1. “Unto You I Lift Up My Eyes” Psalm 123

2. Part of the psalms of ascents (120-134)
120 - a distressed soul
121- lifting one’s eyes to the hills (Jerusalem in sight)
122 - Gladness as they approach the city
123 - Lifting up the eyes to God

3. I Lift up my eyes to You (1-2)
Looking up to – an expression of admiration and a desire to follow their example and instructions, or depending upon one for protection and provisions.

4. I Lift up my eyes to You (1-2)
We look up to:
Eph. 6:1-2 – parents 1 Cor. 11:1 – Paul imitated as he imitated Christ Hebrews 13:7 – our elders
Others look up to us – cf. Galatians 2:11-13, 1 Cor. 8:9-12

5. I Lift up my eyes to You (1-2)
Looking up to God
He is worthy of admiration – Psalm 111:9, 18:3
His instructions are worthy to be followed – Psalm 119:
We can depend on Him – Matt. 28:20, Mal. 3:10
He can protect and provide us – Heb. 13:5-6, Deut. 31:6-8,…

6. I Lift up my eyes to You (1-2)
Looking up to God
In the heavens – where He dwells Isaiah 66:1, 1 Kings 8:27 Acts 17:24 – He doesn’t dwell in temples made with hands
As such, don’t bring Him down to our level, reverence Him!

7. I Lift up my eyes to You (1-2)
As the eyes of a servant…
Possibly a reference to servants waiting in silence for instruction.

8. I Lift up my eyes to You (1-2)
“So our eyes look to the LORD our God”. Let us look to Him…
With a willingness to obey – Matt. 28:20, Luke 6:46
With patience – Col. 1:10-11, Isa. 40:31
With a willingness to accept His answer – Matt. 6:10, 26:42
How long? Until He answers! Luke 18:7-8

9. Have mercy on us (3-4)
A call for His mercy
We need the mercy and grace of God (“Be gracious to us, O LORD, be gracious to us.” – NASB) – Ephesians 2:4-5 1 Peter 1:3

10. Have mercy on us (3-4)
We are exceedingly filled with contempt and scorn
Contempt – a lack of respect with feelings of despising or viewing one as insignificant
Ungodly contempt for others – Cain - Gen. 4:5-8, Esau – Gen. 25:34; Lev. 26:14-15, Malachi 1:6, Romans 2:4, despising the goodness of God

11. Have mercy on us (3-4)
We are exceedingly filled with contempt and scorn
Godly contempt – Jesus – John 2:13-17 Paul – Galatians 5:12 Tempered with restraint – Rom. 12:19-20

12. Have mercy on us (3-4)
We are exceedingly filled with contempt and scorn
Contempt for the godly – Prophets – Amos 7:12-13, 2:12, Jeremiah - Jer. 38:6, ch. 36
This is the contempt of our text – they are at ease (Amos 6:1), they were proud Prov. 21:24, 1 Peter 5:5 – God resists

13. Have mercy on us (3-4)
We are exceedingly filled with contempt and scorn
We too are viewed by an ungodly world with contempt. Examples: 1) The hatred of some advocates of same-sex marriage 2) The hatred of those who teach Jesus is the only way 3) The scorn within religious circles when we challenge unscriptural practices – ie. MDR, faith only, etc.

14. Have mercy on us (3-4)
Lesson: The more we face contempt, the more we need to turn to God!
Consider Jesus – Matthew 26:62-63, 27:12-14 – He opened not His mouth; Yet on the cross, “Father forgive them…” – Luke 23:34

15. Don’t despise this privilege!
Have mercy on us (3-4)
Lesson: When we are facing such trials, let us not forget our God OR our brethren!
We need each other – that is one reason we assemble (remember the psalms of ascent)
Don’t despise this privilege!

16. Who are you looking up to?