There comes a time in life when hurt doesn't come from a physical attack, but rather from a dismissive look, snide comment, or subtle taunt that keeps getting repeated. Experiences like these slowly erode the mind. We don't fall down instantly, but get tired, bored, and feel small. In such circumstances, Psalm 123 gives us the language of honest prayer: not an angry shout, but an uplifted gaze.
Psalm 123 is the fourth Pilgrim Hymn, sung after the pilgrims arrive in Jerusalem. Interestingly, upon reaching the holy city, the first prayer is not one of celebration, but of complaint. The psalmist, first as an individual, then as a community, confesses that they are “satiated” by the insults of the secure and arrogant. Yet their response is not to retaliate or prove themselves, but to fix their eyes on God who dwells in heaven. They looked to God as a servant looks to his master's hand: waiting for mercy, not relying on their own strength.
The psalmist tries to shift the center of his attention, from the source of hurt to the source of restoration. Thus, psalm 123 teaches us that the healing of inner wounds often begins not with a change of situation, but with a change of perspective. We acknowledge the pain, but do not let it determine the direction of life.
Psalm 124 continues that prayer into a testimony, “If the LORD had not been on our side…”. This sentence is not speculation, but a reflective confession. The psalmist recalls the threats that almost engulfed them, described as drowning floods, wild animals ready to devour, and the snares of hunters. All of which could have happened, but didn't, because God was on their side.
Friends of the Bible, recalling God's past help is a way of building inner resilience. When we realize how God once saved and sustained us, that's where new strength grows to face today. The psalmist does not rely on the claim, "We are strong," but rather testifies, "Our help is in the name of the LORD." Therefore, when we are under social pressure, criticism, or even humiliation, learn to pause. Fix your eyes not on the voices that hurt, but on God. Then look back at the journey of life: there was a time when we almost fell, but were still nurtured to stand. It is from these memories that faith grows, not because life is always safe, but because we hold on to one soul-affirming truth: when God is on our side, we are never alone, and our lives are never in vain.
