Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 123:2
Behold, as the eyes of servants [look] unto the hand of their masters, [and] as the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistress; so our eyes [wait] upon the LORD our God, until that he have mercy upon us.
2. Behold, as the eyes of servants (look) unto the hand of their masters,
As the eyes of a maid (look) unto the hand of her mistress,
So our eyes (look) unto Jehovah our God, until he be gracious unto us.
As the servants or slaves of a household are dependent on the master and mistress of the household and look to them for the supply of all their needs, so Israel which is Jehovah’s household acknowledges its dependence on Him, and looks to Him to relieve its present distress. “The hand is the symbol of power, which rules the whole house” (Cheyne). This explanation is preferable to that which supposes the point of the comparison to lie in the intentness with which slaves watch for the slightest gesture of command from their master; or that which regards the hand as the hand of chastisement, and the look as the look of entreaty, appealing to the angry master to desist. With the last line cp. Isa 30:18.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Behold, as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their masters … – Or, are to the hands of their masters; or, regard the hands of their masters. That is, we look to God with the same spirit of deference, dependence, and readiness to mark the will of God, which is evinced by servants in regard to their masters, and by maidens in regard to the will of a mistress. There has been some difference of view in regard to the meaning of this comparison. Some have supposed that the allusion is to the fact that servants, when in danger, look to their masters for protection; others, that they look to them for the supply of their needs; others, that when they have been guilty of an offence they look to them alone for pardon. See Rosenmuller, in loc. The true idea, however, seems to be, that they look to them with deference and respect; that they attentively mark every expression of their will; that they are ready to obey their commands on the slightest intimation of their wishes – standing in a waiting posture, with no will of their own – their own wills absorbed in the will of the master or the mistress.
The following extracts from Oriental travelers may illustrate the idea here: Maundrell (Reise von Aleppo nach Jerusalem, s. 13), speaking of an interview with the Pasha at Tripoli, says, The servants all stood in great numbers with the utmost respect, and in profoundest silence, and served the guests with the utmost attention and respect. Pococke remarks that in Egypt the slaves stand in the profoundest silence at the end of the table, their hands laid cross-wise over one another, and that they mark with the deepest attention the slightest movement of their master, who conveys his wishes to them through signs and winks. Savary, in his Letters from Egypt (p. 135), says, The slaves stand with their hands laid cross-wise over their breasts, silent, at the end of the hall. Their eyes are directed to the master, and they are attentive to the slightest indication of his will. See other illustrations in Rosenmuller, Morgenland, ii. 109, 110. It is to such a custom as this that the psalmist refers; and the idea is, that his eyes were directed to God, in his troubles, in profound silence, and with deep attention, resembling that of servants waiting in stillness on their master, and catching the slightest intimation of his will – a movement of the head or hand – or anything which would indicate his pleasure.
Until that he have mercy upon us – We have nothing to do but wait. We have no other resource. We can do nothing if we turn away from him. Our only hope and expectation is there, and if we ever find relief, it must be there. The surest – the only – hope of relief is to wait on God; and it is the purpose of our souls to do this until we find help and deliverance. This is the attitude in which the earnest prayer in the next verse is offered.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Psa 123:2
Behold, as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their masters.
Watchful eyes
The man of God, who wrote this psalm, had been taught to look to God in a very remarkable manner, and I call your attention to it, in the hope that many of you will do likewise.
1. His eyes were reverentially fixed upon the Lord. He looked to Gods hand, wherever it was, with deep reverence: as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their masters. Travellers tell us that, when they go into the house of a wealthy person in the East, the master will give certain signs to his slaves, and refreshments are brought in; but, except when they are called, the servants stand at a distance, watching for the slightest motion of their masters hands; they do not have the liberties that we happily accord to our servants; but they are just nothing and nobody, mere tools for their master to use as he pleases. And, as to the maidens, I have heard that the women in the East have a harder time of it with their mistresses than the men do with their masters, and that the lady of the house is a more severe taskmaster than her husband is. So the maidens watch their mistresses very carefully, for they are sorely afraid of them, and they look with great care and fear to see what Madam would have them do. Now, casting aside everything of human fear out of the figure, this is the way in which we ought to look to God.
