Psalm 123:3-4 - Have mercy upon us, O LORD, have mercy upon us, for we have had more than enough of contempt. Our soul has had more than enough of the scorn of those who are at ease, of the contempt of the proud.

"I've had enough!" Very likely we have all said that at one time or another, or we have at least had the thought. We may become frustrated with family or friends, or with circumstances at work or at home. Here in our psalm though, the frustration is that of the righteous who face the contempt and scorn of the wicked. Why is it, the psalmist wonders, that we who trust in God suffer while those who hate us are so proud and at ease? "Behold, these are the wicked; always at ease, they increase in riches. All in vain have I kept my heart clean and washed my hands in innocence" (Psalm 73:12-13).

We see and experience the contempt and scorn that unbelievers have for those who trust in Jesus for salvation. Sometimes we become frustrated and like disappointed children we cry out to our Heavenly Father: "It's not fair!" It is not fair, but we should not be surprised. Jesus told us to expect the world's scorn, to remember that we, as His followers, will be rejected and hated as He was. Jesus knew "the scorn of those who are at ease." The religious leaders, secure in their positions of authority and power, despised the Lord's teachings and rejected Him as Messiah and Savior. With contempt for His claims, Jesus' enemies condemned Him to die. He was nailed to the cross, where He suffered the penalty of death for our sins, for the sins of His accusers, for the sins of the whole world. As He hung on the cross Jesus was ridiculed and scorned, but "when He was reviled, He did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but continued entrusting Himself to Him who judges justly" (1 Peter 2:23).

God answered our plea for mercy in the face of the world's contempt, and He who judges justly raised His innocent Son from death. Jesus overcame the hatred and contempt of the world, and we share in His victory. As we endure the world's scorn, we know that God has had mercy on us. Through faith in Jesus we not only endure, we are "more than conquerors through Him who loved us" (Romans 8:37b). The victory that Jesus won for us, though hidden for now under the cross of suffering and scorn, is still our victory. As conquerors who bear the cross, we pray for mercy, not only for ourselves, but for those who hold us in contempt and, like our Lord, we continue to entrust ourselves to God "who judges justly."

WE PRAY: Lord, I pray that those who now scorn You will come to trust in You as their Savior. Amen.

This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Carol Geisler.

Reflection Questions:

1. Being unfairly viewed by others can hurt. How can we guard against doing this to others?

2. How was Jesus rejected by others? Why did that happen to Him?

3. What should we remember when the world isn't kind to us?

Today's Bible Readings: Ecclesiastes 10-12    Acts 10:24-48

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