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Psalm 123:1
A Song of Ascents. I lift up my eyes to you, you who sit in the heavens.
1A Song of Ascents. I lift up my eyes to you, you who sit 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 has mercy on us.
3Have mercy on us, LORD, have mercy on us, for we have endured much contempt.
Notice
Lifted eyes turn toward the God seated in heaven, even as the surrounding prayer speaks from a place of contempt and waits for mercy.
Questions to write on. Each one opens a new entry with this verse already attached.
What would you want to say to God as you lift your eyes toward him?
Write on thisHow does addressing God as seated in the heavens shape your prayer, if at all?
Write on thisWhat do you notice about this upward gaze before the psalm asks for mercy?
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Where else Scripture says this
12 passages readers most often link with this verse, and the thread each one shares with it.
This verse's connections, by chapterThe Bible's strongest chapter linksHover or tap a book to trace it
Psalm 121:1A Song of Ascents. I will lift up my eyes to the hills. Where does my help come from?Both Songs of Ascents begin with lifted eyes; Psalm 121 names the hills, while Psalm 123 addresses God in heaven.
Psalm 141:8For my eyes are on you, LORD, the Lord. I take refuge in you. Don’t leave my soul destitute.Both prayers direct the speaker’s eyes toward God, with Psalm 141 adding a plea for refuge.
Psalm 127:1A Song of Ascents. By Solomon. Unless the LORD builds the house, they who build it labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchman guards it …Both bear the title “A Song of Ascents”; one addresses God in heaven, while the other names dependence on his work.
Psalm 25:15My eyes are ever on the LORD, for he will pluck my feet out of the net.Both describe eyes directed toward God; Psalm 25 adds the hope of feet freed from a net.
Luke 18:13But the tax collector, standing far away, wouldn’t even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his chest, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’Eyes lifted toward heaven connect these prayers through contrast: the psalm’s speaker looks up, while the tax collector cannot.
Matthew 6:9Pray like this: “‘Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy.Both prayers address God in heaven; Jesus teaches those praying to address him as Father.
Isaiah 57:15For the high and lofty One who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy, says: “I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also who is of a contrite and humble …Both locate God on high; Isaiah also speaks of his presence with those of a contrite and humble spirit.
John 11:41So they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying. Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you listened to me.Jesus and the psalm’s speaker lift their eyes as they address God; Jesus offers thanks for being heard.
Isaiah 66:1The LORD says: “Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. What kind of house will you build to me? Where will I rest?Psalm 123 addresses God seated in the heavens, and Isaiah names heaven as the LORD’s throne.
Isaiah 63:15Look down from heaven, and see from the habitation of your holiness and of your glory. Where are your zeal and your mighty acts? The yearning of your heart and …The psalm’s speaker looks up toward God in heaven; Isaiah asks God to look down from heaven and see.
Daniel 4:34At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted up my eyes to heaven, and my understanding returned to me; and I blessed the Most High, and I praised and …Both speakers lift their eyes toward heaven, and Daniel’s account joins that gesture to praise of God’s everlasting dominion.
John 17:1Jesus said these things, then lifting up his eyes to heaven, he said, “Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may also glorify you;Both prayers begin with eyes lifted toward heaven; John records Jesus addressing the Father and asking him to glorify the Son.
Where this verse fits
Wanting a steady prayer habit. waiting. injustice and anger.
One step
Something small to carry out of this verse
Encouragement
The contempt named in this psalm remains unresolved when the prayer begins. You do not need to hide that kind of trouble when addressing the God seated in heaven.
Now put it in your words.
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Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY). Scripture from the World English Bible (public domain). Arc diagram after Chris Harrison and Christoph Römhild (2007).