2. The truly sanctified man looks to Gods hands with obedience as well as with reverence. Orientals, as a general rule, speak far less than we do, except when they sit around the fire, at eventide, and tell their tales. But an Eastern master seldom speaks. 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. We have not very much of that dumb action amongst us; but, on board a steamboat, you may see the captain moving his hands this way or that, and the call-boy is ready at once to pass the word down to those who are in charge of the engine. 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 Lords will.
3. Then, also, our eyes should be absolutely fixed upon our Lord. The eyes of servants ought to be so directed to their masters that they not only see the sign, but obey it, whatever it means. It may be a very little thing, but yet the little thing should not be neglected. The smaller the matter is, the more careful we should be to attend to it, if it would please the Lord Jesus Christ. Do not be so clever, you servants who fancy that you know better than your Master, for perhaps He may find somebody else to be His servant if you behave like that. Suppose I was starting on a journey, early in the morning, and I said to my servant, I should like a cup of coffee before I start, and suppose that, when I came down, she brought me a glass of cold water, I should ask her, Why did you do that? If she should reply, Oh, sir, I thought that the water would be better for you than coffee! I should say, Well, I am very much obliged to you for thinking of me in that considerate way; but I shall have to engage another servant who does what she is told. So I advise you not to alter or judge Gods Word, but obey it.
4. Our eyes are to be turned to the Lord solely. The Eastern servant is not allowed to think; it is no business of his to have his eyes upon his masters guests; they are to be fixed upon his master. And the maiden does not think it to be her business to watch the movements of the hand of the lady who calls to see her mistress; her eyes are to be on the hands of her mistress. She does not dare to take them off, for, perhaps, just when she is looking out of the window, or gazing in curiosity at some object, her mistress may be waving her hand, and she may not see it; and then there will be a serious scolding and possibly something worse when the mistress gets her alone. So you and I must not take our eyes off our God at any time; but His way, and His will must be our sole law; and for this we must live, that we may please Him whose servants we are, for has He not bought us with His precious blood? So we are not our own, we are bought with a price. (C. H. Spurgeon.)
Until that He have mercy upon us.—
Perseverance in waiting Gods time
A single glance will sometimes gain the blessing, as a single stroke will sometimes gain the battle. But this cannot always be calculated upon. The blessing sought for is sometimes delayed, as a trial of our faith. The blessing itself, much as we prize it, may be of less importance than the discipline, through which alone it is to be obtained. And hence a test is sometimes applied to believers, whether they can cling to God, and continue instant in prayer, even when lie seems to turn His back upon them, and pay no heed to the voice of their supplication. This appears almost an invariable principle in the Divine government. At times the Church is reduced to a very low condition, and religion has lost its vitality and power. A feeling of utter helplessness is produced, and fervent prayers are offered up, that the Lord would arise and have mercy upon Zion. And He regards the prayer of the destitute, and does not despise their prayer. He is raised up out of His holy habitation; He appears in his glory; the mountains tremble before Him; and large numbers are brought to a knowledge of the truth. Is not this the history of the Church, as recorded in the Sacred Volume? Is not this the history of the Church, since the canon of Scripture was completed? Is not this the history of modern missions? Bring the Church to a thorough conviction that none but the Holy Ghost can convince, subdue, and save the human soul, and revivals of religion take place as a necessary consequence. (N. McMichael.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 2. As the eyes of servants] We now wait for thy commands, feeling the utmost readiness to obey them when made known to us. The words may be understood as the language of dependence also. As slaves expect their support from their masters and mistresses; so do we ours from thee, O Lord! Or, As servants look to their masters and mistresses, to see how they do their work, that they may do it in the same way; so do we, O Lord, that we may learn of thee, and do thy work in thy own Spirit, and after thy own method. Some think that there is a reference here to the chastisement of slaves by their masters, who, during the time they are receiving it, keep their eyes fixed on the hand that is inflicting punishment upon them, professing deep sorrow, and entreating for mercy. And this sense seems to be countenanced by the following words:-
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Look unto the hand of their masters; either,
1. For supply of their wants, which comes from their masters hand; or,
2. For pity, the hand being the instrument whereby masters commonly correct their servants, and looking to the hand may express the posture of one supplicating for mercy; or rather,
3. For help and defence against their oppressors. For servants were unable to defend themselves, and were not allowed to wear defensive weapons, but expected and had protection kern their masters in case of injury. For this phrase of having ones eyes towards another, both in this and other sacred books, constantly notes expectation and desire of help from them, as Psa 25:15; 69:3; Isa 17:7; Eze 23:27, and oft elsewhere. And the phrase of Gods having mercy upon another, doth most commonly signify that act or effect of his mercy in helping and delivering him.
