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JUNE 24

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Read | Psalm 123

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I lift up my eyes to you,

    to you who sit enthroned in heaven.

As the eyes of slaves look to the hand of their master,

    as the eyes of a female slave look to the hand of her mistress,

so our eyes look to the Lord our God,

    till he shows us his mercy.

Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy on us,

    for we have endured no end of contempt.

We have endured no end

    of ridicule from the arrogant,

    of contempt from the proud.

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Respond | Rebecca Carnell

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Seeking (or dreaming of) revenge after being cheated, defamed, or attacked is human – we all do it. When our offenders are unapologetically arrogant and powerful like the ones described in this passage, it’s unbearable. What strikes me here is the psalmist’s heart. It doesn’t seem bent toward vengeance. It seems bent toward mercy.   

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