Psalm 123 (122):3Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Many endure hardships with resilience; however, they find themselves without this fortitude; they are despondent in their trials, feeling utterly broken. They have squandered the opportunities bestowed upon them; thus, God has corrected them in a manner contrary to His usual ways. This mirrors Adam’s failure to utilize his time in paradise wisely, resulting in his expulsion; and the woman, who suffered due to an equal standing with her husband, was transformed through oppression and subjection. Likewise, these Israelites, who, from a position of freedom and safety in their homeland, grew recklessly unrestrained, are now corrected by circumstances that stand in stark contrast to their prior situation.

What burdens a Christian's heart? It is the awareness of being a pilgrim, yearning for his true homeland. Even amid worldly successes, a heavy heart still longs for something beyond; it aches with the realization of this journey, even if the world appears friendly. In seeking the fulfillment of Christ's promise, there surfaces a deep longing and earnest desire, which propels one upward, leading to the singing of the Song of Ascents.

Where then are the ladders? There exists a vast expanse between heaven and earth. We aspire to ascend, yet see no means to do so—are we deceiving ourselves by singing the Song of Ascents? If we contemplate God who has placed ascending steps within our hearts, we indeed are on a path to heaven. To ascend within is to draw closer to God. Just as a fallen soul does not merely descend but experiences a fall, a soul that prosperously rises must be vigilant against pride; in rising, one risks falling again. To guard against this, one must direct their gaze toward Him who resides in the heavens and refrain from too closely examining oneself.

If, dear friends, we perceive heaven merely as the firmament visible to our physical sight, we are mistaken in thinking we cannot reach it without some sort of aid. However, to ascend spiritually requires understanding heaven in a spiritual manner: where love climbs, there heaven lies in righteousness. What constitutes the heaven of God? It comprises all holy and righteous souls. Even the Apostles, though present on earth in physical form, embodied heaven, for the Lord dwelt among them and traversed the entire world through them. He resides in heaven, how? As long as faith sustains the temple within us, Christ abides through faith, as the Apostle states, “That Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.” Those who see God face to face already dwell in heaven, including all the holy Apostles, the Virtues, Powers, Thrones, Lordships, and the heavenly Jerusalem, from which we yearn and for which we eagerly pray; it is where God resides. The Psalmist lifted his faith there, elevating himself in love with hopeful longing. This deep yearning purifies the soul from sin's impurities, allowing it to transform into heaven itself as it gazes upon Him who dwells above.

For if we conclude that the heaven visible to our earthly gaze is God's dwelling, then His habitation shall pass away; for heaven and earth will vanish (Matthew 24:35). Before God created the heavens and the earth, where was His dwelling? Some ask, where did God reside before the creation of His saints? He dwelled in Himself, eternally self-sufficient. When He dwells in the Saints, it is not that they become His house in such a way that He could cease to exist without them. There is a distinction: while one might dwell in a house such that their removal signifies loss, God’s presence in the Saints is such that, even if He departs, they do not fall as if their existence is contingent on Him.

What follows from the declaration, “To Thee I lift up my eyes” (Psalm 121:2)? How have you lifted your eyes? Just as servants direct their gaze to their masters, and a maiden to her mistress, so too do our eyes look towards the Lord our God, awaiting His mercy. We are both His servants and His maidservants, for He is our Master and Mistress. Such comparisons evoke no surprise if we comprehend Him as Master; yet it is remarkable that we, as the Church, may view Him as our Mistress, for He embodies both the Power and Wisdom of God.

Therefore, when you hear of Christ, lift your eyes to the hands of your Master; when you encounter the Power and Wisdom of God, lift your eyes to your Mistress's hands; for we are both servants and maidservants—servants, as the people of God and maidservants as His Church. This maiden has attained a significant status before God; she has become a bride. Yet until she reaches the spiritual consummation allowing her to embrace freely the One whom she has cherished during this arduous pilgrimage, she remains betrothed and has received a mighty pledge—the blood of the Bridegroom for whom she longs without fear. It is not said to her, “You shall not love,” as it is often said to a betrothed girl; for when she becomes a wife, love is rightly permitted. This is because loving one she may yet not marry is reckless, yet since there is no other to compare with Christ, let her love without fear, longing from afar during her spiritual wanderings.

We are overwhelmed with contempt (Psalm 121:3). All who strive to live a godly life in Christ will face reproach (2 Timothy 3:12); they will be scorned by those who are content in earthly pleasures. Those who regard worldly happiness with their physical eyes often ridicule the faithful, asking mockingly what they believe in. They claim certainty in what they see, while the faithful are despised for their hope in the unseen. But consider whether their possessions are truly theirs. A wealthy man may boast of his house, inherited from his father; yet if traced back, it reveals a lineage where each generation has ultimately passed through this world without carrying anything eternal with them. Indeed, your earthly dwelling is merely a stopover rather than a permanent residence. Yet we hope for what is yet to come, longing for future joy, awaiting the revelation of what we shall become, for we are already children of God (1 John 3:2) and our lives are hidden with Christ in God (Colossians 3:3). This very hope renders us despised by those pursuing earthly satisfaction.

