Psalms 72:4

An expansion of Psalms 72:2. The oppressed and defenceless are the special care of the true king, "whose glory is, redressing human wrong." He does justice to -the afflicted of the people"; he is the preserver of -the children of the needy," words which are best understood literally, not merely of those born poor, or as a periphrasis, according to a common idiom, for -the needy," but of children, especially orphans, at once innocent and helpless, and therefore calling for special protection (see Isaiah 10:2; Micah 2:9, for the dangers to which they were exposed): while he crushes the merciless oppressor, treating him as he had treated his victims (Psalms 94:5; Proverbs 22:22-23; Isaiah 3:15; James 2:13).