72:1([A Psalm] a for Solomon.) Give the king thy b
judgments, O God, and thy righteousness unto the king's c
son.
(a) Composed by David concerning the reign of his son
Solomon.
(b) Imbue the king with the Spirit of wisdom and justice,
that he reign not as the worldly tyrants do.
(c) That is, to his posterity.
72:3 The d mountains shall bring peace to the people, and the
little hills, by righteousness.
(d) When justice reigns, even the places most barren will
be enriched with your blessings.
72:4 He shall e judge the poor of the people, he shall save
the children of the needy, and shall break in pieces the
oppressor.
(e) He shows why the sword is committed to Kings that is,
to defend the innocent, and suppress the wicked.
72:5 They shall f fear thee as long as the sun and moon
endure, throughout all generations.
(f) The people will embrace your true religion, when you
give a king who rules according to your word.
72:6 He shall come g down like rain upon the mown grass: as
showers [that] water the earth.
(g) As this is true in all godly kings, so it is chiefly
verified in Christ, who with his heavenly dew, makes
his Church ever to flourish.
72:8 He shall have dominion also from h sea to sea, and from
the river unto the ends of the earth.
(h) That is, from the Red sea to the sea called the
Syriacum, and from Euphrates forward, meaning, that
Christ's kingdom would be large and universal.
72:10 The kings of i Tarshish and of the isles shall bring
presents: the kings k of Sheba and Seba shall offer
gifts.
(i) Of Cilicia, and of all other countries beyond the sea,
which he means by the isles.
(k) That is, of Arabia that rich country, of which Sheba
was a part bordering on Ethiopia.
72:14 He shall redeem their soul from deceit and violence: and
l precious shall their blood be in his sight.
(l) Though tyrants pause not to shed blood, yet this godly
king will preserve his subjects from all kinds of
wrong.
72:15 And he shall live, and to him shall be given of the m
gold of Sheba: prayer also shall be made for him
continually; [and] daily shall he be praised.
(m) God will both prosper his life and make the people
willing to obey him.
72:16 There shall be an handful of corn in the earth upon the
top of the mountains; the n fruit thereof shall shake
like Lebanon: and [they] of the city shall flourish like
grass of the earth.
(n) Under such a king will be great plenty, both of fruit
and also of the increase of mankind.
72:17 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 o him blessed.
(o) They will pray to God for his continuance and know
that God prospers them for his sake.
72:18 Blessed [be] the LORD God, the God of Israel, who only
doeth p wondrous things.
(p) He confesses that unless God miraculously preserves
his people neither the king nor the kingdom can
continue.
72:20 The q prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended.