Our soul is filled to overflow, a reproach to the affluent and scorn towards the proud (Psalm 121:4). When we speak of the rich, we see they are equated with the proud; that judgment reiterates itself. Why are the proud wealthy? They seek happiness in this life. Although they themselves are discontent, they may not openly deride us. Perhaps their scorn arises when they boast of their illusory wealth and status. Boasting of their possessions, they may dismiss those who yearn for what they cannot see. “I enjoy what I possess; let those who hope for the unseen depart from me; I am content with what is visible.” Yet, secure yourself in the knowledge that Christ has risen and assured us of eternal treasures; trust in His promises. This appears to mock the faithful, but bear with their derision, for there will come a time when they will regret their scorn, reflecting on the one they once dismissed (Wisdom 5:3).

Additionally, we may face mockery from those burdened by temporary afflictions. Was not the thief who shared the cross with Christ ridiculed (Luke 23:39)? If the poor ridicule us, why does the Psalm speak specifically of the disdain faced by the wealthy? Consider carefully; even those in turmoil are rich in their own way, for the proud cannot exist without a sense of value. One might claim wealth in money, another in honors; some may presume themselves wealthy in righteousness—a far worse pride. Others, feeling poor in material wealth, may consider themselves spiritually rich. When trials come, they resent God, questioning their misfortune instead of reflecting on their sins. Upon looking back at their wrongdoings, many refuse to admit their unworthiness, rationalizing that others have committed worse offenses, yet suffer no repercussions. In their own understanding, they stand blameless before God while still experiencing anguish. In pride, they are rich, believing themselves righteous while holding onto a distorted view of their plight, perceiving injustice where none exists.

Yet, a true Christian acknowledges their poverty. Should wealth be present, they recognize it as false wealth, prompting a desire for genuine riches instead. What constitutes the richness of our righteousness? Even the righteousness we possess is minuscule, but may it lead us to seek the fullness of divine righteousness, longing for the abundant provision described in the Psalm: “They shall be filled with the abundance of Thy house, and Thou shalt give them to drink of the stream of Thy pleasure.” While here, let us remain aware of our utter neediness—not solely when it comes to false riches but concerning salvation itself. Even in fullness, we must perceive our frailty. As long as this physical body endures hunger and thirst, as it tires from wakefulness, standing, walking, sitting, or eating, every pursuit for ease leads only to further exhaustion. Therefore, these possessions cannot be termed wealth; instead, they foster a sense of poverty, driving avarice only deeper. Let all our cravings—our thirst and hunger—be directed toward true riches, authentic health, and genuine righteousness.

What is that heavenly wealth? It lies in the eternal dwelling in the celestial Jerusalem. Who on earth is deemed rich? When one is declared wealthy, it often denotes lacking nothing. Yet, reality suggests that even those who appear content may yearn for more. True treasure exists in that City where nothing is needed, where genuine health prevails.

Consider their plea; they seek salvation for themselves not based on their worthiness but rather acknowledging the severe suffering and harsh trials inflicted upon them. For this reason, they earnestly cry out for relief and mercy. It is noteworthy that the prophet Isaiah echoes these sentiments when he declares: "Lord, have mercy on us. Have mercy on us, for we trusted in You" (Isaiah 33:2). This has led the Church of Christ to adopt these verses into a troparion sung during prayer services, repeatedly asking: "Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us," reflecting their heartfelt need for divine compassion, as well as drawing from Isaiah's words: "Lord, have mercy on us."

Thus, the Prophet rightly declares, “We are filled with humiliation,” and this acknowledgment is indeed profound, for how can anyone, even the most pious and upright, escape feeling humbled in such wretchedness?

However, the central form of humiliation that the Prophet addresses is the suffering of the righteous at the hands of the unrighteous, resonating with the Apostle’s enduring truth: “All who desire to live a godly life for Christ Jesus shall be persecuted” (2 Tim. 3:12). As the Lord stated, “If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you” (John 15:19). This enmity exists because good and evil are fundamentally opposed and cannot coexist peacefully. The righteous, being patient, meek, and taught by their Lord to respond to evil with goodness—transforming even the hand that strikes them—become targets of scorn from the wicked, who disdain them in their arrogance.

A Christian can adopt a similar approach in any time of need, for just as servants look to their masters for everything, so we turn to You with faith and supplication, anticipating Your assistance. The discipline of the proud is highlighted, appearing separate from the previous line for clarity of meaning; it should be understood to say, "let there be discipline," etc. The structure of our Slavonic translation mirrors that of the Hebrew, stating, "Our soul is fully affected by reproach from the arrogant and disgrace from the proud."

The apostles and martyrs suffered greatly at the hands of wealthy, arrogant tormentors for the sake of Christ. The Church, inspired by the words of David, has crafted a penitential hymn: "Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy on us, every answer is perplexed..." A devoted person, especially earnest in their desire to lead a righteous life, encounters numerous trials, confronted as they are by proud and wicked demons (2 Tim. 3:12). The prophetic leader, granted liberation from dire adversities and cruel foes intent on his destruction as well as that of his nation, attributes his deliverance to the power and grace of Almighty God, giving Him praise. Moreover, the voice of Holy Church also expresses salvation from evil circumstances through the strength of Christ the Lord.