anticipate the suffering he will endure to conquer death once and for all. In weeping for Lazarus, Jesus reveals such depth of his commitment to overcome death and bring life. See also: Daily Bible Verses | Jesus Weeps Over Jerusalem | That Jesus Wept Means He Prayed For The Loss And The Futility | King James Audio Bible KJV
