Psalms 72

Psalms 72:1-17

This is initialed a psalm for Solomon: it is probable David dictated it a little before he died, when, by divine direction, he settled the succession, and gave orders to proclaim Solomon king, 1 Kings 1. 30. But though Solomon’s name is made use of, a greater than Solomon is here, even that Son of David, whose throne should be higher than Solomon’s, and his dominion universal and everlasting. David in Spirit, 1. Begins with a short prayer for his sacrifice, ver. 1. 2. He passed immediately into a long prediction of the spirits of his reign, ver. 2—17. And 3. He concludes with praise to the God of Israel, ver. 18—20. And herein we must have an eye to Christ, praying him as our king, and praying ourselves with our happiness as his subjects.

¶ A psalm for Solomon.

1. GIVE the king thy judgments, O God, and thy righteousness unto the king’s son. 2. He shall judge thy people with righteousness, and thy poor with judgment. 3. The mountains shall bring peace to the people, and the little hills, by righteousness. 4. He shall judge the poor of the people, he shall save the children of the needy, and shall break in pieces the oppressor. 5. They shall fear thee as long as the sun and moon endure, throughout all generations. 6. He shall come down like rain upon the moon grass: as showers that water the earth. 7. In his days shall the righteous flourish: and ‘abundance of peace’ so long as the moon endureth. 8. He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth. 9. They that dwell in the wilderness shall bow before him: and ‘his enemies shall look the dust. 10. The kings of Tarfih, and of the isles, ‘shall bring presents: the kings of Sheba, and Seba, ‘shall offer gifts. 11. Yea, ‘all kings shall fall down before him: all nations shall serve him. 12. For he shall deliver the needy when he crieth: the poor also, and him that hath no helper. 13. He shall spare the poor and needy, and shall save the souls of the needy. 14. He shall redeem their soul from deceit and violence: and ‘precious shall their blood be in his sight. 15. And ‘he shall live, and to him I shall be given of the gold or Sheba; prayer also shall be made for him continually, and daily shall be he praised. 16. There shall be an handful of corn in the earth upon the top of the moon stains; the fruit thereof shall shake like Lebanon, and the they of the city shall flourish like grass of the earth. 17. His name shall endure for ever: ‘his name shall be continued as long as the sun: and ‘men shall be blessed in him; all nations shall call him blessed.

The psalm opens,

1. With a short prayer, which may be considered as David’s request for his son Solomon, that he might be qualified for the work of administering his kingdom with equity and righteousness; or rather it is his prayer, in the person of all the faithful,

for

for the Mefiah, that he might appear, be exalted to his glorious throne, having all judgment in heaven and earth committed to him, and be qualified for the perfecting of the redemption of his people, by such a fulness of gifts and graces, as might enable him to work out for them an everlasting righteousness.

2. He prophetically describes the excellence and glory of his government, wherein though some things may be applicable to Solomon, others are only true of him whom Solomon prefigured, and therefore to him the whole may be well returned.

(1.) He shall rule with righteousness, and be the protection of his poor or official one from their oppression, v. 2. When forcible of their spiritual wants and wretchedness, they cry to him, under the Strivings of Satan, their great enemy, or of wicked men who persecute them, v. 4, being in themselves helpless and destitute, he will deliver and save them, redeeming their souls, and refusing them by his grace from the soares of the wicked one, and the deceitfulness of sin. And if they are called to suffer unto blood, he will keep a precious memorial of it, and reward their martyrdom with a crown of glory, v. 12—14.

2. Under his government peace shall be disbanded, v. 3. abundance of peace; peace with a reconciled God, peace in our guilty consciences, peace in our dispositions renewed by Divine grace, peace within preserved, when all without is most threatening, and thus effected by his righteousness, the great meritorious cause of all our mercies.

3. His common shall feel his arm, and the rebels against his government be broken in pieces, v. 4. Whether Satan, the arch-rebel, or those antichristian powers that long persecute and barrack his church, their end will be to be destroyed together. Note, The sinner’s damnation flumbereth not, though for a while it may be detained.

4. His government shall be most desirable and blessed. Like the rain on the new-mown grass, the graces and confidations of his spirit shall descend on his people, to refresh them, v. 6, and flourishing under these heavenly influences, the souls of the righteous shall bring forth these fruits of business abundantly, which are to the praise and glory of God, v. 7. Does it appear then, that we are the subjects of his kingdom by these flourishing fruits of peace within, and party without?

5. His dominion will be universal, from sea to sea, from one end of the earth to the other. The inhabitants of the most desolate parts of the earth shall some time or other have his gospel preached to them, and yield obedience to the faith; and his enemies, whether Jews or gentiles, be brought to lock the dust, laid low in deepest humiliation at his feet, v. 9. The richest kings of the earth shall bring their prelates, and the dithers monarchs, in the farthest sites of the sea, offer their tribute, as a token of subjection, v. 10. They shall worship before him, as their God and king, and all nations serve him, when the kingdoms of the world at last shall become the kingdoms of the Lord and his Christ, v. 11.

