January 15-19

To you I lift up my eyes, O you who are enthroned in the heavens! – Psalms 123:1 ESV

Knowing Where to Look
There is a story about Michael Angelo. He was so accustomed to looking up at the fresco ceilings of the various churches and cathedrals upon which he worked, that he actually got into the habit of looking up. His head seemed to get that peculiar direction given to it, so that even when he was walking along the streets of Rome, there he was, looking upward. Let us remember, then, this first thing that we are called upon to do in the motto--“Look up, not down.” (J. S. Poulton.)

The psalmist knows that God lives in heaven. So it is upward that he turns his eyes in prayer toward God. God is everywhere but nature prompts him to look up. God is above all and when we look up we are looking to the One True God who is over all things. When Jesus taught His disciples to pray, He told them to begin with this same idea: “Our Father, who is in heaven . . .” (Matt 6:9).

Reflection
What is your typical prayer posture physically? Does our physical posture matter? Not necessarily, but what matters most is the attitude of our heart which can be reflected in postures like kneeling in humility, bowing in respect, and looking up toward heaven.

Praise/Prayer
Look upward as you talk to God today. Praise God as the God of the heavens who rises above all the circumstances of your life. Ask God to give you the posture in your heart and prayer life that most honors Him. Tell God you are looking to Him for help.

To you I lift up my eyes, O you who are enthroned in the heavens! – Psalms 123:1 ESV

Look to the Lord Like a Subject Looks to His King
Years ago in his "Turning Point Daily Devotional", David Jeremiah wrote: “Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport is the world’s busiest airport measured by aircraft movements (landings and takeoffs of planes). Movements averaged 2,416 per day (101 per hour or 1.7 per minute). It’s no wonder the job of flight controllers—those who manage the airplane traffic—is so stressful. Imagine the chaos and carnage that would result if there were no one to direct that traffic.

“Now imagine the world as an airport and every individual—all 7.2 billion of us—as an airplane, coming and going as we please, and God as the single flight controller keeping track of our movements for all of human history. Further, not just our movements but those of the animal kingdom, as well—untold billions more landings and takeoffs (Matt. 10:29). While the chaos in the world may suggest God has lost control, He hasn’t. God is working “all things according to the counsel of His will.”

“Enthroned in heavens” describes a sovereign King, who is in control of all things. In the Songs of Ascent, “The goal of the pilgrim is not Jerusalem, as important as that city was, or even the temple in Jerusalem, as important as it was, but God himself, whose true throne is not anywhere on earth but in heaven.” (Boice)

Reflection
Today, the Atlanta airport is the busiest in the world. But it’s not too busy for God. Picture your life as a busy airport and God is in the control tower. Do you believe God can handle all your movements?

Praise/Prayer
Praise God for being in control of the universe and control of your life. Talk to God about any areas of your life that you feel are out of control. Ask Him to give you the peace that He can handle it all.

Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a maidservant to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the Lord our God, till he has mercy upon us.  –Psalms 123:2 ESV

Look to the Lord Like a Servant Looks to His Master
A gentleman went, some time ago, into an Eastern house, and as soon as ever he entered, the master waved his hand, and the servants brought in sherbet. He waved his hand again, and they brought dried fruits; then he moved his hands in a different way, and they begun to spread the table; and, all the time, not a word was spoken, but they perfectly understood the motion of his hand. They had to look sharply to see how the master moved his hand, so that they might do what that meson meant. That is just how the child of God should watch the hand of God, in the Bible, and in providence, so as to do at once whatever he plainly perceives to be his Lord’s will. (Bible Illustrator)

The psalmist comes to God with the posture of a servant who is watching for the hand of God. The psalmist doesn’t command God in prayer but instead, God gives the commands. God often works through our obedience as we seek Him in prayer.

Reflection
How can you demonstrate servanthood in your prayer life? Has God given you any instructions through prayer lately?

Praise/Prayer
Praise God as your Master. Ask God to show you His hand and His will for your life and not your own will.

Have mercy upon us, O Lord, have mercy upon us, for we have had more than enough of contempt. – Psalm 123:3 ESV

Look to the Lord Like a Sinner Looks to His Savior
After Lee’s surrender, at the end of the Civil War Lincoln spoke to a large crowd from the balcony of the White House. He told them about the considerate policy he had in mind for the South. At the end of his speech, Senator Harlan asked, “What shall we do with the rebels?” The vindictive crowd shouted back, “Hang them!” Tad then turned to his father and said, “No, no, Papa. Not hang them. Hang on to them!”  “That’s it!” replied Lincoln joyfully. “Tad has it. We must hang on to them!” At the time, Tad was only eleven. He must have acquired his compassionate spirit from his father! (Charles Ludwig)

The psalmist cries out and asks God to hold on to him. He pleads for mercy because he knows they are undeserving of God’s goodness. The psalmist confesses we have great contempt. His only hope was to wait on the mercy of God.

Reflection
When was the last time you sensed a need for God’s mercy? How did God show you mercy?

Praise/Prayer
Praise God for delighting in mercy and sending His Son to die for your sins. Ask God to show you the mercy and grace that you don’t deserve.

Our soul has had more than enough of the scorn of those who are at ease, of the contempt of the proud. – Psalm 123:4 ESV

Look to the Lord with Humility
In St. Andrews, they would have sat at the castle windows, and feasted their eyes when good Patrick Hamilton was consuming in the flames, and they, would have gone in afterwards, and dined with an unimpeachable appetite. In slave countries, they would tar and feather the missionaries, who proclaim to the slaves the unsearchable riches of Christ. The same satanic spirit still reigns; and can we be too grateful that these enemies of the Cross are kept in chains! We live in a land of civil and religious freedom; and they cannot go beyond the boundaries of misrepresentation and scorn. They may show their teeth and growl, but they cannot bite. They may curse you, but they cannot lay a finger upon you. (N. McMichael.)

The psalmist has “had it up to here” with the prideful people who are mocking God’s people. There has never been a time when the unrighteous have not ridiculed God’s people even as far back as Cain despising able. The Bible promises that God will deal with prideful people and arrogant people.

Reflection
Are there any scoffers in your life who belittle your faith? Have you asked God to humble them and bring them to a place of faith?

Praise/Prayer
Ask God to deliver you from the pride in your own life. Ask God to protect you from arrogant scoffers. Ask God to show you any arrogant or prideful places in your own heart.