Have mercy upon us O Lord have mercy upon us: for we are exceedingly filled with contempt.Psalm 123:3 Explainer ## Introduction - In Plain Language: We plead with the Lord for His mercy because we are overwhelmed by people’s scorn and disrespect. - Big idea: This short prayer teaches us to look to God for compassion when we feel humiliated, rejected, or despised. - Key points: - The people turn their eyes to God in humble dependence and ask for mercy. - The complaint is communal: they are being treated with contempt by others and feel powerless. - The verse models honest, vulnerable prayer when under social or emotional attack. ## Context - Where this verse fits in: Psalm 123 is one of the fifteen “Songs of Ascents” (Psalms 120–134). It’s a brief communal prayer likely used by pilgrims or worshipers looking up to God in heaven as their refuge. - Story timeline: Probably sung in post-monarchic Israel or during times when the community felt vulnerable—pilgrims traveling to Jerusalem or a community under social pressure. The speaker is the gathered people (or the worshiping community) addressing the Lord. - Surrounding passage (summary of 1–3 verses before and after): - Verses 1–2: The psalm opens with the community lifting their eyes to God who sits in heaven, comparing their watchful waiting to servants watching their master’s hand or a maiden watching her mistress’s hand—expectant dependence. - Verse 3 (this verse): A straightforward plea: “Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy—because we are filled with contempt.” - Verse 4: Expands the reason: their souls are overwhelmed by the ridicule of the complacent and the contempt of the proud. ## Explanation - Quick take: When people are mocked, ignored, or scorned, Psalm 123 shows us the appropriate response—lift our eyes to God and ask for his mercy. It’s a humble admission of need and powerlessness. - In Depth: - The psalm’s posture (lifting the eyes) frames the plea: this is not a defensive rant but a humble appeal to Someone greater. The community recognizes its dependence and looks upward for relief. - “Have mercy” (a pleading, repeated verb) expresses both urgency and trust. The repetition (“have mercy… have mercy”) intensifies the plea—this is not casual; it’s desperate and earnest. - The phrase “we are filled with contempt” can be misunderstood if read too quickly. It means the community is the object of contempt—they are overwhelmed by scorn from others. It’s not boasting that they themselves feel contempt; it’s the pain of being despised. - The enemies described in verse 4—those “at ease” and “the proud”—are socially secure people who look down on the vulnerable. The psalm contrasts those who rely on their position and pride with a community that relies on God. - Theologically, the psalm pairs vulnerability and trust: being scorned does not lead to bitterness toward God but to turned eyes and petitions for mercy. Mercy is both deliverance from harm and the comfort of God’s presence in suffering. - Practically, this verse gives permission to bring public shame, mockery, and social pain honestly before God rather than pretending all is fine. It normalizes communal lament and reliance on divine compassion. ## Key Words - Channēn (חָנֵּנוּ) — “Have mercy; show favor” (a verb of pleading for God’s compassionate response). - Mal’ēnû (מָלְאֵנוּ) — “We are filled” (literally “we are full,” indicating being overwhelmed). - Bûz (בּוּז) — “Contempt, scorn, derision” (the insult or scorn directed at the community). ## Background - Cultural/historical/literary background: The Songs of Ascents were likely sung by pilgrims going up to Jerusalem or by a worshiping community. In the ancient Near East, status, honor, and public reputation mattered hugely. To be ridiculed or treated with contempt could mean social isolation, material disadvantage, or danger. This psalm reflects a communal, public act of humility—appealing to God as the heavenly master rather than retaliating against those who mock. ## Theology - Theological insights: - Mercy is central: in moments of social disgrace, God is the one to appeal to—not human power. - The psalm models communal lament: faith can include honest complaints and requests for help. - God’s throne is the proper perspective: looking upward (not at the one who mocks) shifts dependence from human esteem to divine compassion. ## Application To Your Life - For workers: If coworkers or bosses dismiss or belittle you, this verse encourages turning your pain into prayer and seeking God’s help rather than lashing out or internalizing shame. - For parents: When your family faces gossip, exclusion, or community judgment, teach children to turn to God for comfort and justice instead of becoming bitter. - For students/teens: Social rejection is raw—Psalm 123 gives permission to be honest with God about how much it hurts and to ask for mercy and strength. - For seekers or the hurting: If you feel looked down on or marginalized, this