I lift my eyes toward the mountains.
Where will my help come from?
2 My help comes from the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth. 3 He will not allow your foot to slip;
your Protector will not slumber.
4 Indeed, the Protector of Israel
does not slumber or sleep. 5 The Lord protects you;
the Lord is a shelter right by your side.[a]
6 The sun will not strike you by day
or the moon by night. 7 The Lord will protect you from all harm;
he will protect your life.
8 The Lord will protect your coming and going
both now and forever.

Psalm 123-125

I lift my eyes to you,
the one enthroned in heaven.
2 Like a servant’s eyes on his master’s hand,
like a servant girl’s eyes on her mistress’s hand,
so our eyes are on the Lord our God
until he shows us favor.3 Show us favor, Lord, show us favor,
for we’ve had more than enough contempt.
4 We’ve had more than enough
scorn from the arrogant
and contempt from the proud.

Psalm 124

The Lord Is on Our Side

A song of ascents. Of David.

1 If the Lord had not been on our side—
let Israel say—
2 if the Lord had not been on our side
when people attacked us,
3 then they would have swallowed us alive
in their burning anger against us.
4 Then the water would have engulfed us;
the torrent would have swept over us;
5 the raging water would have swept over us.6 Blessed be the Lord,
who has not let us be ripped apart by their teeth.
7 We have escaped like a bird from the hunter’s net;
the net is torn, and we have escaped.
8 Our help is in the name of the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth.

Psalm 125

Israel’s Stability

A song of ascents.

1 Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion.
It cannot be shaken; it remains forever.
2 The mountains surround Jerusalem
and the Lord surrounds his people,
both now and forever. 3 The scepter of the wicked will not remain
over the land allotted to the righteous,
so that the righteous will not apply their hands to injustice.
4 Do what is good, Lord, to the good,
to those whose hearts are upright.
5 But as for those who turn aside to crooked ways,
the Lord will banish them with the evildoers.
Peace be with Israel.

Psalm 128-130

How happy is everyone who fears the Lord,
who walks in his ways!
2 You will surely eat
what your hands have worked for.
You will be happy,
and it will go well for you.
3 Your wife will be like a fruitful vine
within your house,
your children, like young olive trees
around your table.
4 In this very way
the man who fears the Lord
will be blessed.5 May the Lord bless you from Zion,
so that you will see the prosperity of Jerusalem
all the days of your life
6 and will see your children’s children!
Peace be with Israel.

Psalm 129

Protection of the Oppressed

A song of ascents.

1 Since my youth they have often attacked me—
let Israel say—
2 since my youth they have often attacked me,
but they have not prevailed against me.
3 Plowmen plowed over my back;
they made their furrows long.
4 The Lord is righteous;
he has cut the ropes of the wicked. 5 Let all who hate Zion
be driven back in disgrace.
6 Let them be like grass on the rooftops,
which withers before it grows up[a]
7 and can’t even fill the hands of the reaper
or the arms of the one who binds sheaves.
8 Then none who pass by will say,
“May the Lord’s blessing be on you.
We bless you in the name of the Lord.”

Psalm 130

Awaiting Redemption

A song of ascents.

1 Out of the depths I call to you, Lord!
2 Lord, listen to my voice;
let your ears be attentive
to my cry for help. 3 Lord, if you kept an account of iniquities,
Lord, who could stand?
4 But with you there is forgiveness,
so that you may be revered. 5 I wait for the Lord; I wait
and put my hope in his word.
6 I wait for the Lord
more than watchmen for the morning—
more than watchmen for the morning. 7 Israel, put your hope in the Lord.
For there is faithful love with the Lord,
and with him is redemption in abundance.
8 And he will redeem Israel
from all its iniquities.

In our readings today there is a theme of waiting and receiving from God. As we pray and seek God’s will, consider today’s scripture reading for comfort and guidance in our time of need. Psalm 130:5,6 says to wait expectantly for the Lord’s answer, and in vs 7 there is hope for a response from God. Sometimes the wait can be ever so long and how long should it last? Psalm 123:2 tells us that we are to wait UNTIL God shows us favor – some translations may say grace or mercy. In all cases we are taught here that the timing of God’s response is in His hand alone. We can neither rush Him or judge Him for delay because the Lord’s timing is the best because the answer comes from the One who knows best.