Psa 4:6 | KingComments | STEP | In these verses, David addresses the LORD. He answers the question posed by “many” ( ), which are the adversaries ( ). Their question is who will show them any good. The question is a reproach from “many”, by which is meant the apostate mass of God’s people. They lack prosperity and wealth in their lives and resent God and His anointed King for it. This attitude stems from the fact that they persist in their evil ways and do not take to heart the testimony of the faithful remnant. For David, the good thing is that God lifts up the light of His countenance “upon us”, that is, upon himself and his people (cf. ). This is opposed to hiding one’s face, which results in dismay ( ; ). David personally experienced that the joy of the light of God’s countenance is a greater blessing than the temporary blessings of what people call “the good” ( ). The good that people want, they find in “their grain and new wine”. If only they have that, they have what they want, but without being truly satisfied. They think only of here and now. Tomorrow they want something else and more. The good for these people is the reign of Absalom ( ), and prophetically it is the reign of the antichrist and the beast. David realizes that those temporary blessings can be taken away, while life in the light of God’s face is an eternal delight (cf. ). The joy he has in his heart is God’s gift to him. This is not an imagined, manufactured joy, but real joy. Circumstances no longer worry him, his many enemies with their mockeries are no longer a threat. God fills his heart. Then there is no room anymore for worry and threat. There is peace and safety because God cares and protects. He can both lie down and sleep peacefully because the LORD not only protects but makes him dwell in safety, that is, he is completely at ease with God ( ). There is not only absence of enemies and enmity, but also the presence of inner peace. This situation of peace and safety is what God will work out for His people in the realm of peace, but is already present in the heart when it becomes night.

‏ Psalms 4:6

Light, Gladness, Peace and Safety

In these verses, David addresses the LORD. He answers the question posed by “many” (Psa 4:6), which are the adversaries (Psa 3:1-2). Their question is who will show them any good. The question is a reproach from “many”, by which is meant the apostate mass of God’s people. They lack prosperity and wealth in their lives and resent God and His anointed King for it. This attitude stems from the fact that they persist in their evil ways and do not take to heart the testimony of the faithful remnant.

For David, the good thing is that God lifts up the light of His countenance “upon us”, that is, upon himself and his people (cf. Num 6:24-26). This is opposed to hiding one’s face, which results in dismay (Psa 30:7b; Deu 32:20). David personally experienced that the joy of the light of God’s countenance is a greater blessing than the temporary blessings of what people call “the good” (Psa 4:7).

The good that people want, they find in “their grain and new wine”. If only they have that, they have what they want, but without being truly satisfied. They think only of here and now. Tomorrow they want something else and more. The good for these people is the reign of Absalom (2Sam 15:4-6), and prophetically it is the reign of the antichrist and the beast.

David realizes that those temporary blessings can be taken away, while life in the light of God’s face is an eternal delight (cf. Hab 3:17-19). The joy he has in his heart is God’s gift to him. This is not an imagined, manufactured joy, but real joy. Circumstances no longer worry him, his many enemies with their mockeries are no longer a threat. God fills his heart. Then there is no room anymore for worry and threat. There is peace and safety because God cares and protects.

He can both lie down and sleep peacefully because the LORD not only protects but makes him dwell in safety, that is, he is completely at ease with God (Psa 4:8). There is not only absence of enemies and enmity, but also the presence of inner peace. This situation of peace and safety is what God will work out for His people in the realm of peace, but is already present in the heart when it becomes night.