Faith Daily Lectio Tuesday, October 20, 2026 Morning Psalm
Tuesday, October 20, 2026 · Tuesday in the week of the Twenty-first Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 24)
Morning Psalm
Oratio (prayer)
O Lord, You dwell in the heavens, and my eyes wait upon You. Send Your Holy Spirit as I pray Psalm 123 this morning, that I may look to You for mercy in Jesus Christ. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Meditatio (meditation)
Psalm 123
A Song of degrees.
1Unto thee lift I up mine eyes, O thou that dwellest in the heavens.
2Behold, as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their masters, and as the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistress; so our eyes wait upon the LORD our God, until that he have mercy upon us.
3Have mercy upon us, O LORD, have mercy upon us: for we are exceedingly filled with contempt.
4Our soul is exceedingly filled with the scorning of those that are at ease, and with the contempt of the proud.
Consider even rereading in another translation.
You could also consider listening to this chapter, narrated:
KJV (Max McLean) · ESV (Max McLean) · NIV (dramatized)
You might read the whole reading slowly, aloud, more than once.
Consider this verse, for example:
“Unto thee lift I up mine eyes, O thou that dwellest in the heavens.” (Psalm 123:1)
What other lines speak to you?
The Law The Psalm admits it plainly: "we are exceedingly filled with contempt" (v. 3). The scorn of the proud wears us down. And we are not only on the receiving end. We can be among "those that are at ease" (v. 4), looking down on others, or looking anywhere but to the Lord for help.
The Gospel As a servant watches the master's hand, "so our eyes wait upon the LORD our God, until that he have mercy upon us" (v. 2). The Lord's hand is not closed. In Jesus He has opened it to you with the very mercy you ask for, and He does not grow tired of your asking. The One who dwells in the heavens came down and bore contempt Himself, so that you would be received.
Prayer Lord, I confess that I look to many hands before I look to Yours, and that I have scorned others. Forgive me. Thank You for Your mercy in Christ. Keep my eyes on You this day. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Tentatio (trial)
When contempt comes, whether online, at work, or close to home, it is tempting to answer it with contempt. This short Psalm does something else. It lifts its eyes and prays, "Have mercy upon us, O LORD, have mercy upon us" (v. 3). Under trial it may help to pray that one line again and again through the day.
Prayer Lord, when I am filled with the scorn of others, lift my eyes to You. Have mercy upon me, and keep me from returning scorn for scorn. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Scripture quotations are from the King James Version.
My church home: Peace Lutheran Church, McMurray, PA. Looking for a church? See About Daily Lectio.
