Tuesday, April 10, 2018

A Study of Psalm Thirty Four
Verse Five

5 They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed.
King James Translation

Brethren:

We are reminded here of three scriptures that use the concept of faces being alight. Exodus 34:29-35, wherein Moses in speaking with God came out and his face shone, that is to say, was radiant. Secondly when Christ took his three disciples up the mountain and was transfigured so that he shone beyond brightness. Along the side of Him were Moses, and Elijah. Both men of great faith and trust in God. And finally 2 Corinthians 3:7.

Friends, when we look towards Him as our Savior, and as He that hath control over all things, we shall never be ashamed. It is Paul the Apostle that writes:
“I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ” In this, he writes that the Gospel is the bringer of joyous news, and more importantly salvation.

That is, 'the humble' ones, ( See Psalms 34:2 ) ; and so this is a reason why they should join in praising and magnifying the Lord; these 'looked' up to God in prayer and by faith, when in distressed and uncomfortable circumstances, for help and deliverance, and a supply of every needful good thing; and they were 'enlightened'; so the Targum renders it, 'their faces were enlightened'; as Jarchi and Aben Ezra interpret it, in opposition to what follows: they must have been enlightened before they could look, but by looking to the Lord more light was gained: this chiefly designs the light of joy, peace, and comfort, which is had in a way of believing: some render the word "and flowed", as a river does, that is, to the Lord, as in ( See Jeremiah 31:12 ) . So Kimchi and Ben Melech explain the word; and it denotes both the numbers of them that looked up to the Lord in their distress, and the swiftness of their motion to him, and their earnestness and fervor of mind; so faith is not only a looking to Christ, but a going forth unto him; having what they prayed and looked for, and what they hoped and believed they should have; namely, deliverance and salvation, and so peace and pleasure.” - John Gill – Theologian

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