Psalm 123:1-4

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 123:3

Have mercy upon us, O Lord, have mercy upon us ,.... Merit is not pleaded; for, though servants, they knew they were unprofitable ones: but mercy is asked; whether by the awakened sinner, under first convictions, or by the backsliding professor, for forgiveness of sins, under a sense of them, or as under the correcting: and chastising hand of God for them: and which is repeated, to show the state of their case, which requires mercy, and in haste; and the eagerness of their spirit, and the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 123:4

Our soul is exceedingly filled with the scorning of those that are at ease ,.... That are in easy and affluent circumstances; abound in the things of this world, and have more than heart can wish; have no outward trouble, as other men, or as the saints have; nor any uneasiness of mind, on account of sin and their eternal state: they have been at ease from their youth; Satan, that has the possession of them, keeps the goods in peace; and their consciences are seared as with a red hot iron,... 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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 123:3

Have mercy upon us, O Lord - Chastise us no more; we will no more revolt against thee. We are exceedingly filled with contempt - We not only suffer grievously from our captivity, but are treated in the most contemptuous maner by our masters. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 123:4

Those that are at ease - The Babylonians, who, having subdued all the people of the neighboring nations, lived at ease, had none to contend with them, and now became luxurious, indolent, and insolent: they were contemptuous and proud. 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

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