TO BEHOLD HIS FACE IN RIGHTEOUSNESS

The psalm commences with the psalmist’s prayer to God to “Hear the right”, i.e., his righteous cause, v. 1. He boldly asks for his sentence from the divine presence, v. 2, and the ground of that petition is that He beholds equity, R.V.

The question arises as to whether the psalmist was being Pharisaic in his bold protestations of innocence. No; he is asking for God’s vindication of his innocence in the matters charged against him. In protesting the cleanness of his heart and his outward obedience, v. 3, he is not so much denying his sin, but is stating his sincere devotion and his obedience to God’s law. These things are not the same as the complacency of the Pharisee. The psalmist continues to paint the contrast between the desires of the worldly man and his own spiritual aspirations. He does not complain of their prosperity—his blessings are far greater than theirs could ever be. They culminate in his triumphant assertion in verse 15. Here, he expresses the deepest longings of his heart—to behold the face of the Lord in righteousness, and to be conformed to the divine likeness. Is not that our supreme desire too?

The satisfaction of worldly men is in their wealth and family honours; that of the psalmist is in the sunshine of God’s presence and the vision of His righteousness. Their portion is in this life, and they leave their substance behind them when they die, but to the Christian, whose portion is God, it means the fuller possession of all that he loves and desires. The psalmist’s “I” is emphatic, for it is in contrast to those described in the preceding verse 14.

It must be in righteousness that he would gaze upon His face. The condition of beholding the Holy One is holiness. The condition of holiness is trust in Christ. The contrast throughout is between the false life and the true life in the present world, and therefore the word “awake” could have the immediate meaning of the psalmist’s desire for the continuation of communion with his God each waking day.

Yet, of course, the concept of eternal life cannot be far away from the words. Communion begun with God down here will not be terminated by death. The N.T. has a richer fulfilment, 2 Cor. 3. 18; Phil. 3. 21; 1 John 3. 2; Rev. 22. 4.