Psalms 123:2 - Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress; so our eyes look to Yahweh, our God, until he has mercy on us.
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What does "Psalms 123:2" mean?
Psalm 123:2 uses a powerful analogy to express the utter dependence and hopeful expectation the psalmist has for God's mercy. Let's break it down:
"Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master..." Servants in ancient times, especially slaves, were completely dependent on their master for everything - food, shelter, safety, and instructions. Their eyes were fixed on their master's hand, watching for a sign, a gesture, or a command. Their survival and well-being hinged on understanding and obeying their master.
"...as the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress..." This reinforces the same idea, but specifies a female servant and her mistress. The maid would be equally attentive, watching for instructions or even signs of favor.
"so our eyes look to Yahweh, our God..." The psalmist then directly applies this analogy to their relationship with God (Yahweh). Just as servants are utterly dependent on their masters, the psalmist and the people he represents are utterly dependent on God.
"...until he has mercy on us." This clarifies the purpose of their focused gaze. They are looking to God with hopeful anticipation, yearning for His mercy. "Mercy" implies they recognize their own vulnerability, perhaps their sinfulness or suffering, and are desperately seeking God's compassionate intervention.
In essence, the verse means:
Complete Dependence: The psalmist acknowledges that they are completely dependent on God for everything.
Expectant Hope: They are not simply passively waiting, but actively looking to God with hopeful expectation.
Yearning for Mercy: Their ultimate desire is for God to show them mercy, to have compassion on them in their time of need.
Humility: The analogy of servants looking to their masters emphasizes the humility and submissive posture of the psalmist before God.
Therefore, the verse is a prayerful expression of deep trust, dependence, and hope, emphasizing the psalmist's belief that God's mercy is their only recourse.
Psalms 123:2 - Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress; so our eyes look to Yahweh, our God, until he has mercy on us.
What does "Psalms 123:2" mean?
Psalm 123:2 uses a powerful analogy to express the utter dependence and hopeful expectation the psalmist has for God's mercy. Let's break it down:
"Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master..." Servants in ancient times, especially slaves, were completely dependent on their master for everything - food, shelter, safety, and instructions. Their eyes were fixed on their master's hand, watching for a sign, a gesture, or a command. Their survival and well-being hinged on understanding and obeying their master.
"...as the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress..." This reinforces the same idea, but specifies a female servant and her mistress. The maid would be equally attentive, watching for instructions or even signs of favor.
"so our eyes look to Yahweh, our God..." The psalmist then directly applies this analogy to their relationship with God (Yahweh). Just as servants are utterly dependent on their masters, the psalmist and the people he represents are utterly dependent on God.
"...until he has mercy on us." This clarifies the purpose of their focused gaze. They are looking to God with hopeful anticipation, yearning for His mercy. "Mercy" implies they recognize their own vulnerability, perhaps their sinfulness or suffering, and are desperately seeking God's compassionate intervention.
In essence, the verse means:
Complete Dependence: The psalmist acknowledges that they are completely dependent on God for everything.
Expectant Hope: They are not simply passively waiting, but actively looking to God with hopeful expectation.
Yearning for Mercy: Their ultimate desire is for God to show them mercy, to have compassion on them in their time of need.
Humility: The analogy of servants looking to their masters emphasizes the humility and submissive posture of the psalmist before God.
Therefore, the verse is a prayerful expression of deep trust, dependence, and hope, emphasizing the psalmist's belief that God's mercy is their only recourse.