Psalms 4:6

_THERE BE MANY THAT SAY, WHO WILL SHEW US ANY GOOD? LORD, LIFT THOU UP THE LIGHT OF THY COUNTENANCE UPON US._ Many ... say, Who will show us any good? Many, admist overwhelming troubles, such as the present ones, give way to despair, as they look not beyond outward appearances, which are all against them: their cry is, "Who will show us any good?" we cannot see any one able and willing to help us. The sentiment is general, though perhaps with allusion to some of his companions in exile, who had not the faith of David. In contrast to these, he expresses his own confidence, derived from Yahweh - "Lord, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us." One glance of thy presence shining on me, and those with me ("us"), is enough instantly to dispel the gloom. David lays hold, by faith, on the promise implied in Yahweh's command to the Levites to pronounce the triple blessing (Num

6._Many say. _Some are of opinion that David here complains of the cruel malice of his enemies, because they greedily sought for his life. But David, I have no doubt, compares the sole wish with which his own heart was burning, to the many desires with which almost all mankind are distracted. As it is not a principle held and acted upon by ungodly men, that those only can be truly and perfectly happy who are interested in the favor of God, and that they ought to live as strangers and pilgrims in the world, in order through hope and patience to obtain, in due time, a better life, they remain contented with perishing good things; and, therefore, if they enjoy outward prosperity, they are not influenced by any great concern about God. Accordingly, while, after the manner of the lower animals, they grasp at various objects, some at one thing, and some at another, thinking to find in them sup...

6-8 Wordly people inquire for good, not for the chief good; all they want is outward good, present good, partial good, good meat, good drink, a good trade, and a good estate; but what are all these worth? Any good will serve the turn of most men, but a gracious soul will not be put off so. Lord, let us have thy favour, and let us know that we have it, we desire no more; let us be satisfied of thy loving-kindness, and will be satisfied with it. Many inquire after happiness, but David had found it. When God puts grace in the heart, he puts gladness in the heart. Thus comforted, he pitied, but neither envied nor feared the most prosperous sinner. He commits all his affairs to God, and is prepared to welcome his holy will. But salvation is in Christ alone; where will those appear who despise him as their Mediator, and revile him in his disciples? May they stand in awe, and no longer sin agai...

Verse Psalms 4:6. _WHO WILL SHOW US_ ANY _GOOD?_] This is not a fair translation. The word _any_ is not in the text, nor any thing equivalent to it; and not a few have quoted _it_, and preached upon the text, placing the principal emphasis on this illegitimate _word._ The place is sufficiently emphatic without this. There are _multitudes who say, Who will show us good_? Man wants _good_; he hates _evil_ as evil, because he has _pain, suffering_, and _death_ through it; and he wishes to find that _supreme good_ which will content his heart, and save him from evil. But men mistake this good. They look for a good that is to gratify their _passions_; they have no notion of any happiness that does not come to them through the _medium of their senses_. Therefore they reject _spiritual good_, and they re

THERE BE MANY THAT SAY - Some have supposed, as DeWette and others, that the allusion of the psalmist here is to his own followers, and that the reference is to their anxious fears in their misfortunes, as if they were poor and forsaken, and knew not from from where the supply of their wants would come. The more probable interpretation, however, is that the allusion is to the general anxiety of mankind, as contrasted with the feelings and desires of the psalmist himself in reference to the manner in which the desire was to be gratified. That is, the general inquiry among mankind is, who will show us good? Or, where shall we obtain that which seems to us to be good, or which will promote our happiness? WHO WILL SHOW US ANY GOOD? - The word “any” here is improperly supplied by the translators. The question is more emphatic as it is in the original - “Who will show us good?” That is, Where...

EXPOSITION AGAIN the psalm has a title, "To the chief Musician on Neginoth. A Psalm of David;" literally, "to the_ _superintendent or foreman," which, in this instance, would be the choir-leader, or "precentor" (Kay). "On Neginoth" is supposed to mean "for stringed instruments" (Hengstenberg, Kay, 'Speaker's Commentary,' Revised Version, etc.); comp. Isaiah 38:20. The authorship of David is generally allowed; but there is nothing to mark the exact circumstances under which the psalm was written. In its metrical structure it very much resembles Psalms 3:1; being composed, like that, of a short strophe (verses1, 2), a short anti-strophe (Psalms 3:3,...

[THERE BE] MANY THAT SAY, WHO WILL SHOW US [ANY] GOOD?.... These may be thought to be the men of the world; carnal worldly minded men, seeking after temporal good, and taking up their rest and contentment in it; to whom the psalmist opposes his wish and request, in the following words. Or these are the words of the men that were along with David, wishing themselves at home and in their families, enjoying the good things of life they before had; or rather these are the words of the same many, the enemies of David, spoken of in Psalms 3:1; who were wishing, as Kimchi observes, that Absalom's rebellion might prosper; that David might die and his son reign in his stead, so the evil they wished to him was good to them: or they may be the words of the same men, expressing the desperate condition that David and his friends were in, which the psalmist represents in this manner, "who will show us...

Psalms 4:1. _Hear me, when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer._ Past experience is a sweet solace in the hour of trouble. «Thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress.» Think of what God has been to you, you tried ones, for he will be the same still. And can he have taught you to trust in his name, And thus far have brought you to put you to shame? Is this God's way to be gracious to his people, and then to turn against them? God forbid. Pray, then, with the grateful memory of all his loving-kindness. «Thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress. Have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer.» Psalms 4:2. O ye sons of men, how, long will ye turn my glory into shame? how long will ye love vanity, and seek after lea

Psalms 4 __ 1. The cry to Jehovah (Psalms 4:1) 2. The warning to the enemies (Psalms 4:4) 3. The assurance of faith (Psalms 4:6) Psalms 4:1. The fourth Psalm is closely connected with the third; the third is “a Morning Psalm” and the fourth “an Evening Hymn.” He calls God “God of my righteousness” and He knows that He will act in righteousness toward him, be gracious and hear prayer. Then the appeal to the sons of men, who love emptiness and seek after a lie. They should know that the Lord hath set apart the godly for Himself and therefore He will hear

IV. AN EVENING HYMN BY A MAN HIGH IN OFFICE WHOSE RULE EXCITES JEALOUSY AND RESISTANCE. The Psalmist begins with an appeal to the God of his righteousness, _i.e._ the God who declares that his case is good. The Heb. words usually translated righteousness, righteous, make righteous were originally legal in their implication. A righteous man was one whose cause was decided in his favour, so that he was clear of guilt in the judgment of the Court. Next (Psalms 4:2) he appeals to his foes who slander him and bring reproach upon his office, possibly that of High Priest. However angry they may be, they are exhorted to quiet their hearts with silent meditation. They are moreover to offer the sacrifices of righteousness, _i.e._ sacrifices in which the Pentateuchal ritual was strictly observed. Godly in Psalms 4:3 i