721 By Solomon. O God, Thy judgments to the king give, And Thy righteousness to the king's son.
2 He judgeth Thy people with righteousness, And Thy poor with judgment. 3 The mountains bear peace to the people, And the heights by righteousness. 4 He judgeth the poor of the people, Giveth deliverance to the sons of the needy, And bruiseth the oppressor. 5 They fear Thee with the sun, and before the moon, Generation—generations. 6 He cometh down as rain on mown grass, As showers—sprinkling the earth. 7 Flourish in his days doth the righteous, And abundance of peace till the moon is not. 8 And he ruleth from sea unto sea, And from the river unto the ends of earth. 9 Before him bow do the inhabitants of the dry places, And his enemies lick the dust. 10 Kings of Tarshish and of the isles send back a present. Kings of Sheba and Seba a reward bring near. 11 And all kings do bow themselves to him, All nations do serve him, 12 For he delivereth the needy who crieth, And the poor when he hath no helper, 13 He hath pity on the poor and needy, And the souls of the needy he saveth, 14 From fraud and from violence he redeemeth their soul, And precious is their blood in his eyes. 15 And he liveth, and giveth to him of the gold of Sheba, And prayeth for him continually, All the day he doth bless him. 16 There is a handful of corn in the earth, On the top of mountains, Shake like Lebanon doth its fruit, And they flourish out of the city as the herb of the earth. 17 His name is to the age, Before the sun is his name continued, And they bless themselves in him, All nations do pronounce him happy.
18 Blessed is Jehovah God, God of Israel, He alone is doing wonders, 19 And blessed 'is' the Name of His honour to the age, And the whole earth is filled 'with' His honour. Amen, and amen!
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Psalm 72:1-19
Commentary on Psalm 72:1
(Read Psalm 72:1)
This psalm belongs to Solomon in part, but to Christ more fully and clearly. Solomon was both the king and the king's son, and his pious father desired that the wisdom of God might be in him, that his reign might be a remembrance of the kingdom of the Messiah. It is the prayer of a father for his child; a dying blessing. The best we can ask of God for our children is, that God would give them wisdom and grace to know and to do their duty.
Commentary on Psalm 72:2-17
(Read Psalm 72:2-17)
This is a prophecy of the kingdom of Christ; many passages in it cannot be applied to the reign of Solomon. There were righteousness and peace at first in the administration of his government; but, before the end of his reign, there were troubles and unrighteousness. The kingdom here spoken of is to last as long as the sun, but Solomon's was soon at an end. Even the Jewish expositors understood it of the kingdom of the Messiah. Observe many great and precious promises here made, which were to have full accomplishment only in the kingdom of Christ. As far as his kingdom is set up, discord and contentions cease, in families, churches, and nations. The law of Christ, written in the heart, disposes men to be honest and just, and to render to all their due; it likewise disposes men to live in love, and so produces abundance of peace. Holiness and love shall be lasting in Christ's kingdom. Through all the changes of the world, and all the changes of life, Christ's kingdom will support itself. And he shall, by the graces and comforts of his Spirit, come down like rain upon the mown grass; not on that cut down, but that which is left growing, that it may spring again. His gospel has been, or shall be, preached to all nations. Though he needs not the services of any, yet he must be served with the best. Those that have the wealth of this world, must serve Christ with it, do good with it. Prayer shall be made through him, or for his sake; whatever we ask of the Father, should be in his name. Praises shall be offered to him: we are under the highest obligations to him. Christ only shall be feared throughout all generations. To the end of time, and to eternity, his name shall be praised. All nations shall call HIM blessed.
Commentary on Psalm 72:18-20
(Read Psalm 72:18-20)
We are taught to bless God in Christ, for all he has done for us by him. David is earnest in prayer for the fulfilment of this prophecy and promise. It is sad to think how empty the earth is of the glory of God, how little service and honour he has from a world to which he is so bountiful. May we, like David, submit to Christ's authority, and partake of his righteousness and peace. May we bless him for the wonders of redeeming love. May we spend our days, and end our lives, praying for the spread of his gospel.