“Our eyes look to the Lord our God, until He has mercy on us” (Ps 123:2)

Psalm 123 is the fourth Song of Ascents. We are a group of pilgrim going higher on the mountain of God. The journey is slow and difficult. But the good news is that we are truly making progress. I can see it on their faces, in their eyes, brighter with hope. I can hear it in their voices; hope has its own sound, strings and trumpet mixed together. The noise of the world, coming from the valley below is slowly fading away. After a period of rest in the house of God, we are now ready to move on. We have planted our feet on the Rock that says: God is good! All the time! Fully confident of God’s presence, we are ready! So…let’s go!

Psalm 123 is one of the shortest in the Bible. It means that we shall travel lighter than in the past. There shall be no unnecessary load of ‘little’ sins. The Bible and a bottle of water in the backpack shall be enough. We trust that the rest shall be provided by the Lord of the mountain. As we go higher, we shall practice the skill to listen more attentively and to talk less. The Spirit can use any sound to speak mysteries to us… even the blowing of the wind…

We shall learn to receive encouragement without words. We shall use our ‘shorter’ breath only to worship and pray, in human language or in the Spirit. The people in the valley can afford to waste a lot of words; they are busy with fancy religion. But up on the mountain things change. Jesus said that long repetitive prayers are a sign of unbelief. We are confident that The Father knows what we need even before we pray. The understanding of God’s purpose found thru the study of His Word, will simplify our lives. There shall be more worship and fewer requests. Prayer becomes shorter because our faith is higher. Thank God!

This Mountain-top Psalm is ‘lighter’ than the rest. Let’s see what is ‘missing’ from this Prayer Psalm. Remember this is a man who wants to go higher. He is surrounded by proud, wicked people who mock, persecute and ‘block’ his way. Their intent is to discourage the progress and to convince him to back-slide. In similar situations, the psalmist could have been angry asking for the death of his enemies. But here, high on the mountain, we do not see any hint of impatient anger, anxiety or frustration. Focusing on God’s throne, the only plea is for mercy; not for his enemies, but for himself. Immediately we see that this is not the ordinary attitude of a believer. This prayer comes from the heart of a mature servant of God. Flesh is subdued and the Spirit rules. Above the attacks of mockery and discouragement, the soul is fully confident that God is in charge. The heathen may rage but God is on the throne! When all is said and done, it is God’s opinion that matters anyway!

Why mercy? What is its value? We need a fresh and greater revelation of the need for God’s mercy!

Mercy is defined as kindness towards an enemy, especially when he is in your power. God is a God of mercy. His Gospel is filled with mercy. A sinner needs mercy. God’s answer to sin is mercy. Sin causes untold suffering, sickness and death. God hates sin. That is why mercy is a miracle!  Mercy is God’s general attitude, His inclination and compassionate desire to come down to the aid of a victim, to relieve the suffering and pain caused by sin. God’s mercy is always connected with His grace. It is not our pain that moves God to act, for He knows all things. He intervenes and helps men only according to His infinite grace found in Christ alone. Mercy is the withdrawal of punishment from a sinner. We offend God and He has the right to punish.  Mercy then comes and says ‘No!’ It is like a criminal waiting on the death row in prison. He is now sick with an incurable disease. In the midst of an ocean of despair, with waves of sorrow upon sorrow, against all odds, the sinner comes to God and asks for forgiveness. The power of mercy is released from the throne of God on behalf of the Cross of Christ. The mercy of God means life. Suddenly the God of peace comes to that cold cell. The hated and forsaken prisoner is healed in the body and his soul is set free. This is an unmerited pardon and an undeserved healing. This is the power of grace released by the prayer of a broken heart…

“Lord, please have mercy on me…”

A great lesson for us going higher is to have to right focus. The decision must be made that the eyes will remain lifted towards God enthroned in heaven. The word ‘eyes’ appears four times in just two verses. The temptation is to look down, at my past sins, or look around, at my circumstances. Both these are wrong and will make me spiritually ‘dizzy’, unable to rise higher in faith. I have to learn to steady my gaze, long and fixed on the throne of God in heaven. The more I practice this skill of beholding God in his glory, the more I gain strength and faith. My problems may shake me, but heaven is forever stable. As I see God, undisturbed by my problems, my fears melt away and peace replaces them. My destiny is connected with heaven and not with the earth. Down below I am just a pilgrim, passing by thru this world that rejected my King. The clearer I see Jesus in heaven, the easier it is to go higher, closer to my Beloved…

“May my gaze be stable and pure!

Lamb of God, here I come, I come…”

In Christ I declare:

I have found mercy and grace in time of need, at the throne of God in heaven! (Heb 4:14-16)

I am a merciful believer!

When people offend me, by God’s grace, I shall represent a merciful Father to this sinful world!

In Jesus name

Amen!