Self-righteousness

How often do you look up?
If you do look up, why do you look up?

Listening to Psalm 123, the reason for looking up is clear; it keeps us --- yes even the elect --- from the many types and dangers of self-righteousness; to wait upon God, for him to show us his mercy.

"I lift up my eyes to you, to you whose throne is in Heaven.
As the eyes of slaves look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a maid 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, O LORD, have mercy on us, for we have endured much contempt.
We have endured much ridicule from the proud, much contempt from the arrogant.

I lift up my eyes to you, to you whose throne is in Heaven."