Psalms 72

David a little before his death, prayeth for Salomon, and foretelleth of a most blessed and happy estate of his Kingdom, the same being a Type of the Kingdom of Christ over the everlastingness, large-spreading, gloriousness and graciousness, whereof he doth exceedingly rejoice through faith, concluding all with a hearty thanksgiving.

1. For Salomon. [Whereas his father David had made him King in his stead. See 1 Kin.1.32, &c. Yet under Salomon you must comprehend the Messias also, as the King of Peace, Heb.7.2.] O God give the King [Salomon] thy rights [i.e. a righteous government, according to the prescript of thy Laws] and thy righteousness unto the son of the King. [i.e. top my son: for that David was the Author of this Psalm, appeareth by the last verse; and throughout he doth prophesy very excellently Jesus and his Kingdom.]

2. So shall he judge thy people with righteousness; and thy afflicted (ones) [i.e. the godly, which are wrongfully oppressed, and yet dear unto thee. So Psa.74.19. Compare Psa.69.24,34.] with right.

3. The hills shall bear peace to the people: [Or let the hills, in manner of a prophetical wish and prayer, and so in the sequel] also the little hills with righteousness. [or through, by means of righteousness, which King Salomon was to exercise, and the Messias to bring with him. Otherwise the whole verse may be understood, that all places of the country high and low, should overflow with peace and righteousness, like unto a fertile soil, that beareth fruit in abundance. Compare 2 King.4.v.25. Psa.85.v.11,12. Item 1 Chron.22.9. and Heb.7.2.]

4. He shall judge the afflicted of the people [i.e. free them from their oppression] he shall deliver the children of the needy, and bruise the oppressor. [that oppresseth others by subtilty or power.]

5. They shall fear thee, as long as the Sun and Moon shall be, from generation to generation. [i.e. as long as the world shall stand, shalt thou O God have thy church here on Earth, under the government of the Messias, worshipping thee and serving thee. Heb. With, by, or before the Sun, and before the aspect of the Moon, generation of generations. Compare Gen.8.on v.22. Job 26.on v.10. Psa.89.37,38. And below v.7.17.]

6. He shall descend as a (shower of) rain [Compare 2 Sam.23.on v.4. Deut.32.2. Job.29.23. Hos.6.3.] upon the after-grass; [grass mowed or cut down, Heb. Properly, shorn down or off] as the drops that moisten the Earth. [Heb. Moistness or moisting. But the Hebrew word (only extant in this place) doth signify such a moistening, as is made by scattering or sprinkling of drops, so that the ground may commodiously drink in the rain, and the small groweths of it be thereby cherished and made to sprout up. Compare Psa.65.10,11.]

7. In his days [i.e. in the time of his reign, during his government or Kingdom] shall the righteous blow (or flourish, grow) and the multitude of peace, until the Moon be no more. [see above on v.5.]

8. And he shall have dominion from the Sea, unto the Sea; [i.e. from the one sea to the other sea] and from the River [Euphrates, which was the border promised to Israel, and enjoyed by Salomon] unto the ends of the Earth. [which is fulfilled in Christ. See Gen.15.18. 1 Kin.4.21.24. Mat.28.18,19. Rev.11.15.]

9. The Inhabitants of dry places [Heb. Draughts, i.e. the harbarous people, inhabiting deserts, dry, unknown or uncouth places; in regard of Salomon, and savage rude unbelieving heathens, in regard of Christ] shall kneel before his face; [viz. Of Salomon, and Christ as before. Compare Isa.40.3.4. and 42.11,12, &c.] and his Enemies shall lick the dust. [Compare Mich.17. and Isa.49.23.]

10. The Kings of Tharsis [Which dwell by the Ocean. See 1 Kin.10.on v.22.] and the Islands [the Hebrews understand here and in many other places, by the Islands, those people or Nations, which live in or at, about and beyond the Mediterranean or Midland Sea, although they be not quiet environed with the Sea, or begirt with water round about. See Gen.10.on v.5.item Isa.20.6. and 23.2.6. Jerem.25.22. with the annot.&c.] shall bring on gifts: the Kings of Scheba and Seba [see Gen.10.on v.7.] shall offer presents.

11. yea all Kings shall now bow down before him, all heathen shall serve him. [This regardeth only the Messias.]

12. For he shall rescue the needy, that doth cry, [By reason of his distress, and for help. Compare Job 29:12.] together with the afflicted, and him that hath no helper.

13. He shall spare the poor and needy [or graciously spare] and save [or deliver] the souls of the needy.

14. He shall deliver their souls from craft and violence, [i.e. from those that oppress them by cunning devices, and by violence] and their blood shall be precious in his eyes. [that which the wicked shed and spil, he doth so highly account of, that he shall not easily suffer the shedding of it, or else he will be sure to revenge it severely. Compare Psa.116.15.]

15. And he shall live [i.e. enjoy a long life, as men are wont to wish unto Kings, 2 Sam.16.16. 1 Kings 1:31,39. Compare 1 Kings 11:42. and as concerning Christ. Isa.53.10. Rom.6.9. Heb.7.3. and 13.8.] and they shall give him of the gold of Scheba; [above on v.10.] and they shall continually pray for him [not only for Salomon and his Kingdom, but especially for the progress and increase of the spiritual Kingdom of Christ. See Psa.118.24,25,26.] all the day shall men bless him. [i.e. highly laud and praise him. Oth. Thus and he (Christ) shall give (or the poor) of the gold of Scheba; and be (Christ) shall continually pray for him; (the poor) all the day shall be (Christ) bless him (the poor.)

16. Is there a handful of corn [Or a small quantity or portion, or the least parcel, or but a little corn or grain viz.sowed] in the land, upon the height (or top) of the hills; [Heb. Head] the fruit thereof shall make a noise like Lebanon; [i.e. it shall come up so abundantly and gloriously, that the wind passing through and shaking it, is shall cause such a stirring noise, as is among the trees of Lebanon. Compare further Hos.14.8. with the annot.and Mat.13.7,23. Acts 2:41. and 4.4, &c. Or thus he shall be as when a handful of corn, &c. Understanding this of the small beginnings of his Kingdom upon earth] and those of the City [i.e. the Citizens, Inhabitants of Jerusalem and other Cities. Compare Isa.27.6.] shall flourish as the herb of the Earth.

17. His Name shall be into eternity, as long as the sun is, [Heb. Before the regard of the son, see on v.5.] shall his Name be propagated from child to child: [Heb. Properly as if one should say, shall be sonned or childed i.e. spread and propagated from one generation to another] and they shall be blessed in him: [see Gen.22.on v.18.] all heathen shall praise him right happy.

18. Praised be the LORD, God [Heb. Blessed, &c. And so in the sequel] the God of Israel, which alone doth wonders.

19. And Praised be the Name of his glory [i.e. his honourable or glorious Name] into eternity, and let all the Earth be replenished with his glory: Amen, yea Amen.

20. The prayers of David the son of Isai, have an end. [The meaning is not, that there are no Psalms of David more to follow in this book, but that this was the last Psalm, which David made in his life-time, and left or bequeathed the same to his son Salomon, yea unto the whole church as a Testament or Jewel, concluding with this excellent prophesy of his spiritual blessed King the Messiahs, our Lord Jesus Christ. Some do conceive, that this conclusion doth intimate, that all the Psalms hitherto, were made by David alone, whereas in the sequel divers are found, which are made by others.]