Psalm 112:4

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 112:1-5

The psalmist begins with a call to us to praise God, but immediately applies himself to praise the people of God; for whatever glory is acknowledged to be on them it comes from God, and must return to him; as he is their praise, so they are his. We have reason to praise the Lord that there are a people in the world who fear him and serve him, and that they are a happy people, both which are owing entirely to the grace of God. Now here we have, I. A description of those who are here pronounced... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 112:4

Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness ,.... Upright ones are sometimes in the darkness of affliction, under divine desertions, without spiritual joy, and in an uncomfortable condition; when on a sudden light arises to them, like break of day, or the morning light: they have deliverance from affliction, and enjoy prosperity; the light of God's countenance is lifted up on them; the sun of righteousness arises upon them with healing in his wings; and spiritual joy and comfort are... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 112:4

There ariseth light in the darkness - The upright are always happy; and when tribulations come, God lifts up the light of his countenance upon him, and causes all occurences to work together for his good. He is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous - He enjoys the favor of God; that grace makes him compassionate; and in the general tenor of his conduct he is righteous. From these principles he shows favor ( Psalm 112:5 ;) to him that needs it; that is, to the real poor he... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 112:4

Verse 4 4Light ariseth The Hebrew verb זרח, zarach, may be taken intransitively, as I have inserted it in the text, or transitively, as in the marginal reading; in either way the signification is the same. Whichsoever of these translations you adopt, the words are susceptible of a twofold interpretation; either, that as the sun shines on one part of the earth, and all the other parts of it are enveloped in darkness, so God exempts the righteous from the common calamities of human life; or, as... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 112:1-10

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 112:1-10

The promise of piety. In Bacon's celebrated saying that "prosperity is the blessing of the Old Testament, but adversity of the New," there is a measure of truth; but it is far from covering all the ground. We may set against it the apostolic declaration that" godliness hath the promise of the life that now is." And though we may not press the sentences of this psalm to any nice exactitude, yet it is substantially as true of the good man, and as applicable to his life on earth now, as it... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 112:1-10

The blessed life. This psalm, like the previous one, begins with "Hallelujah," and is also an alphabetical psalm. That one gave glad thanks because of what the Lord God himself, in his ways and works, was declared to be. Now this one gives like thanks for what, by the grace of God, his servant is enabled to become. "The one sets forth God, his work and his attributes; the other tells us what are the work and character of those who fear God." So that the same affirmations are made both of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 112:1-10

The blessedness of the eminently good. "That delighteth greatly in his commandments." I. HIS CHILDREN SHALL BE BLESSED . ( Psalms 112:2 .) "Mighty" in a warlike sense here. II. SHALL PROSPER IN OUTWARD CIRCUMSTANCES . ( Psalms 112:3 .) "Godliness is profit able unto all things," etc. III. SHALL ENJOY THE LIGHT OF GOD 'S PRESENCE , AND OF Ills OWN COMPASSIONATE DEEDS IN TIMES OF ADVERSITY . ( Psalms 112:4 , Psalms 112:5 ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 112:4

Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness . God's Word is "a lantern unto their feet, and a light unto their paths" ( Psalms 119:105 )—sufficient under most circumstances to guide their steps aright. When this is not enough, he vouchsafes an inward light to them ( Psalms 27:1 ; Psalms 36:9 ; Isaiah 58:10 ; Isaiah 49:6 , etc.). He is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous . It is a very forced interpretation to understand this as said of Jehovah. The entire... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 112:4

Light arising in darkness. I. LIGHT DOES SO ARISE . Morning by morning, if only we were astir to see it, the light arises out of the darkness. There comes the paling of the dark, and then the gradual dawn. And the method of it is full of suggestion as to like times of darkness. The light comes because the earth swings itself round into the light. The earth, unlike the people who dwell upon it, is obedient to the Divine law concerning her; and hence, though she be in darkness, she... read more

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