verse affirms that God sees your humiliation and welcomes your plea for compassion. - Reflection question(s): - Who in my life makes me feel scorned or small, and how do I usually respond—anger, silence, or prayer? - What would a humble, God-centered response look like the next time I feel publicly shamed or ignored? - Short prayer: Lord, I bring the sting of being mocked and the weight of contempt to You—have mercy, hold us, and make your presence known in our shame. ## Translation Comparison - KJV: “Have mercy upon us, O Lord, have mercy upon us: for we are filled with contempt.” - NIV: “Be gracious to us, Lord, be gracious to us, for we have endured much contempt.” - ESV: “Have mercy on us, O LORD, have mercy on us, for we have had more than enough of contempt.” - NRSV: “Have mercy on us, O LORD, have mercy on us, for we have had more than enough of contempt.” - Note on differences: Translations vary in tone—“have mercy” versus “be gracious” reflect slightly different emphases (active compassion vs. favor). The phrase about contempt can be rendered “we are filled with contempt,” “we have endured much contempt,” or “we have had more than enough of contempt.” These choices matter because they affect whether readers hear the community as passively overwhelmed, actively enduring prolonged scorn, or urgently desperate. All translations convey the core idea: the people are overwhelmed by the contempt of others and appeal to God’s compassion. ## FAQs - Q: Who is the “we” in this verse—an individual or a group? - Short answer: The “we” is communal. Psalm 123 reads like a corporate prayer—pilgrims, worshipers, or the community as a whole address the Lord. The Songs of Ascents were often sung by groups traveling to worship, so the language reflects shared experience. That communal voice matters because contempt and scorn are often social phenomena that affect families or groups, not just isolated individuals. Recognizing the “we” helps modern readers see the psalm as useful for churches, families, and communities to pray together when they suffer public shame or ridicule. - Q: Does Psalm 123:3 tell us to hate those who scorn us? - Short answer: No. The psalm does not promote hatred or retaliation. Instead, it models humility and dependence: the people respond to contempt by lifting their eyes to God and asking for mercy. The tone is petition and trust—not vengeance. Elsewhere in Scripture, believers are called to trust God for justice and to respond to mistreatment with prayers and, when appropriate, wise action. Psalm 123 encourages channeling the pain of being despised into honest prayer and reliance on God’s compassion, rather than allowing bitterness to take root. ## Cross References - Psalm 22:6–8 — An honest cry from one who is mocked and scorned; shows the raw emotion of being despised. - Psalm 35:15 — Depicts enemies who mock and gloat over misfortune; similar social humiliation. - Isaiah 66:5 — God hears the complaints of those who are mocked and promises He will act; a reminder of divine attention. - Luke 6:22 — Jesus blesses those who are reviled for the sake of the kingdom; forwards the theme of suffering with hope. ## Deeper Study - Commentary synthesis (high-level): Most commentators read Psalm 123 as a brief communal lament and petition. It’s framed by expectant imagery (lifting the eyes) and then turns to the reason for the plea—intense scorn from the proud and secure. Scholars note the psalm’s placement in the Songs of Ascents suggests liturgical use by pilgrims or communities under social pressure. The theological center is dependence on God’s mercy in face of social disgrace. - Group study bullets: - Read verses 1–4 aloud; note the posture and metaphor (servants and maidens watching a master’s hand). What emotion does that create? - Discuss modern equivalents of “contempt” or “the scorn of the proud.” Where do we see these dynamics today? - Share a time when you or your community felt scorned—how did you respond spiritually? What would a response modeled on Psalm 123 look like? - Pray together asking for God’s mercy and for wisdom on loving those who scorn you. ## Related verses (to compare and contrast) - Psalm 123:1–2 — Shows the posture of trust and expectation that frames the plea in verse 3; compare how dependence shapes the request for mercy. - Psalm 22:6–8 — A more intense and personal lament of being mocked; compare the emotion and language of scorn. - Luke 6:22 — Jesus reinterprets suffering for righteousness and reviling in light of the kingdom; compare the psalm’s plea for mercy with the New Testament call to endure with hope. ## Talk to the Bible Try the “Talk To The Bible” feature with these prompts: - “Explain the Hebrew words in Psalm 123:3 and how they shape the verse’s meaning.” - “How might a short pastoral reflection on Psalm 123:3 look for a congregation facing gossip or social rejection?” - “Give a 60-second spoken prayer inspired by Psalm 123 to use in a small group.”
