Westminster Annotations, Psalms · Psalm 72
PSAL. LXXII.
Title. for] Or, of.
for Solomon] Composed by David, as touching the reign of his son Solomon.
Vers. 1. GIve the king thy judgements] Endue the king with the spirit of wisdom and justice, that he reign not, as do worldly tyrants.
unto the kings son] To wit, to his posterity.
V. 3. The mountains shall bring peace to the people] Even the places most barren shall be enriched with thy blessings, vers. 16. comprised under the name of peace: or, the mountains, that is, great men, as Zach. 4. 7. shall procure prosperity to the state by righteous judgement.
by righteousnesse] Or, in a just and full measure.
V. 4. He shall judge the poor of the people] He sheweth wherefore the sword is committed to kings: to wit, to defend the innocent, and suppresse the wicked.
the] Or, for the, Psal. 26. 1. and 82. 3▪
V. 5. They shall fear thee as l…ng as the sun and mo…n endure] The people shall embrace thy true religion, when thou givest a king that ruleth according to thy word.
V. 6. He shall come down like rain upon the m…wen grasse] As this is true in all godly kings, so it is chiefly verified in Christ, who with his heavenly dew maketh his church ever to flourish.
like rain upon the mowen grasse] Deut. 32. 2.
V. 7. so long as the moon endureth] Heb. till there be no moon.
V. 8. from sea to sea] That is, from the red sea, to midland sea, and from Euphrates forward: meaning, that Christs kingdom should be large and universall.
V. 9. his enemies shall lick the dust] Bow to the ground in sign of reverence, Isai. 49. 23.
V. 10. The kings of Tarshish] Of Cilicia, and of all other countries beyond the sea, which he meaneth by the Iles.
shall bring presents] Psal. 68. 29. &c.
the kings of Sheba and Seba] That is, of Arabia, that rich countrey, whereof Sheba was a part, bordering upon Cush.
V. 12. For he shall deliver the needy when he cryeth] Job 29. 12.
V. 14. precious shall their blood be in his sight] Though tyrants passe not to shed blood, yet this godly king shall preserve his subjects from all kinde of wrong, secret and open: He shall not suffer men to kill them, or shall sharply revenge their death, 2 King. 1. 13. Psal. 116. 15. Acts 20. 24.
V. 15. shall be given] Heb. one shall give.
of the gold of Sheba] God will prosper his life, and also cause people to bring rich presents to him.
V. 16. There shall be an handfull of corn] If a little corn be sowen in the most barren places, it shall grow so plentifully, that it shall shake, as the trees of Lebanon do with the winde.
the fruit thereof shall shake like Lebanon] Under such a king shall be exceeding great plenty, both of fruit, and also of the increase of mankinde, Jere. 31. 27.
V. 17. His name shall endure for ever] By a continuall succession of children: for so the Hebrew word signifies.
shall en…ure] Heb. shall be.
his name shall be continued as long as the sun] Heb. shall be as a son to continue his fathers name for ever.
and men shall be blessed in him] They shall count themselves happy in such a king, and expect all comforts from him, Prov. 31. 28. fulfilled chiefly in Christ, Gen. 12. 3.
V. 18. who onelyonly doth wondrous things] Psal. 136. 4. He confesseth, That except God miraculously preserve his people, neither the king, nor the kingdom can continue.
V. 20. The prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended] This was his last prayer that he made for Solomon, a little before his death: or, the last of those Psalms that David set in order, before his death, for the use of the church. The rest were gathered together by others, as some of Solomons Proverbs were, Prov. 25. 1.