Subject: The focus of our Worship - Psalm 122-124

Psalms 123:1 (ESV Strong's)
To you I lift up my eyes,
O you who are enthroned in the heavens!

Subject:  Focus of Worship

In the story of Job we read about the suffering of Job and then the way his three "friends" handled that suffering.  They just had to find a reason for his pain and his struggles.   Yet, we know, from reading the beginning of the story, that this was not something Job did, but simply the fact that he was there.   His three friends wanted him to focus on "Job" to discover the problem.  In Job 38 we read that God finally speaks and wants Job (for the next four chapters) to focus on Him!!   In the midst of trials and difficulty, winds and wave, God wants us to focus on Him.   Psalm 123 is a Psalm of the Ascent - meaning it is a Psalm that was either song or quoted as the Israelite traveled to Jerusalem for the Passover or other feast.   During the ascent there was much walking.  The believer was to use that time to prepare his heart in anticipation for what God was going to do during the feast.   In this particular verse the writer states that the focus on the worshipper is on God.   It is not on the fellowship of other believers, albeit wonderful in its self.  It was not on the actual worship service and the feeling that the worshipper would get during the service, although ecstatic.   It was not on the worship leaders dressed in their Sunday-Best.  It was not on the music, the offering, the giving or the the Tabernacle/Temple.  No, the focus was to have your eyes on the Lord!!  Job was to look up and see the Lord - in the midst of his suffering.  Paul, on the Damascus Road, was forced to look up and see the Lord - in the midst of his torrent persecution of the Church.   Moses was brought to a burning bush to see the Lord - in the midst of a wilderness experience.  And, Elijah was hidden in the mouth of a cave to see the Lord - in the midst of his depression.   Our focus on the Lord is the focus of redemption and peace.   When our eyes are on anything else we don't and won't have peace or satisfaction in our situation and therefore can't glorify God in our journey.