J E 1. Prayer and theme of Psalm.
F G 2-4. Messiah's goodness to the poor.
H 5-10. Other attributes.
I 11. General adoration.
F G 12-14. Messiah's goodness to the poor.
H -15-17-. Other attributes.
I -17. General adoration.
E 18-20. Praise and doxology to the book.
(See Epilogue by David for his son Solomon, and, for his 'Greater Son', the Messiah. Written After Solomon's 2nd investiture, 1 Chron. 29:23 [921 B.C.] The year before David's death.)
921 B.C.
Psalm 72)
1 Give the king (i.e. David himself) Your just decisions (of David regarding Solomon), O God,
And Your righteousness (i.e. in all his [i.e. Solomon's] judgments, according to 1 Kings 3:5-9. 1 Chron. 29:19, and 28:5,7) to the king's son. (Solomon; but yet to be fulfilled in Christ)
2 He shall rule Your people in righteousness,
And Your oppressed with justice.
3 The mountains shall bring prosperity to the people,
And the little hills, by righteousness.
4 He shall vindicate the poor of the people,
He shall save the sons of the needy,
And shall break in pieces the oppressor.
5 They shall fear Your as long as the sun and moon endure,
Throughout all generations.
6 He shall come down like rain (cp. 2 Sam. 23:4) upon the mowed grass:
As showers that water the earth.
7 In his days shall the righteous flourish;
And abundance of peace so long as the moon endures.
H a 5. Eternity.
b 6,7. Agricultural prosperity. [Moon.]
c 8,9. The world. Dominion.
d 10. Gifts.
H d -15-. Gifts.
c -15. His People.
b 16. Agricultural prosperity. [Sun.]
a 17-. Eternity.
8 He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, (From the Mediterranean to the Persian Gulf)
And from the river (i.e. the Euphrates) to the ends of the earth.
9 They that dwell in the wilderness shall bow before him;
And his enemies shall lick the dust. (Put for utter subjugation.)
10 The kings of Tarshish (on the west. See 1 Kings 10:22) and of the coastlands (or maritime countries) shall bring presents:
The kings of Sheba and Seba (on the east and south) shall bring near their presents.
11 Yes, all kings shall fall down before him:
All nations shall serve him.
12 For he shall deliver a helpless one (see Prov. 6:11) when he cries;
The poor also, and him that has no helper.
13 He shall spare the impoverished and needy,
And shall save the souls of the needy.
14 He shall redeem them from deceit and violence:
And precious shall their blood be in his sight.
15 And he shall live (See v.2 and note here that this is Messiah's treatment of goodness to the oppressed. It is in v.10 and in v.15 that we have them , and their gifts to Him. He, the Head, delivers and saves them; and they, in v.-15, bring to Him a liberal hand, a praying heart, and a praising tongue.) for ever, (See Lev. 18:5.)
And to him shall be given of the gold (put for precious gifts) of Sheba: (Solomon the type [1 Kings 10:2,10; 2 Chon. 9:1] Fulfillment in Christ the Anti-type)
Prayer also shall be made to him continually;
And all the day shall he be praised.
16 There shall be an abundance of fine corn in the earth upon the top of the mountains;
The fruit thereof shall shake like Lebanon:
And 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:
Yes, all nations shall be blessed in him: (Thus confirming the promise to Abraham. See Gen. 12:3; 18:18; 22:18; 26:4; 28;14.)
All nations shall be happy.
18 Blessed be the LORD God, the God of Israel, (This doxology closes the 2nd book of Psalms)
Who only does wondrous things.
19 And blessed be His glorious self for ever:
And let the whole earth be filled with His glory; (Cp. Num. 14:21.)
Amen, and Amen.
20 The prayers of David the son of Jesse are accomplished. (When this Psalm is realized, all prophecy concerning Israel will be fulfilled: according to Dan. 9;24, and see 2 Sam. 23:1, where cp. the title "son of Jesse.")