Mensa Otabil - Lord, Lift Your Countenance On Me (10/02/2025)
Psalm 4, verse 6: There are many who say, «Who will show us any good?» Lord, lift up the light of your countenance upon us. As you know, this psalm tracks the life of David. It occurs at a time when there is a significant rebellion in his kingdom. His son Absalom has gathered people, and they are now attempting to remove David.
As more and more people joined Absalom against David, David’s camp began to feel very discouraged, in despair, and despondent. Every day, they would hear that some important person had joined Absalom. It seemed as if some trusted advisor had broken ranks each day, and they were hearing bad news after bad news.
The servants of David, or the people around him, began asking, «Who will show us any good? Who will be favorable to us?» David repeats their words: «There are many who say, 'Who will show us any good? '» It happens in life sometimes that when people around us become discouraged or start spreading words of discouragement, others pick it up, and before you realize it, everyone is saying the same thing.
There’s so much despair that people begin to lose hope. It looks as if, although you’re trying to salvage a situation, everyone has just lost hope. That’s where David is, and it seems as if there’s a long streak of failure coming their way. They keep facing losses and don’t appear to catch a break. Will they ever have a favorable break?
If you’ve ever asked that question where it seems there is so much despair around you, wondering if things will ever turn around, you might ask, «Will somebody just be good to me? Will somebody be kind to me? Will somebody come and help me?»
So when David acknowledges this, the next sentence he says is, «Lord, lift up the light of your countenance upon us.» The people around David are complaining, but David prays to God, asking Him to smile on them and lift up the light of His countenance upon them. That statement was part of the priestly blessing in Israel, meaning in today’s words, «Lord, look favorably upon us» or «Lord, smile on us.» Just do something nice, turn your attention to us, and let something good happen to us.
David expresses that while everybody says nobody will do us good, he looks up to God to do him good and smiles upon him. He implores God to turn His countenance upon them. Today, I want to pray for you if you are in that situation and feel that no good thing is happening to you. May the Lord smile on you and turn His countenance upon you.
We can learn from David that even though the people around us may be discouraged, we must learn to encourage ourselves in the Lord. The way we encourage ourselves in the Lord is to avoid joining the complaints, instead addressing our thoughts to the Lord and asking God to act on our behalf. Lord, smile upon us; turn your countenance upon us.
The eyes of the Lord can break through the darkness and bring light. Although we may be surrounded by darkness, the light of the Lord will shine through, and His countenance will shine upon you. So, as people ask, «Who would do us any good?» our response is, «The Lord will; He will turn His countenance upon us.»
Let’s pray. Say with me, «Heavenly Father, your presence with me is more than thousands against me. Smile with favor upon me. In Jesus' name, Amen.»
And Amen, my friend. The Lord will smile upon you, and the news will be good for you. I am Pastor Mensa Otabil. Shalom, peace, and life to you.