Have mercy upon us, O LORD, have mercy upon us: for we are exceedingly filled with contempt.
Psalm 123:3 belongs to the Psalms of Ascent, the songs pilgrims chanted as they approached Jerusalem, stirring spiritual truth in worshippers as the Holy City came into view. It belongs to the Psalm of Degrees, chanted while worshipers climbed the fifteen steps leading to the inner court of the temple. It was written by Asaph, Ethan, and others during the latter part of the Babylonian captivity in the reign of Belshazzar, who knew not Daniel, when the persecution and distress of the Jews were greatest. It describes Israel in Babylonian captivity after being left without divine protection.
The contempt with which they are exceedingly filled is the scorn and derision of their Babylonian captors, who mocked them by demanding they sing their former joyful songs of praise. Being satiated with contempt is the same afflicted condition as eating defiled bread in that exile. The cry for mercy expresses the sorrows and afflictions of the Hebrew captives, mingled with exhortation and encouragement and assurance of divine help and final deliverance from their persecutors. It is one of the inspired songs of Zion that expresses human need, human longing, and human insufficiency and the all-sufficiency of God, and it is uplifting and inspiring.
Psalm 123:3 belongs to the Psalms of Ascent, the songs pilgrims chanted as they approached Jerusalem, stirring spiritual truth in worshippers as the Holy City came into view. It belongs to the Psalm of Degrees, chanted while worshipers climbed the fifteen steps leading to the inner court of the temple. It was written by Asaph, Ethan, and others during the latter part of the Babylonian captivity in the reign of Belshazzar, who knew not Daniel, when the persecution and distress of the Jews were greatest. It describes Israel in Babylonian captivity after being left without divine protection.
The contempt with which they are exceedingly filled is the scorn and derision of their Babylonian captors, who mocked them by demanding they sing their former joyful songs of praise. Being satiated with contempt is the same afflicted condition as eating defiled bread in that exile. The cry for mercy expresses the sorrows and afflictions of the Hebrew captives, mingled with exhortation and encouragement and assurance of divine help and final deliverance from their persecutors. It is one of the inspired songs of Zion that expresses human need, human longing, and human insufficiency and the all-sufficiency of God, and it is uplifting and inspiring.