PSAL. IV.
Verse 3. THe Lord hath set apart him that is godly for himself.] Wonderfully, gloriously, miraculously, for communion and service.
The Lord will hear when I call unto him.] Hear with approbation, that is, accept his desire, or hear with effect, that is, grant the thing desired.
Vers. 4. Stand in awe and sinne not, commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still.] Here are four duties, 1. Stand in awe of God. 2. Sin not. 3. How to keep us from sinne, commune with your own heart upon your bed; and be still, in unquiet times have a quiet heart.
Vers. 6. There be many that say, who will shew us any good.] The word transla∣ted Say, signifies also think, there is verbum cordis & oris.
Who will shew us any good?] It is usual with the Hebrews to express wishes by questions, Psal. 14. 4. & 1 Chron. 11. 17. Rom. 7. 18.
Shew us.] Cause us to see, Ostendere bonum est benefacere, Vide Toletum in Joan. 899. When this word refers to good, it signifies to enjoy, as Eccles. 2. 1. & 3. 13. being propounded by way of interrogation, it signifies a vehement wish, as 1 Chron. 11. 17. Psal. 55. 7. Rom. 7. 24.
Good.] The word signifies real or apparent good, temporall or spirituall good; here temporall, as the following words shew. Any is not in the Hebrew, Who will shew us good, as if all happiness were found in temporall goods.
Lord lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us.] As if he should say, Let the most of the world seek what they will, as riches, pleasures, and so forth, yet my desire is of thy love and favour above all. The Psalmist useth such expressions often, Cause thy face to shine upon us, Psal. 119. 130. It is a metaphor from the Spring-sunne rising, the trees bud and blossom, the birds sing, and all things flou∣rish and rejoyce thereat, or from the cheerfull countenance of men, Gen. 31. 5. All affections are displaied in the countenance, that is, give us a cheerfull sense of thy reconciliation with us. This lifting up of his face is opposed to hiding of his face, a sign of his anger, Isa 54. 8.
Vers. 5. Thou hast put gladness in my heart.] The gladness is greater, and put into the heart, more intimate.
More than in the time that their corn and their wine increased.] Theirs in regard of possession, estimation and choice, they placed their happinesse in these earthly things.