Albert Barnes Commentary Psalms 112:4

"Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness: [He is] gracious, and merciful, and righteous." — Psalms 112:4 (ASV)

Unto the upright – The just; the pious; the man who fears God.

There arises light in the darkness – This is a new form of the blessing that follows the fear of the Lord, or another of the benefits that spring from true religion, and by which the pious man is distinguished from other people. The distinction is not that days of darkness will not come upon him as well as upon others, for he may be sick as others are, he may be bereaved as others are, he may lose his property as others do – since there are general laws that affect mankind in these respects. God has not promised that he will interpose to save his people from these things, but that he will save them in them.

The peculiarity in regard to those who fear God is that these things will not always continue; that they will not be overwhelmed by them; that it will not be uninterrupted and unmitigated gloom; that the sky will not always be overcast. Compare Psalm 97:11 and Job 11:17.

He is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous – These words are designed to be applied to the upright man and are intended more fully to designate his character and to show why light will spring up to him when he is in darkness.

It is because his character is really pure and holy. Whatever cloud may come over it for a time, however it may be temporarily obscured, however he may be calumniated by men, or however God may for a time seem to forsake him and treat him as if he were a bad man—his character will ultimately appear as it really is.

Light will come in upon the darkness. The clouds will break away. The prejudices against him will be dispersed. Full justice will be done to his character by both man and God, and the world will see that he is a just and pious man.

See the notes on Psalm 37:5-6. Every man will ultimately be seen as he is; every man will attain the position and have the reputation that he ought to have.