Watching for God in the PsalmsSample

The Eyes

“I lift up my eyes to you, to you whose throne is in heaven. As the eyes of slaves look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a maid look to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the Lord our God, till he shows us his mercy.” (Psalm 123: 1–2 NIV84):

When my kids were young and we visited someone in their home, I would give them the “eye” when they were doing something they should not. They knew what I was saying by the “eye.” My parents gave me the same. The eyes can communicate. They can convey an intensity of emotion, and they have a distinctive appearance when they are searching.

When I need big-time help, where do I look for it? Who do I look for when I am in need? Am I scanning all my options to see which will best meet my needs? Where is the Lord in my line of sight? Do I look to Him first, or does He get my second look? My look says much about my focus in these moments of life. My look reflects my faith or lack thereof.

The act of shifting my sight from my ability to resource my needs to the one who is sovereign and can supply all my needs is an act of faith (2 Corinthians 9:10; Philippians 4:19). This looking is the looking of the soul for the guidance or provision of God. The Psalmist compares this looking to that of an enslaved person or maid who was present in many homes in his era. They were trained to watch to respond. They were watching for the slightest movement that might represent a command or an instruction from their master. They watched for the nodding of the head, the waving of the hand, or the pointing of a finger. Their look was focused and intense.

Their future depended on their look.

Unless we lift our eyes to seek the Lord when we desperately need help, we will be left to attempt to resolve what we know we cannot.

My mom was an example of someone who knew how to lift her eyes to seek the Lord for His mercy. When I was a young boy, my mom told me to sit on the couch while she went to her bedroom to pray. I did what I was told. A few minutes later, I heard her talking. I wandered down the hallway and discovered her bedroom door was slightly open. I peeked in the crack to see who Mom was talking to. What I saw left a lifelong memory in my soul. I saw my mom on her knees on the side of the bed. She was looking towards the ceiling, talking out loud, and gesturing with her hands. She looked like she was explaining something important to someone. She was. She had lifted her eyes to the Lord, and with an intensity in her look, she shared her concerns.

The circumstances surrounding the author's life in Psalm 123 had become serious and very concerning (read verses three and four). Others were seriously mistreating them. The author and those around him looked to the Lord our God for His mercy.

In similar moments, we must turn our eyes to the One whose throne is in heaven and look to the Lord our God for what we need. We must catch His eye. It is then and only then that I can be assured that my next steps are the best next steps.

As you lift your eyes to the Lord, bend your knees in prayer, lift your voice heavenward, and gesture with your hands, be confident in the knowledge that the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore (Psalm 121:8). When you enter a season of life that requires you to endure hardship; when you suffer ridicule from others; or when an arrogant person mistreats you let your first response be to lift your eyes to the One who is very aware of what you have suffered.

Always remember He is looking for your look. He hopes you turn your eyes heavenward and look to Him. Your hope rests in your looking up and not down. If you are in a similar season of life as the Psalmist, use his words as a prayer to the Lord. When you begin to pray verse three, customize your prayer to fit your situation. “For I have endured much …”

One last thought:

How long must we look?

How long must we lift your eyes heavenward?

According to the Psalmist, we look “till” (verse 2). Till He shows you mercy, you are to keep looking. Looking to the Lord in prayer is not the only thing left for you to do. It is the most powerful thing you can do.

Keep looking to the Lord till he shows you his mercy.

Conclusion: Today, you will complete the plan Watching for God in the Psalms written by Pastor Berry Johnston of Discovery Church. We hope this plan has been a blessing to you. For more from this series, please check out our other plans. For additional spiritual growth opportunities, please visit www.discoverypathway.org.