Until that he have mercy upon us; until he graciously help and save us.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
2. Deference, submission, andtrust, are all expressed by the figure. In the East, servants inattending on their masters are almost wholly directed by signs,which require the closest observance of the hands of the latter. Theservants of God should look (1) to His directing hand, to appointthem their work; (2) to His supplying hand (Ps104:28), to give them their portion in due season; (3) to Hisprotecting hand, to right them when wronged; (4) to His correctinghand (Isa 9:13; 1Pe 5:6;compare Ge 16:6); (5) to Hisrewarding hand.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Behold, as the eyes of servants [look] unto the hand of their masters; [and] as the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistress,…. To direct them in their work and business, to point out unto them what they shall do; which is often done by a motion of the hand of the master or mistress, or rap of their fingers without speaking e, which the servant observes: or to help and assist them against their enemies, and protect them from them; servants unarmed, and molested in their masters’ service, have no other to flee to for protection but them; so Aben Ezra: or to receive food and sustenance from them, as servants and maidens do, from their masters and mistresses, in whose service they are; see Pr 31:15; so Kimchi and Arama; the latter observes, that they have their food in a way of mercy, and not justice; contrary to what the apostle says, Col 4:1; or in order to receive their wages from them; see Job 7:2;
so our eyes [wait] upon the Lord our God; look unto him for direction in his service. Saints are servants, not of sin, nor of Satan, nor of men, but of the Lord; and not on the foot of creation only, but of redemption, and are made so by the grace of God; and they are willing to work, and are desirous to know what they should do; they inquire of God; they wait upon him, in his word and ordinances, for direction; and, being informed, do it with all their might, and follow the Lamb wheresoever he goes or directs them: and they look unto him for strength to assist them therein, being conscious of their own weakness; they apply to him, and wait upon him for strength, and do all they do in his name and strength; they look unto him for protection from all their enemies, which are many and mighty, and are stronger than they; and for food, both temporal and spiritual, and for all the necessaries and comforts both of a corporeal and spiritual life; and likewise for the recompence of reward, the reward of the inheritance, which is of grace, and not of debt. Joseph Kimchi thinks that the allusion is to servants, that look to the hand of their masters that correct and chastise them, and bear it patiently; and look to the hand that smites, till it shall have done, and mercy is shown them. And thus the saints look to the chastising hand of God, and humble themselves under it, and patiently endure it, till the Lord shall please to remove it from them; and this agrees with what follows:
until that he have mercy upon us; God is gracious and merciful; and he has his set time to have mercy on his people: and it becomes them to continue praying to him, and waiting on him, until he is pleased to show it to them; men should pray always, and not faint; they will find mercy in due time, Lu 18:1.
