A Brief Explication of the Last Fifty Psalms, Psalm 123
PSALME. CXXIII.
THe scope of this Psalm is to teach the Lords people, how to carry themselvs when they are oppressed by the tyranny of their proud adversaries, and are destitute of all help under heaven, wherein the Psalmist maketh his addresse to God, in patience, humility, and hope, v. 1, 2. And prayeth for comfort under, and relief from, the contempt of the proud adversaries▪ v. 3, 4.
Ver. 1. UNto thee lift I up mine eyes: O thou that dwellest in the heavens.
2. 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 Mistresse: so our eyes wait upon the LORD our God, until that he hath mercy on us.
From the Psalmists addresse unto God, by this short prayer, under the oppression of the Church; Learn, 1. The force of prayer doth not consist in multitude of words, but in faith, and fervent laying forth of desires before the Lord, as here we see. 2. It is not strange to see Gods children oppressed, and despised, and destitute of all relief, except of what may be expected from heaven, as this case here set down sheweth. 3. Albeit the Lord seem to hide himselfe from all manifestation of his kinde respects unto his people on earth, yet he will be found in heaven, and there must we betake our selves in hardest straites: Unto thee lift I up mine eyes, O thou that dwellest in the heavens. 4. The very lifting up of the bodily eye of the believer towards God in his trouble, hath its own use and force with God. Unto thee lift I up mine eyes. 5. As servants of old were in their condition slaves, deprived of the common comfort of liberty, might wear no weapons, were exposed to all injuries, and had no help or comfort, except the favour of their Master or Mistresse: so fares it oft-times with the believer for his outward condition, as the similitude and present case of the Church here teacheth: Behold, as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their Masters. 6. It is fitting that the persecuted believer have a low estimation of himself before God, be patient under his hand, submissive to his dispensation, and hopefull of help in his addresse unto God: for so much the similitude from servants behaviour toward their master and mistresse doth teach: As the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistresse, so our eyes wait upon the Lord. 7. The interest which the believer hath in God under any relation, hath comfort sufficient included in it, as here the Lords being Master, is sufficient to sweeten bondage of servant, and handmaid, but Covenant-interest sweeteneth it much more: Our eyes are upon the Lord our God. 8. As masters and mistresses are taught to shew pitty, mercy, bounty, and protection unto their servants▪ on the one hand, and servants are here taught on the other hand, by their good behaviour, not to marre their favour: so the believer is taught to behave himselfe before God, as a servant indeed, by endeavouring indeed to obey God. 9. The terme of the Saints patience and waiting, is till God shew mercy: Behold, as the eyes of the servants, &c. so our eyes wait on the Lord our God, until that he have mercy on us.
Vers. 3. Have mercy upon us, O LORD, have mercy upon us: for we are exceedingly filled with contempt.
4. Our soul is exceedingly filled with the scorning of those that are at ease, and with the contempt of the proud.
From his prayer for comfort and relief; Learn, 1. Whatsoever aileth the Church, the Lords mercy is the remedy; Have mercy. 2. Each member of the Church should be sensible of the trouble of the whole body, and deal for it as for himself: Have mercy upon us, O Lord. 3. As misery is more pressing, so should petitions be doubled, and poured forth in the Lords bosome: Have mercy, have mercy upon us. 4. Contempt, disdain and derision of Gods suffering servants, is the heaviest and most grievous part of their affliction; Have mercy upon us, for we are exceedingly filled with contempt. 5. They that prosper in wickednesse, are ready instruments to afflict the godly, and to persecute them for righteousnesse, and to mock the godly in their misery, when they have wrongfully troubled them: Our soul is exceedingly filled with the scorning of them that are at ease. 6. So long as persecutors and oppressors of Gods Church do prosper, and finde successe in their wayes, they will not cease to please themselves in their wicked course, and despise both the persons and the cause of Gods people, whatsoever be said against them: Our soul is filled with the contempt of the proud.