Tehillim 123 | “AS the Eyes of Slaves Turn to Their Master's hand”

This short psalm carries deep emotion and a significant theological point. It gives voice to the feelings of the humiliated Jew who has had enough of scorn and degradation, and lifts his eyes to his only hope — God. The poet does not offer a well-reasoned request, but simply pleads – "show us favor" (=חננו). As Chazal interpreted, “'and be gracious (=יחנך) to you': with gifts of 'grace' (=חנם)” (Sifrei Bamidbar 41). The servant lifts his eyes to the hand of his master, too fearful to look directly, not knowing whether what awaits is a blow or a meal. The relationship between a slave and his master is one of total dependence: the slave needs the master for food, shelter, and even protection from others who may try to claim him for themselves, and the master owes him no explanations.

In his book "The Amida and the Foundations of Faith", (תפילת שמונה עשרה ויסודות האמונה) Rav Ezra Bick explains that this image of the servant is fundamental to prayer. Our prayers are filled mostly with requests from God, what kind of Divine service is that? What makes prayer an “avodah of the heart”? Rav Bick explains that asking God to take care of us, to arrange every part of our lives from beginning to end, is an acknowledgment that we are His servants and He is the master who bears full responsibility for us. The master provides the servant with his needs, but also gives him a role and a purpose. The servant has no personal agenda, and his goal in life is to fulfill the agenda of the master. We are fortunate, and our Master is a kind one, whose goals are ultimately for our benefit. And prayer is the declaration that we are ready to take on this mission, and grateful to have such a Master: “We give thanks to You, for You are the Lord our God.”

The final verse of our psalm acknowledges the advantage of our position as God’s servants. Alongside the plea that God protect us from those who attack us, there is also a subtle tone of scorn: “the scorn of the complacent, the contempt of the arrogant.” (123:4) The real contempt is reserved for the proud, for those who believe they are masters, but we have been privileged to know that we are not masters at all, but we are servants of the one true Master.