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Psalm 123: Lifting Our Eyes to God for Mercy
Series: Walking Through the Psalms Host: Dave Jenkins Date: December 26, 2025Show Summary
Psalm 123 is a prayer for weary believers who feel worn down, mocked, or burdened by life. In this episode, Dave Jenkins explores how this Song of Ascents calls God’s people to lift their eyes to the enthroned Lord, wait dependently for His mercy, and trust Him amid contempt and opposition. This psalm teaches us that the Christian life is lived not by self-sufficiency, but by humble dependence on the mercy of God—especially when trials press in and strength runs low.Audio Player
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Key Scripture
- Psalm 123
Episode Notes
- Looking Up to the Enthroned King (Psalm 123:1)
- Waiting Dependently for Mercy (Psalm 123:2)
- Crying Out Under Contempt (Psalm 123:3–4)
Key Themes
- God is enthroned in heaven and rules over all things.
- Believers are called to depend entirely on God’s mercy.
- Waiting on God is active faithfulness, not inactivity.
- God’s people often endure scorn and opposition in the world.
- Mercy is God’s loving response to our weakness.
Takeaways
- Toward God: Lift your eyes to the Lord daily and depend on His mercy.
- Toward Yourself: Embrace dependence instead of self-sufficiency; remember your limitations.
- Toward Others: Show mercy to the weary and discouraged.
- Toward the World: Expect contempt, but respond with trust and steadfastness—not fear.
Christ-Centered Focus
Psalm 123 finds its fulfillment in Jesus Christ. Jesus endured scorn and contempt, yet trusted the Father and obeyed perfectly. At the cross, mercy descended not in judgment upon us, but in grace through Christ. Because of Jesus, we lift our eyes with confidence, knowing God’s throne is a throne of grace.Call to Action
If this episode encouraged you, please consider subscribing on YouTube, sharing the episode, and leaving a review. These small actions help more people find trusted biblical teaching.For more from our Psalm series please visit our page at Servants of Grace or at our YouTube.
Dave Jenkins is happily married to his wife, Sarah. He is a writer, editor, and speaker living in beautiful Southern Oregon. Dave is a lover of Christ, His people, the Church, and sound theology. He serves as the Executive Director of Servants of Grace Ministries, the Executive Editor of Theology for Life Magazine, the Host and Producer of Equipping You in Grace Podcast, and is a contributor to and producer of Contending for the Word. He is the author of The Word Explored: The Problem of Biblical Illiteracy and What To Do About It (House to House, 2021), The Word Matters: Defending Biblical Authority Against the Spirit of the Age (G3 Press, 2022), and Contentment: The Journey of a Lifetime (Theology for Life, 2024). You can find him on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube, or read his newsletter. Dave loves to spend time with his wife, going to movies, eating at a nice restaurant, or going out for a round of golf with a good friend. He is also a voracious reader, in particular of Reformed theology, and the Puritans. You will often find him when he’s not busy with ministry reading a pile of the latest books from a wide variety of Christian publishers. Dave received his M.A.R. and M.Div through Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary.
