"Make thy face to shine upon thy servant" (Psalm 119:135).
One of David's great concerns was that God would no longer look upon him with favor and blessing. He thus prays, "Hide not thy face from thy servant; for I am in trouble" (69:17); "Hide not thy face from me; put not thy servant away in anger" (27:9); and, "Hide not thy face from me, lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit" (143:7).
David realized that it was absolutely essential to have the light of God's countenance upon him. He also prays, "Lord, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us" (4:6). "Make thy face to shine upon thy servant" (31:16 and above text). "When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek" (27:8). His request for mankind is, "Seek the LORD, and His strength: seek His face evermore" (105:4). His personal request: "Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities" (51:9).
In Psalm 42 David expresses the truth that the actual presence of God was his only hope and help. "Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise Him, who is the health of my countenance." David knew that the help of God's countenance would make his countenance healthy (v.11).
In thinking about the face of God, David gave a serious warning to all those who will not seek His face. In Psalm 34:16 he stated, "The face of the LORD is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth."
One day all unbelievers will look into the face of the Lord Jesus Christ, the God and Judge of the universe, at the Great White Throne, to be forever judged (Revelation 20:11-15).
But the promise to believers throughout all eternity is, "And they shall see His face" (22:4). NPS
