Trust and Obey the One Enthroned in the Heavens in Psalm 123

Take this reminder to heart: Solomon reminds us that God is in heaven and we are on earth (Ecclesiastes 5:2). Solomon goes on to say that a proper response is to let our words be few. He also warns against being rash or hasty with our words. The Lord’s Prayer begins by addressing our Father in heaven (Matthew 6:9). It’s a good reminder.

And Psalm 123 is a good reminder, too, that God—our Father—is enthroned in the heavens and deserves our trust. Respect. Honor. Humility. Submission.

“To you I lift up my eyes, O you who are enthroned in the heavens!” Psalm 123:1

This song of ascents adds confidence to respect. Respect and honor are good. But lift your eyes all the same. In fact, to come to him proves the worth you give him. It’s a form of worship to humbly come into his presence and to life up your eyes. Yes, he is in heaven and you are on earth. It’s right to come to him who is the King of heaven. Bow before his throne.

And then calibrate your relationship. Follow the psalmist’s instructions. As The Lord’s Prayer in Matthew 6 gives us instruction, embrace the posture delivered in Psalm 123.

“Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a maidservant to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the Lord our God, till he has mercy upon us.” Psalm 123:2

Consider a servant and master. A servant is focused in upon the hand of the master. The master points or motions and the servant acts. The servant, in essence, cries out for the kingdom of the master to come and his will to be done. The servant stands ready to play his part.

“Our Shepherd will never lead us to a precipice of error or into a quagmire of doubt.” Theodore Cuyler, God’s Light on Dark Clouds

Consider a maidservant and mistress. Likewise, a maidservant watches the hand of her mistress. She stands at the ready to serve and to accomplish the desires of the mistress.

Embedded in the hearts of both the servant and maidservant is complete trust. And obedience. I’m reminded of a similar message in a great hymn of the church.

“When we walk with the Lord in the light of his word, what a glory he sheds on our way! While we do his good will, he abides with us still, and with all who will trust and obey. Trust and obey, for there’s no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.” John H. Sammis, “Trust and Obey”

Like the servant and the maidservant, let us so trust the Lord—in woe or in weal—that we train our eyes to watch his hand and obey.

“Have mercy upon us, O Lord, have mercy upon us, for we have had more than enough of contempt.” Psalm 123:3

And yet, we live in a painful and broken world. So, lift your eyes to his throne. Watch him to obey his motioning hand. But cry out for mercy. A broken world delivers pain. Loss. Grief. Keep your eye trained on the mercy-giver.

Beyond the normal difficulties in life, many believers face opposition. Persecution is rampant. Jesus said, “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you” (John 15:18). As we watch his hand to obey him, we cry out for mercy in our current agony. Lament to the one who is enthroned above.

So many oppressors seem to have free rein. The scornful are at ease while our brothers and sisters face persecution. The proud and arrogant evildoers have more than enough contempt for the servants and maidservants of God.

So, lift your eyes to the one enthroned in the heavens. Trust. Obey. Endure.

“Our soul has had more than enough of the scorn of those who are at ease, of the contempt of the proud.” Psalm 123:4