2 May he judge Your people with righteousness And Your afflicted with justice . 3 Let the mountains bring peace to the people , And the hills , in righteousness . 4 May he vindicate the afflicted of the people , Save the children of the needy And crush the oppressor . 5 Let them fear You while the sun endures, And as long as the moon , throughout all generations . 6 May he come down like rain upon the mown grass, Like showers that water the earth . 7 In his days may the righteous flourish , And abundance of peace till the moon is no more . 8 May he also rule from sea to sea And from the River to the ends of the earth . 9 Let the nomads of the desert bow before him, And his enemies lick the dust . 10 Let the kings of Tarshish and of the islands bring presents ; The kings of Sheba and Seba offer gifts . 11 And let all kings bow down before him, All nations serve him. 12 For he will deliver the needy when he cries for help , The afflicted also, and him who has no helper . 13 He will have compassion on the poor and needy , And the lives of the needy he will save . 14 He will rescue their life from oppression and violence , And their blood will be precious in his sight ; 15 So may he live , and may the gold of Sheba be given to him; And let them pray for him continually ; Let them bless him all day long. 16 May there be abundance of grain in the earth on top of the mountains ; Its fruit will wave like the cedars of Lebanon ; And may those from the city flourish like vegetation of the earth . 17 May his name endure forever ; May his name increase as long as the sun shines; And let men bless themselves by him; Let all nations call him blessed .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Psalm 72:2-17
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.