e Vid. Pignorium de Servis, p. 136. “Digiti crepantis signa novit eunuchus”, Martial. l. 2. 82.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
2. Behold as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their masters. This similitude is very suitable to the present case. It implies that without the protection of God true believers have no comfort, are completely disarmed and exposed to all manner of wrongs, have neither strength nor courage to resist; in short, that their safety depends entirely upon aid derived from another. We know how shamefully servants were treated in ancient times, and what reproaches might be cast upon them, whilst yet they durst not move a finger to repel the outrage. Being therefore deprived of all means of defending themselves, the only thing which remained for them to do was, what is here stated, to crave the protection of their masters. The same explanation is equally applicable to the case of handmaids Their condition was indeed shameful and degrading; but there is no reason why we should be ashamed of, or offended at being compared to slaves, provided God is our defender, and takes our life under his guardianship; God, I say, who purposely disarms us and strips us of all worldly aid, that we may learn to rely upon his grace, and to be contented ‘with it alone. It having been anciently a capital crime for bond-men to carry a sword or any other weapon about them, and as they were exposed to injuries of every description, their masters were wont to defend them with so much the more spirit, when any one causelessly did them violence. Nor can it be doubted that God, when he sees us placing an exclusive dependence upon his protection, and renouncing all confidence in our own resources, will as our defender encounter, and shield us from all the molestation that shall be offered to us. It is, however, certain that we have here properly the description of a period in which the people of God were reduced to a state of extreme necessity, and brought even to the brink of despair. As to the word hand, it is very well known to be put for help. (76)
(76) “Unto the hand of their masters — if we retain the word hand, it must be taken in the well-known sense which it sometimes bears of side or quarter: and the original word is used (Exo 2:5) in the same sense. The phrase will then simply mean, that the eyes of servants look towards their masters, and this agrees with — so our eyes wait upon the Lord. But the Hebrew word also signifies power, (as in Deu 32:36,) which may very well be substituted for. hand in this place, the notion being that servants when they are in danger or in distress look to the power of their masters for assistance; and in general expect from them subsistence and defense. ” — Cresswell.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(2) Eyes.As the eyes of the slave are fixed on the hand of the master or mistress, waiting for a sign or direction, so Israel waits, expectant of the hint of Divine interference to deliver from the tyrant. The picture will be so familiar to readers of Oriental stories as hardly to need actual illustration; but Savarys (Letters on Egypt, p. 135, quoted by Perowne) description exactly reproduces the intention of the poet: The slaves stand silent at the bottom of the rooms, with their hands crossed over their breasts. With their eyes fixed upon their master, they seek to anticipate every one of his wishes. Comp. Cave oculos a meis oculis quoquam demoveas (Ter. Adelph. Ii. 1, 16).
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
2. As the eyes of servants, etc. The allusion is to the custom of dispensing favours, giving protection, or issuing orders, by the motion of the hand. In India, a man in trouble says, “I will look to the hand of my friend.” Roberts. “In Egypt everything is done with the greatest decency and the most profound silence, the slaves or servants standing at the bottom of the room, with their hands joined before them, watching with the utmost attention every motion of their master, who commands them by signs.” Pococke. Ladies are waited on, even at the least wink of their eye or motion of their fingers. This custom prevails all over the East, and this language of signs is frequently alluded to in the prophets. In the present case the hand is looked to for protection; and the waiting attitude is one of submission, trust, and readiness to obey orders, or to receive the token of deliverance.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Psa 123:2. As the eyes of servants look unto the hand Masters had a power not only of commanding, but of severely punishing their servants; accordingly, this looking to the hand, &c. properly denotes the servant under chastisement, turning the eyes, and looking to the hand that striketh, and beseeching and importuning for mercy; an argument of a meek, patient, and reforming disposition. On the contrary, it is objected to the Jews, Isa 9:13 that they turn not to him that smiteth them, neither do they seek the Lord of hosts.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
How do servants look unto their masters or mistresses, for everything that concerns them? For employment, direction, help, food, countenance, shelter, in short, for everything which poor needy servants, may be supposed to require. So then, but in an infinitely higher degree, would my soul look unto thee, thou blessed Lord and Master, Jesus! I need thee far more than all servants. Thou art my life, my light, my strength, my hope, my confidence, my portion, my guide, my protector, Saviour; in short, my all in all. Without thee, how, or in what shall I be employed? Who will sustain me, blessed Jesus, if thou dust not? What bread can my soul feed upon, but thou that art the bread of God, and the living bread, which cometh down from heaven. And shall I not be naked, and without a garment to cover me, to all eternity, except thou wilt clothe me with thy robe of righteousness? And who will guide me, unless thy blessed Spirit graciously condescend to direct thy poor pilgrim, through the waste and howling wilderness of this world? See, Lord! what a wretched state I am in but for thee. And shall not my eyes wait for thee with more earnestness than all the servants upon the earth are looking to their earthly masters? Yes! precious Jesus! I desire that my whole soul may be waiting for thee, More than they that watch for the morning; yea, I say, more than they that watch for the morning, Psa 130:6 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Psa 123:2 Behold, as the eyes of servants [look] unto the hand of their masters, [and] as the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistress; so our eyes [wait] upon the LORD our God, until that he have mercy upon us.
