Psalms 123:2 meaning

In times of distress, the psalmist reflects the deep dependence of God’s people on their Creator, likening their earnest gaze toward Him to the attentive eyes of servants waiting for their master's command. This imagery illustrates a posture of humility and expectation, where believers look not just for direction but also for mercy in their afflictions. The phrase encapsulates a longing not only for divine instruction but also for sustenance and strength amid trials, as seen in their hope for God's intervention.

In the passage “Behold, as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their masters, and as the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistress; so our eyes wait upon the Lord our God, until that he have mercy upon us”, the psalmist acknowledges the very essence of faith—persistent waiting and trust in God’s mercy despite surrounding adversity. The context further emphasizes the ridicule faced by the faithful from those who live at ease, reinforcing the necessity of steadfast hope in divine grace amidst contempt from the proud and comfortable.