In the record of Scripture, God’s people often found themselves in periods of oppression and distress and trouble. Admittedly, most of these events were the result of their own sinfulness; however, it did seem to wake them up, cause them to evaluate and move them to return to God.
Of course, finding themselves in captivity and und
er enemy control, where else could they go? That’s what the psalmist cried out to the Lord in Psalm 123. As God’s people found themselves “exceedingly filled with the contempt” of their enemy” (123:4), they turned to God for mercy.
Now, notice to what the psalmist likens this turn to God for mercy. It is like when “the eyes of the servants look to the hand of their masters” and when “the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress” (123:3). Where can a slave get help? To whom can a slave turn for his needs and the needs of his family? He has only one place to go – his master! Likewise, when a child of God finds himself in distress and trouble, where else could he go, but to his Master in heaven? How often do you “lift up your eyes” to the Lord and plead for His mercy?