"Unto You (Yahweh) do I left up my eyes, O You who are (enthroned) in Heaven. Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, and as the eyes of a maid look to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to Yahweh our Elohim, until He have mercy and loving-kindness for us. Have mercy on us, O Yahweh, have mercy and loving-kindness for us, for we are exceedingly surfeited with contempt. Our life is exceedingly filled with the scorning and scoffing of those who are at ease, and with the contempt of the proud - irresponsible tyrants, who disregard Elohim's Torah (Law)" (Psalm 123:1-4, Amp.V.)
Yahweh our Heavenly Father never promised that this life would be easy, even for believers, only that it would be worth it if we trusted and obeyed Him. It is a dangerous thing to be at ease in a world populated by the unsaved and unrepentant agents of the Enemy who constantly seek our downfall. Everywhere Scripture admonishes us to be awake and alert, to be cunning like a snake but to be as harmless as a dove. Since we are not allowed to cause harm but to leave vengeance on our oppressors up to Yahweh, it follows - as this Psalm teaches - that we have no choice (if we are to be true to Scripture) but to keep our eyes squarely on Yahweh's "hand".
To "look to the hand" of masters and mistresses is an Aramaic idiom which means to "depend upon" them - to wait for their masters or mistresses to give them their hire and food, and to extend favours to them. Not only that, but in Aramaic the word eida (hand) also means "help" or "aid". George M. Lamsa writes:
"In the East servants wait patiently for the master or mistress to give them orders, food, clothing, and their wages. Servants respect and revere their masters and mistresses" (George M. Lamsa, Old Testament Light, Holman Publishers, Nashville, Tennesee: 1964, p.538).
In other words, our attitude towards Yahweh should be the same as the Eastern servant, that is, one of patience, total dependence and the profoundest respect and love. Why is this attitude absent from our congregations? Because the idea of service has been replaced by the insidious political philosophy of 'rights'. We continually 'expect' things because of 'rights'. In consequence, our whole attitude toward authority has become corrupted, undermined by centuries of revolutionary (rebellious) thinking.
If believers are to survive and prosper in the emergent satanic New World Order they need to radically alter their thinking because if they don't, they will simply not respond to Yahweh when He calls them. Far too many believers abandon Yahweh and change sides because they cannot take the world's scorning and scoffing. They lack the patience, faith and - most importantly - the proper focus.
We are in a covenant relationship with Yahweh which Scripture likens to an allegorical marriage, meaning that it is very much like marriage. But again, if we have changed the meaning and obligations in marriage to something else, how will we be able to form a proper allegorical marriage relationship with the Saviour? You see, Sarah treated her husband as her master, calling him "lord" (1 Pet.3:6), in exactly the same way that we, the 'servants' in this Psalm, are supposed to look to Yahweh, and as Israel anciently is portrayed as depending upon the hand of Elohim for direction, guidance, mercy, and blessing.
This morning I was shown a very disturbing dream in which I saw relatives, who have long scorned and scoffed at, and shown contempt for, the Gospel, having a party and enjoying themselves. Suddenly, without warning, and at great speed, three bolts of lightening in the form of an equilateral triangle (each side measuring three units), struck the gathering place and filled the revellers with fear. They sought to understand their sudden judgment but could not because they had no light. The party was over, as happens when judgment comes, and they rapidly dispersed.
Do not be so proud as to resist the calling or judgment of Yahweh when it comes to you because you have rebelled against Him. Swallow your pride, get down on your knees, and repent like a true Eastern servant and wife, for that is what we all are. Learn Yahweh's ways, obey them, and wait on Him with patience, seeking not your will but His. For is is He who is our Provider, our Protector, our Everything, Praise the Name of Yahweh!