THE PSALMS – A JOURNEY IN WORSHIP AND FAITH - December 15, 2014 - Day 123 - Psalm 123

Sometimes life just seems overwhelming. Too much pain, too much sickness, too much sadness, too much work, there is just too much for our minds and our bodies to deal with. During the warmer months I try and walk as a means of exercise and weight control. By the end of the summer I am usually up to 6-7 mile walks and there are times when I get to the point where I’ve turned around to go home and I start to think I’ve overdone it. I get a little concerned because I don’t think I can make it all the way back. I have learned to not think about how far I have to go but to just focus on the next step. It’s the old “One day at a time” thing. Psalm 123 is a reminder of where to place our focus so we do not get discouraged as we walk this life.

Psalm 123:1
A SONG OF ASCENTS. To you I lift up my eyes, O you who are enthroned in the heavens!

As the psalmist says, we must fix our eyes upon Jesus. We must not look at the things of this world that want to destroy our passion for life but we must look up to God with an eternal perspective.

Psalm 123:2
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.

When we finally realize we cannot save ourselves and give our lives to Jesus we realize that we then become bond servants to Him. Paul reminds us of this in 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
“Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.”

But when we live for Christ the world will come down even harder on us.

Psalm 123:3-4
Have mercy upon us, O LORD, have mercy upon us, for we have had more than enough of contempt. Our soul has had more than enough of the scorn of those who are at ease, of the contempt of the proud.

We carry on the work of God by staying focused on him and on the eternal hope we have. It won’t be easy. As a matter of fact we will fail unless we keep our eyes upon Jesus. I love the story of Peter as told in Matthew 14:22-31. As you read through it notice that as long as Peter stayed focused on Jesus, he could walk on water. But as soon as he lost his focus on Christ, he sunk as he saw the fearful terror of the waves and the storm.

Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but the boat by this time was a long way from the land, beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them. And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, "It is a ghost!" and they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, "Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid." And Peter answered him, "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water." He said, "Come." So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, "Lord, save me." Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?"

Like Peter we must stay focused on Jesus. Today if you are drowning in the sea of the storms cry out to Jesus as Peter did saying, “Lord, save me.” Jesus will reach out His hand and take hold of you. I love that great little song, Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus. I leave you with its words written by Helen H. Lemmel.

O soul, are you weary and troubled?

No light in the darkness you see?
There’s light for a look at the Savior,
And life more abundant and free! Refrain:

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,

Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.

Through death into life everlasting
He passed, and we follow Him there;
O’er us sin no more hath dominion—
For more than conqu’rors we are!
His Word shall not fail you—He promised;
Believe Him, and all will be well:
Then go to a world that is dying,
His perfect salvation to tell!