Read & Study the Bible Online - Bible Portal
Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 123:1-4

We have here, I. The solemn profession which God's people make of faith and hope in God, Ps. 123:1, 2. Observe, 1. The title here given to God: O thou that dwellest in the heavens. Our Lord Jesus has taught us, in prayer, to have an eye to God as our Father in heaven; not that he is confined there, but there especially he manifests his glory, as the King in his court. Heaven is a place of prospect and a place of power; he that dwells there beholds thence all the calamities of his people and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 123:1

Unto thee lift I up mine eyes ,.... Not only the eyes of his body, this being a prayer gesture; see Matthew 14:19 ; but the eyes of his mind and understanding, opened by the Spirit of God; particularly the eye of faith, by which he looked for and expected help and salvation from the Lord. The phrase is expressive of holy confidence in God, and a comfortable hope of receiving good things from him; as, on the contrary, when persons are ashamed and confounded with a sense of their sins, and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 123:2

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 mistress ,.... To direct them in their work and business, to point out unto them what they shall do; which is often done by a motion of the hand of the master or mistress, or rap of their fingers without speaking F5 Vid. Pignorium de Servis, p. 136. "Digiti crepantis signa novit eunuchus", Martial. l. 2. 82. , which the servant observes: or to help and assist them... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 123:1

Unto thee lift I up mine eyes - We have no hope but in thee; our eyes look upward; we have expectation from thy mercy alone. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 123:2

As the eyes of servants - We now wait for thy commands, feeling the utmost readiness to obey them when made known to us. The words may be understood as the language of dependence also. As slaves expect their support from their masters and mistresses, so do we ours from thee, O Lord! Or, As servants look to their masters and mistresses, to see how they do their work, that they may do it in the same way; so do we, O Lord, that we may learn of thee, and do thy work in thy own Spirit, and after... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 123:1

Verse 1 1.I lift my eyes to thee, who dwellest in the heavens. It is uncertain at what time, or even by what Prophet, this Psalm was composed. I do not think it probable that David was its author; because, when he bewails the persecutions which he suffered in the time of Saul, it is usual with him to inter-pose some particular references to himself. My opinion, then, rather is, that this form of prayer was composed for all the godly by some Prophet, either when the Jews were captives in... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 123:2

Verse 2 2.Behold as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their masters. This similitude is very suitable to the present case. It implies that without the protection of God true believers have no comfort, are completely disarmed and exposed to all manner of wrongs, have neither strength nor courage to resist; in short, that their safety depends entirely upon aid derived from another. We know how shamefully servants were treated in ancient times, and what reproaches might be cast upon them,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 123:1

Unto thee lift I up mine eyes (comp. Psalms 121:1 , where the psalmist "lifted up his eyes" to God's dwelling-place). Now the expression is bolder. The eyes are lifted up to God himself. Oh thou that dwellest in the heavens (comp. Psalms 2:4 ; Psalms 11:4 ; Isaiah 57:15 ; Isaiah 66:1 ). read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 123:1

Our uplook to God. This is the characteristic possibility for humanity. The cattle have no uplooking eyes, and no yearning hearts to find expression by uplooking eyes. Man can look up, pierce the veil of sense, and see the unseen, and realize relations with the Divine. Indeed, he is not himself until he does. But to get the fixed uplook often is, and may well be, the issue of a lifelong moral discipline. The need for turning to God comes out of distressed earthly conditions. The restored... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 123:1-4

Unto thee lift I up mine eyes. These psalms are called "Songs of Degrees." For some thought that they were sung on the steps that led from one court to another in the temple of the Lord, and so they were called the songs of degrees, or steps. But though this explanation has been long abandoned, nevertheless, in these psalms, thus far, there has been an ascent as from step to step. See the sadness of the first of them ( Psalms 120:1-7 .). That rises to trust in the blessed keeping of God.... read more

Group of Brands