6. All his subjects shall honour and praise him; he shall live the joy of his people, and the gold of Shoha, the most precious offerings, even the bodies, souls, and spirits of his redeemed, infinitely more precious than gold that perisheth shall be presented to him: prayer shall be made for him, for the prosperity and increase of his kingdom, or through him, as the mediator between God and man, through whom alone we can be accepted; and daily shall be be prayed in his church, and by his faithful subjects, happy under his gracious sway.

7. His increase will be wonderful and great. There shall be a handful of corn, which may denote Christ himself, upon the top of the mountains, on Calvary, sown in his death as corn in the earth; or it may refer to the word of gospel-grace, that at first was but as an handful, and seemed as unlikely to flourish as seed sown on a mountain, but great was the effect; the fruit thereof shall make like Lebanon, inestimably rich and precious shall be the fruits that sprang from the death of Christ; or it refers to the will increase of converts that should be made to the truth, as soon as it was preached, and they of the city, the inhabitants of the spiritual Jerusalem, shall flourish as the grays of the earth.

8. His kingdom shall be everlasting. Whilst sin and moon endureth, v. 5. he will have a people upon earth, his offspring, as the original word shall continue, v. 17. implore; and when sin and moon shall fade and fail, shall he shall reign, his throne abiding as the days of eternity, blessing for ever his chosen people, and the subject of their everlasting praises, v. 17.

9. ‘Blessed be the LORD God, the God of Israel,’ who only doth wondrous things. 19. And blessed be his glorious name for ever, and ’let the whole earth be filled unto his glory; Amen, and amen. 20. The prayers of David the son of Jesus are ended.

This is intitled a psalm for Solomon: it is probable David dictated it a little before he died, when, by divine direction, he settled the Sacrifice, and gave orders to proclaim Solomon king, 1 Kings 1. 30. But though Solomon’s name is made up of, a greater than Solomon is here, even that Son of David, which thorns should be higher than Solomon’s, and his dominion universal and everlasting. David in spirit, v. 1. Stages with a short prayer for his sacrifice, ver. 1. 2. He passed immediately into a long prediction of the glories of his reign, ver. 2—17. And 3. He concludes with praise to the God of Israel, ver. 18—20. And herein we must have an eye to Christ, pressing him as our king, and pleasing ourselves with our happiness as his subjects.

¶ A psalm for Solomon.

1. GIVE the king thy judgments, O God, and thy righteousness unto the king’s son. 2. He shall judge thy people with righteousness, and thy poor with judgment. 3. The mountains shall bring peace to the people, and the little hills, by righteousness. 4. He shall judge the poor of the people, he shall save the children of the needy, and shall break in pieces the oppressor. 5. They shall fear thee as long as the sun and moon endure, throughout all generations. 6. He shall come down like rain upon the moon grass: as showers that water the earth. 7. In his days shall the righteous flourish: and abundance of peace so long as the moon endure. 8. He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth. 9. They that dwell in the wilderness shall bow before him: and his enemies shall lick the dust. 10. The kings of Tarishih, and of the isles, shall bring presents: the kings of Sheba, and Seba, “shall offer gifts. 11. Yea, “all kings shall fall down before him: all nations shall serve him. 12. For he shall deliver the needy when he crieth: the poor also, and him that hath no helper. 13. He shall spare the poor and needy, and shall save the souls of the needy. 14. He shall redeem their soul from deceit and violence: and precious shall their blood be in his sight. 15. And he shall live, and to him I shall be given of the gold of Sheba; prayer also shall be made for him continually, and daily shall he be praised. 16. There shall be an handful of corn in the earth upon the top of the mountains; the fruit thereof shall shake like Lebanon, and the top of the city shall flourish like grass of the earth. 17. His name shall endure for ever: his name shall be continued as long as the sun: and ‘more shall be blessed in him; all nations shall call him blessed.

The psalm opens,

1. With a short prayer, which may be considered as David’s request for his son Solomon, that he might be qualified for the work of administering his kingdom with equity and righteousness; or rather it is his prayer, in the person of all the faithful,

for the Mefiah, that he might appear, be exalted to his glorious theme, having all judgment in heaven and earth committed to him, and be qualified for the perfecting of the redemption of his people, by such a fainful of gifts and graces, as might enable him to work out for them an everlasting righteousness.

2. He prophetically describes the excellence and glory of his government, wherein though some things may be applicable to Solomon, others are only true of him whom Solomon prefigured, and therefore to him the whole may be both referred.

(1.) He shall rule with righteousness, and be the preacher of the poor or afflicted men from their oppression, v. 2. When fusible of their spiritual wants and wretchedness, they cry to him, under the Striving of Satan, their great enemy, or of wicked men who perlocute them, v. 4. Being in themselves helpless and destitute, he will deliver and save them, redeeming their souls, and refusing them by his grace from the sears of the wicked one, and the deceitfulness of sin. And if they are called to suffer unto blood, he will keep a precious memorial of it, and reward their martyrdom with a crown of glory, v. 13-14.

