Expositions on the Psalms — Psalm 123

St. Augustine of Hippo

1. Chapter 1
2. Chapter 2
3. Chapter 3
4. Chapter 4
5. Chapter 5
6. Chapter 6
7. Chapter 7
8. Chapter 8

...Let this singer ascend; and let this man sing from the heart of each of you, and let each of you be this man, for when each of you says this, since you are all one in Christ, one man says this; and says not, Unto You, O Lord, have we lift up our eyes; but, Unto You, O Lord, have I lift up my eyes Psalm 122:1. You ought indeed to imagine that every one of you is speaking; but that One in a special sense speaks, who is also spread abroad over the whole world...

What makes the heart of a Christian heavy? Because he is a pilgrim, and longs for his country. If your heart be heavy on this score, although you have been prosperous in the world, still you groan: and if all things combine to render you prosperous, and this world smiles upon you on every side, you nevertheless groan, because you see that you are set in a pilgrimage; and feel that you have indeed happiness in the eyes of fools, but not as yet after the promise of Christ: this you seek with groans, this you seek with longings, and by longing ascend, and while you ascend you sing the Song of Degrees.