Ver. 2. Behold, as the eyes of servants ] For direction, defence, maintenance, mercy in time of correction, help when the service is too hard, &c.; so do our eyes wait upon the Lord our God, viz. for direction and benediction.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Behold. Figure of speech Asterismos. App-6.
as. Figure of speech Simile. App-6.
the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4.
God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4.
have mercy = Be gracious. Figure of speech Anaphora. App-6.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
as the eyes: Jos 9:23, Jos 9:27, Jos 10:6
so our eyes: Psa 40:1-3, Psa 119:82, Psa 119:123-125, Psa 130:5, Psa 130:6, Gen 32:26, Gen 49:18, Lam 3:25, Lam 3:26, Luk 18:1
Reciprocal: 1Ki 1:20 – the eyes 2Ki 5:2 – waited on 2Ch 20:12 – our eyes Psa 25:3 – wait Psa 25:15 – Mine Psa 34:5 – They Psa 52:9 – wait Psa 62:1 – my soul Psa 141:8 – mine eyes Pro 27:18 – shall be Isa 33:2 – be gracious Isa 40:31 – they that Eze 18:6 – neither hath lifted Hos 3:1 – look Hos 12:6 – wait Zep 3:8 – wait Eph 6:5 – be Col 3:22 – obey
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
GODS FAITHFUL SERVANTS
Even so our eyes wait upon the Lord our God.
Psa 123:2 (Prayer Book Version)
I. Whenever we see a master with a family of servants, we see a living parable of Almighty God and His Church; and out of their duties and behaviour to one another we may obtain much good instruction regarding our own behaviour towards Him. (1) St. Paul says, Servants, be subject to your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling; and do we not know that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of all wisdom, and that the very description of the temper which suits the Gospel is to have grace whereby to serve God in reverence and godly fear? (2) St. Paul bids servants be obedient to their masters in singleness of heart; that is, that in setting about their work they should simply have an eye to their masters service, and not rather to their own convenience and pleasure; and this, again, is the very thing so much commended in Christian people, that they should serve God in simplicity and godly sincerity. (3) The same apostle adds that what we do for our masters should be done not with eye-service, as men-pleasers; that is, we are not to have one way of doing our work when they are in sight and another when they are out of sight: and this, again, is like the care which becomes all Christians to make their conduct agree with their prayers, their weekdays with their Sundays, their ordinary behaviour with their direct service of their Lord. (4) Whereas all manner of servants among men naturally and justly look onward to the time of receiving their wages, as a hireling, according to Jobs saying, seeketh the reward of his work, so we are instructed to look on to the recompense of our eternal reward, knowing, as St. Paul goes on, that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.
II. All the qualities of a good servant are summed up in one word: fidelity; or, as it is described by the Psalmist in the text, his eyes wait upon the hand of his master. So the faithful and dutiful Christian, he who has true love and thankfulness to the Father and God of his whole life, does not wait for express commands, but does what he sincerely thinks his Maker will be pleased with. Such simple, unwearied obedience, not asking questions, but performing dutiesthis is what God delights to honour.
Rev. J. Keble.
Illustration
With this psalm Philip Henry was accustomed to conclude his Sabbath evening service in his own family at Broadoak. His children then knelt down around him and received his blessing. The account which his son, Matthew Henry, gives of the household is one of the fairest pictures we have from the Puritan time, and might suit the Chamber Peace in the Palace Beautiful described by Bunyan. After meat and thanks, on every Sabbath, the usual song of the family and guests was the 123rd Psalm.
Fuente: Church Pulpit Commentary
123:2 Behold, as the eyes of {a} servants [look] unto the hand of their masters, [and] as the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistress; so our eyes [wait] upon the LORD our God, until that he have mercy upon us.
(a) He compares the condition of the godly, to servants who are destitute of all help, assuring that when all other help fails, God is always at hand and like himself.