Psalm 123
Big Idea: The Lord’s Mercy Sustains Us Faithfully When We Are Worn Out And Worn Down From Earthly Hostility And Adversity
The Sufficiency Of The Lord’s Mercy:
1) The problem: experiencing the ongoing scorn and contempt of the world (v. 3b-4)
How to persevere through earthly contempt:
1) Reset our expectations
2) Remember our Savior
3) Rest in God’s enduring faithfulness
“You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day, the Lord will deliver you into my hand… That all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, and that all this assembly may know that the Lord saves not with sword and spear. For the battle is the Lord’s, and He will give you into our hand.”
– 1 Samuel 17:45-47
4) Rejoice!
“Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching that Christ is Jesus.”
– Acts 5:40-41
2) The solution: the enduring mercy of our sovereign Lord in the heavens (v. 1-3a)
In the difficulty:
1) Look up to the One enthroned and sovereign over every situation (v. 1-2)
“Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
– Hebrews 4:16
2) Cry out to the One Whose mercy is sufficient for every situation (v. 2b-3a)