Where I Look
From Psalm 123 – 1 A Song of Ascents. Unto You I lift up my eyes, oh You who dwell in the heavens. 2 Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their masters, as the eyes of a maid look to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the Lord our God, until He has mercy on us. Three Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us! For we are exceedingly filled with contempt. 4 our soul is exceedingly filled with the scorn of those who are at ease, with the contempt of the proud.
Roger Angell in Season Ticket observes, "Baseball, to its credit, confirms continuity and revolution in equal parts, thus keeping its followers contented but attentive."
This productive tension also exists in the revelation of God's purposes as Psalm 123 points to the phenomenon. The author begins by recognizing the distance between God and men. He is, admits verse one, in Heaven, and we are on Earth. His ways aren't exactly like a household, or a baseball game. Nevertheless, behold, by grace He reaches out in earthly analogies to make Himself known.
He provides both continuity and revolution. With all time and eternity on His side, His revolution can be as drawn out as time-lapse photography. Just as the smallest flick of the wrist changed baseball forever with the curveball, just as the second baseman moving a few feet to the other side of the keystone is changing the game now, so the smallest signal from the One whom the psalmist likens to a servant's master can change the course of world history, one act of insurrectionist obedience at a time.
What we watch for as servants, the psalmist says, is an indication of mercy. How often do we look at quick and expectant compliance that way? By His ongoing mercy, we can go into today expecting to see and hear His signals, and to change our lives and our sphere by nearly imperceptible degrees. By His mercy, we are spared long wondering, and the long walk back. By His mercy, our focus is locked in on His hand, or at least His heart, and so is not entirely consumed with the potential bitterness of verses three and four.
It is true enough that those with a servant's attentiveness will be overlooked and derided in this pushy world. It is true enough that we will notice when we are valued cheaply. The psalmist says contempt fills our souls. This, though, is where mercy, the interposition between act and logical consequences, occurs. Because of the mercy of our Master above all masters, we are hurting in our Psalm 123 moments. Because of the mercy of our Master above all masters, we can see His mercy in continuity, and mercy in subtly coming revolution. Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus.
Roger Angell in Season Ticket observes, "Baseball, to its credit, confirms continuity and revolution in equal parts, thus keeping its followers contented but attentive."
This productive tension also exists in the revelation of God's purposes as Psalm 123 points to the phenomenon. The author begins by recognizing the distance between God and men. He is, admits verse one, in Heaven, and we are on Earth. His ways aren't exactly like a household, or a baseball game. Nevertheless, behold, by grace He reaches out in earthly analogies to make Himself known.
He provides both continuity and revolution. With all time and eternity on His side, His revolution can be as drawn out as time-lapse photography. Just as the smallest flick of the wrist changed baseball forever with the curveball, just as the second baseman moving a few feet to the other side of the keystone is changing the game now, so the smallest signal from the One whom the psalmist likens to a servant's master can change the course of world history, one act of insurrectionist obedience at a time.
What we watch for as servants, the psalmist says, is an indication of mercy. How often do we look at quick and expectant compliance that way? By His ongoing mercy, we can go into today expecting to see and hear His signals, and to change our lives and our sphere by nearly imperceptible degrees. By His mercy, we are spared long wondering, and the long walk back. By His mercy, our focus is locked in on His hand, or at least His heart, and so is not entirely consumed with the potential bitterness of verses three and four.
It is true enough that those with a servant's attentiveness will be overlooked and derided in this pushy world. It is true enough that we will notice when we are valued cheaply. The psalmist says contempt fills our souls. This, though, is where mercy, the interposition between act and logical consequences, occurs. Because of the mercy of our Master above all masters, we are hurting in our Psalm 123 moments. Because of the mercy of our Master above all masters, we can see His mercy in continuity, and mercy in subtly coming revolution. Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus.
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