PSALMS 123

PSALM 123

STROPHE DIVISIONS OF MODERN TRANSLATIONS

NASB	NKJV	NRSV	TEV	NJB
Prayer for the Lord's Help MT Intro A Song of Ascents	Prayer for Relief From Contempt	Prayer for Deliverance from Enemies (A Lament)	A Prayer for Mercy	Prayer in Distress
123:1-2	123:1-2	123:1-2	123:1-2	123:1-2b
				123:2c-f
123:3-4	123:3-4	123:3-4	123:3-4	123:3-4b
				123:4c

READING CYCLE THREE (see "Bible Interpretation Seminar")

FOLLOWING THE ORIGINAL AUTHOR'S INTENT AT PARAGRAPH LEVEL

This is a study guide commentary, which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.

Read the chapter in one sitting. Identify the subjects (reading cycle #3). Compare your subject divisions with the five translations above. Paragraphing is not inspired, but it is the key to following the original author's intent, which is the heart of interpretation. Every paragraph has one and only one subject.

WORD AND PHRASE STUDY

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 123:1-2
¹To You I lift up my eyes,
O You who are enthroned in the heavens!
²Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master,
As the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress,
So our eyes look to the Lord our God,
Until He is gracious to us.

123:1 This is similar to Ps. 121:1 (lifting up one's eyes was a gesture of prayer). In Ps. 121:2 "heaven" referred to the atmosphere above the earth (cf. Gen. 1:1), but here to the throne of God (cf. Ps. 11:4; 103:19; Isa. 66:1). YHWH is the King of the Universe. He is the Creator of all that exists, both physical and spiritual!

As is so common in the Psalter, there is a fluidity between the individual and the corporate. This Psalm starts out with "I" but moves rapidly toward "us."

123:2 The word "hand" (BDB 388, see SPECIAL TOPIC: HAND) is an idiom of power over (i.e., master, mistress). YHWH is the ultimate source of power and lordship. His people look to Him.

▣ "the Lord our God" This is similar to the title first used in Gen. 2:4, which combines YHWH and Elohim. Eloh is probably the SINGULAR form. This double title combines two characteristics of Israel's God.

creator, sustainer, provider of all life on this planet ‒ Elohim
savior, covenant-making God ‒ YHWH

SPECIAL TOPIC: NAMES FOR DEITY, C., D.

▣ "Until He is gracious to us" The psalmist's situation is described in Ps. 123:3-4. He is patient that God will act on his behalf (Qal IMPERFECT). He calls on God in prayer twice in Ps. 123:3 (two Qal IMPERATIVES) to act on his behalf in compassion and mercy (BDB 335, KB 334).

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 123:3-4
³Be gracious to us, O Lord, be gracious to us,
For we are greatly filled with contempt.
⁴Our soul is greatly filled
With the scoffing of those who are at ease,
And with the contempt of the proud.

123:3b-4 As so often in the Psalter the author feels attacked (here he expresses the corporate aspect also). Here it is wealthy, powerful fellow Israelites (i.e., Isa. 32:11; Amos 6:1). Their actions fill him with "contempt" (BDB 100) and "scoffing" (BDB 541). It is surely possible that Psalms 122 and 123 reflect the period of Ezra, Nehemiah. Often these kinds of people act as if they are the masters but the psalmist knows YHWH is the true and ultimate master. Life is often unfair and demands patient prayer and a proper worldview!

The UBS Handbook (p. 1059) asserts that "the language of verses 3-4 implies that the enemies are foreigners, not fellow Israelites." But I see nothing in Ps. 123:3-4 that proves this, and the problems of post-exilic Jerusalem fit this context better.

123:3 "Be gracious" This IMPERATIVE (BDB 335, KB 334) is repeated for emphasis. The psalmist's fellow Israelites are being anything but "gracious."

The psalmist is "filled" (BDB 959, KB 1302, Qal PERFECT with

contempt (BDB 541)
scoffing (BDB 100)

toward those wealthy Israelites who take advantage of fellow covenant brothers (cf. Ezra; Nehemiah).

they are at ease
they are proud

123:4 "soul" See SPECIAL TOPIC: NEPHESH