So what does it mean for us when the light of God’s face is lifted up upon us? Let’s widen our lens and see how this phrase is used in the Psalms.
- Psalm 80:3 — “Cause us to return, O God; let your face shine, that we may be saved!” The shining of God’s face draws sinners back from straying and then saves them.
- Psalm 119:135 — “Make your face shine upon your servant, and teach me your statutes.” The shining of God’s face illumines the word of God and takes us into his counsel.
- Psalm 44:3 — “Not by their own sword did they win the land, nor did their own arm save them, but your right hand and your arm, and the light of your face, for you delighted in them.” The light of God’s face is the free gift of his delight in us and brings victory over our enemies.
- Psalm 31:16 — “Make your face shine on your servant; save me in your steadfast love!” The shining of God’s face is the brightness of his steadfast love and brings salvation with it.
- Psalm 67:1–2 — “May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us, that your way may be known on earth, your saving power among all nations.” The shining of God’s face is the shining of his grace which brings blessing not only for us, but through us for the nations.
So this is some of what it means for us in Psalm 4:6 when the light of God’s face is lifted up upon us. These are all objective blessings from God to us.
- His saving work in us that overcomes our blindness and subdues our rebellion and causes us to return to God. (Psalm 80:3)
- The opening of our eyes to the wonders of the meaning of God’s word. (Psalm 119:135)
- The expression of God’s delight in us with victory over our foes. (Psalm 44:3)
- The shining of his steadfast love that makes a blessing to the nations. (Psalm 67:1–2)
The Thrill Is Never Gone
If those are the objective blessings of being in the light of God’s face, what are the subjective effects when this light brings us to God, opens our eyes, pours his delight over us, and makes us a blessing to the nations?
It is obvious that the psalmist considers the light of God’s face to be a thrilling place to be. But it is made explicit for us:
- Job 33:26 — “Man prays to God, and he accepts him; he sees his face with a shout of joy.”
- Psalm 16:11 — “In your presence [same word as face in Psalm 4:6: “before your face”] there is fullness of joy.”
- Psalm 17:15 — “I shall behold your face in righteousness; when I awake, I shall be satisfied with your likeness.”
A shout of joy. Fullness of joy. Satisfaction in the morning. Because the light of God’s face is lifted up upon us.
“The most basic thing that distinguishes a Christian is a new gladness in a new God through a new gospel.”
And in all three of those texts, our joy is in God himself — not his gifts. We see his face and shout. Before his face we are full. When we see his likeness we are satisfied. To be sure, God is the giver of every good and perfect gift (abounding grain and wine), but when attention is called to the light of his face, and the prayer goes up: “Lift up the light of your face upon us, O Lord!” (Psalm 4:6), the cry is not mainly for the joy of grain and wine — or any created thing. The joy of his face is joy in the person of God, the radiance, the brightness, the beauty, the glory of God.
This is the new gladness of the psalmist. And given this context, I conclude, it is better than the gladness of the world in every way: the source is infinite and supremely beautiful, the duration is eternal, and the quality of it is unique because no mere man can see and enjoy the holy beauty of God. He must experience a miracle.
