I Lift My Eyes to You

I lift my eyes to you, O God, enthroned in heaven. We keep looking to the Lord our God for his mercy, just as servants keep their eyes on their master, as a slave girl watches her mistress for the slightest signal. Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy, for we have had our fill of contempt. We have had more than our fill of the scoffing of the proud and the contempt of the arrogant. Psalm 123 NLT

This is a  great psalm for this election year in 2012! I think I have heard and read more words of contempt and cartoons and jokes full of scoffing than any other election. 

I find it interesting that, instead of blaming others for their contempt, the psalmist simply asks for God’s mercy. In fact, the psalmist not only asks for God’s mercy but is actively looking for God’s mercy. Like a servant would watch their master for clues as to what his mood is or a slave would watch her mistress to see what she can do to help her, the psalmist carefully watches for God’s mercy.

I think that is the most telling part of this election year: there is no attempt on either side to admit to false righteousness or wrong. No one says they are sorry or asks for God’s mercy. They act like their words are right and everyone else is wrong. 

What if we simply ALL ask for God’s mercy. And forgiveness. And reconciliation. And then we really look for it.

God, we lift our eyes to you. We keep looking to you for your mercy. Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy, for we have had our fill of contempt. We have had more than our fill of the scoffing of the proud and the contempt of the arrogant. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Copyright Amelia G. Sims 2012