2. Under his government peace shall be diffused, v. 3. abundance of peace; peace with a reconciled God, peace in our guilty consciences, peace in our dispositions renewed by Divine grace, peace within preserved, when all without is most threatening, and this effected by his righteousness, the great meritorious cause of all our mercies.

3. His enemies shall feel his arm, and the rebels against his government be broken in pieces, v. 4. Whether Satan, the arch-rebel, or those antichristian powers that long perlocute and barrack his church, their end will be to be destroyed together. Note, The finner’s damnation flumbereth not, though for a while it may be delayed.

4. His government shall be most desirable and blessed. Like the rain on the new-mown grass, the graces and confessions of his Spirit shall descend on his people, to refresh them, v. 6. and flourishing under these heavenly influences, the souls of the righteous shall bring forth these fruits of holiness abundantly, which are to the praise and glory of God, v. 7. Does it appear then, that we are the subjects of his kingdom by these flourishing fruits of peace within, and pray without?

5. His dominion will be universal, from sea to sea, from one end of the earth to the other. The inhabitants of the most desolate parts of the earth shall some time or other have his gospel preached to them, and yield obedience to the faith; and his enemies, whether Jews or gentiles, be brought to lick the dads, laid low in deepest humiliation at his feet, v. 9. The richest kings of the earth shall bring their presents, and the distant monarchs, in the farthest sites of the sea, offer their tribute, as a token of subjection, v. 10. They shall worship before him, as their God and king, and all nations serve him, when the kingdoms of the world at last shall become the kingdoms of the Lord and his Christ, v. 11.

6. All his subjects shall honour and praise him; he shall live the joy of his people, and the gold of Sheba, the most precious offerings, even the bodies, souls, and spirits of his redeemed, infinitely more precious than gold that perisheth shall be professed to him: prayer shall be made for him, for the prosperity and increase of his kingdom, or through him, as the mediator between God and man, through whom alone we can be accepted; and daily shall be he praised in his church, and by his faithful subjects, happy under his gracious sway.

7. His increase will be wonderful and great. There shall be a handful of corn, which may denote Christ himself, upon the top of the mountains, on Calvary, sown in his death as corn in the earth; or it may refer to the word of gospel-grace, that at first was but as an handful, and seemed as unlikely to flourish as sent down on a mountain, but great was the effect; the fruit thereof shall make like Lebanon, inestimably rich and precious shall be the fruits that spring from the death of Christ; or it refers to the vast increase of converts that should be made to the truth, as soon as it was preached, and they of the city, the inhabitants of the Spiritual Jerusalem, shall flourish as the grails of the earth.

8. His kingdom shall be everlasting. Whilst sin and moon endureseth, v. 5. he will have a people upon earth, his offspring, as the original word shall continue, v. 17. implies; and when sin and moon shall fade and fall, still he shall reign, his throne abiding as the days of eternity, blessing for ever his choir’s people, and the subject of their everlasting praises, v. 17.

9. Blessed be the LORD God, the God of Israel, who only doth wondrous things. 19. And blessed be his glorious name for ever, and let the whole earth be filled with his glory; Amen, and amen. 20. The prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended.

Psalms 72:18-20

The psalmist concludes with enlarged praises, excited by the glorious prospect he had before him.

1. He belies the Lord God, the Redeemer, the God of his Israel, whose wonders of creation, providence, and especially of grace in his incarnation, death, and suffering, were so stupendous, and deserving to be had in everlasting remembrance.

VOL. I.

2. He prays for the manifestation of his glorious kingdom upon earth, when he shall take to him his great power, and reign; and whilst he breathes the longings of his heart, professes his confident expectation of it in due time, Amen and amen, so let it be, so shall it be.

3. The prayers of David the son of Jesus are ended. This, tho’ placed here, might be the last of his divine compositions, or it may signify that this was the summit of all his wishes, to see the Redeemer’s kingdom come; or some suppose these are the words of the person who collected the psalms together, and that the psalms ende with the Amen in the summer circle. In such a prayer, may every dying believer well desire to employ his parting breath, and pouring forth his soul into the bosom of his Saviour, cry, Come quickly Lord Jesus!

The psalmist concludes with enlarged praises, excited by the glorious prospect he had before him.

1. He blends the Lord God, the Redeemer, the God of his Israel, whose wonders of creation, providence, and especially of grace in his incarnation, death, and sufferings, were in stupendous, and deserving to be had in everlasting remembrance.

Vol. I.

2. He prays for the manifestation of his glorious kingdom upon earth, when he shall take to him his great power, and reign; and whilst he breathes the longings of his heart, professes his confident expectation of it in due time, Amen and amen, so let it be, so shall it be.

3. The prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended. This, tho’ placed here, might be the last of his divine compositions, or it may signify that this was the summit of all his wishes, to the Redeemer’s kingdom come; or some suppose these are the words of the person who collected the psalms together, and that the psalm ends with the Amen in the former verb. In such a prayer, may every dying believer well desire to employ his parting breath, and pouring forth his soul into the bosom of his Saviour, cry, Come quickly Lord Jesus!