01182025 Psalm 123

Dear Missionary Lady,

Greetings in the name of our loving Master. Some masters are bad, and some masters are good, but we have the best Master!

“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; so our eyes wait upon the LORD our God, until that he have mercy upon us” (Psalm 123:2).

With a casual reading, this verse may seem odd. The psalmist presents the servant-master relationship as a positive thing, and that goes against our typical impression. Why is it a good thing when servants look toward their master as this verse describes?

First, the master provides all that the servants need. The servants have no income or livelihood, so they are dependent upon the master. A good master will provide adequate shelter, clothing, and food, as well as all the resources and training necessary to do the tasks assigned to the servants.

Second, the master gives guidance to the servants. It is not up to the servants to determine what needs to be done. They simply follow orders. It is the master who determines the strategies and priorities. The master makes the plan and communicates that plan to the servants.

Third, and the specific focus of this psalm, the master protects the servants. The first two verses tell that the servants look to the master for mercy, and the last two verses explain why. The servants are facing extensive ridicule: “contempt” (v. 3, v. 4) and “scorning” (v. 4). Both verses say that it is happening “exceedingly.”

Imagine the servants going faithfully about their duties, but as they enter the marketplace to conduct business, everyone around despises them. They are shamed, disrespected, held in contempt, derided, scoffed at, and scorned. The passage doesn’t explain why, but there is certainly the suggestion that it is because of the master with whom they identify. The scorning is abundant and plenteous.

This would not be an easy situation to have to face, especially when it is constant. So the servants look to the master for mercy, calling out for it three times in two verses. They want him to bend or stoop in kindness toward them as inferiors, showing some kind of favor or intervention on their behalf. A good master would do this. When he sees his servants being disrespected and maligned by others, he would step in to protect and defend them. He would support them with His presence, His words, and His actions, so that the scorners would be silenced.

Do you need provision? Call out to the Master, who will mercifully provide. Do you need guidance? Call out to the Master, who will mercifully guide. Do you need protection? Call out to the Master, who will mercifully defend. “Unto thee lift I up mine eyes, O thou that dwellest in the heavens” (v. 1). There is no better place to look than to our Mighty and Benevolent Master. May He show you His favor and intervention today.

Love in Christ,

Peggy Holt

member at Open Door Baptist Church in Lebanon, PA