The title of this psalm, in the original, is simply “For Solomon.” The words “a psalm” are supplied by the translators. In the margin this is “of” to wit, of Solomon - as if Solomon were the writer. Prof. Alexander renders it, “By Solomon,” and supposes, of course, that he was the author. The Septua... [ Continue Reading ]
GIVE THE KING - Supposing the psalm to have been composed by David in view of the inauguration of his son and successor, this is a prayer that God would bestow on him the qualifications which would tend to secure a just, a protracted, and a peaceful reign. Though it is to be admitted that the psalm... [ Continue Reading ]
HE SHALL JUDGE THY PEOPLE WITH RIGHTEOUSNESS - On this verse see the notes at Isaiah 11:3. The fact that this so entirely accords with the description in Isaiah 11, which undoubtedly refers to the Messiah, has been alluded to above as confirming the opinion that the psalm has a similar reference.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE MOUNTAINS SHALL BRING PEACE TO THE PEOPLE - The idea in this verse is that the land would be full of peace and the fruits of peace. All parts of it would be covered with the evidences that it was a land of quietness and security, where people could pursue their callings in safety, and enjoy the... [ Continue Reading ]
HE SHALL JUDGE THE POOR OF THE PEOPLE - The afflicted; the down-trodden; the needy. He would vindicate their cause against their oppressors; his reign would be one of impartial justice, under which the rights of the poor as well as of the rich would be respected. See the notes at Isaiah 11:4. HE SH... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY SHALL FEAR THEE - That is, “men” shall fear thee, or thou shalt be feared, or reverenced. The idea is, that his reign would continue, or that he would be obeyed during all the time mentioned here. AS LONG AS THE SUN AND MOON ENDURE - literally, “With the sun, and before the moon;” that is, as l... [ Continue Reading ]
HE SHALL COME DOWN - That is, The influence of his reign will be like fertilising showers. The word” he” in this place might have been “it,” referring to his reign, or to the influence of his government. LIKE RAIN UPON THE MOWN GRASS - The word rendered “mown grass” - גז _gêz_ - means properly “a s... [ Continue Reading ]
IN HIS DAYS SHALL THE RIGHTEOUS FLOURISH - It will be a period when just and upright people will be protected, or when they shall receive the countenance of him who reigns. The administration of the kingdom that is to be set up will be in favor of righteousness or justice. The word “flourish” here i... [ Continue Reading ]
HE SHALL HAVE DOMINION ALSO FROM SEA TO SEA - There is probably an allusion here to the promise in Exodus 23:31 : “And I will set thy bounds from the Red Sea even unto the sea of the Philistines, and from the desert unto the river.” This was the original promise in regard to the bounds of the promis... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY THAT DWELL IN THE WILDERNESS SHALL BOW BEFORE HIM - The word rendered “they that dwell in the wilderness” - ציים _tsı̂yı̂ym_, means properly those who abide in deserts, dry places, solitudes; and it might be applied either to animals or to people. It is applied to the former in Isaiah 13:21 (se... [ Continue Reading ]
THE KINGS OF TARSHISH - On the situation of Tarshish, see the notes at Isaiah 2:16. Compare Psalms 48:7. The word seems to be used here to denote any distant region abounding with riches. AND OF THE ISLES ... - Representing also distant lands; or lands beyond the seas. The word “islands” among the... [ Continue Reading ]
YEA, ALL KINGS SHALL FALL DOWN ... - That is, his reign will be universal. The kings and people mentioned in the previous verses are only specimens of what will occur. “All” kings - “all” nations - will do what these are represented as doing. They will submit to the Messiah; they will own him as the... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR HE SHALL DELIVER THE NEEDY WHEN HE CRIETH - The sufferer; the down-trodden; the oppressed. See the notes at Psalms 72:4. Compare the notes at Isaiah 61:1. THE POOR ALSO ... - All who have no protector; all who are exposed to injustice and wrong from others. This is everywhere declared to be the... [ Continue Reading ]
HE SHALL SPARE THE POOR AND NEEDY - He will have pity on; he will show mercy or favor to them. AND SHALL SAVE THE SOULS OF THE NEEDY - Will guard and defend them; will be their protector and friend. His administration will have special respect to those who are commonly overlooked, and who are expos... [ Continue Reading ]
HE SHALL REDEEM THEIR SOUL FROM DECEIT AND VIOLENCE - He will rescue their lives; that is, he will deliver them from the hands of men who practice deceit, or who are dishonest and unjust - and from the hands of those who oppress. This is stating in another form the idea that his reign would be one o... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE SHALL LIVE - So far as the lanquage here is concerned, this may either refer to the king - the Messiah - or to the poor and the oppressed man. If the former, then it means that the life of the Messiah would be perpetual; that he would not be cut off as other sovereigns are; that there would b... [ Continue Reading ]
THERE SHALL BE AN HANDFUL OF CORN - “Of grain,” for so the word means in the Scriptures. The “general” idea in this verse is plain. It is, that, in the time of the Messiah, there would be an ample supply of the fruits of the earth; or that his reign would tend to the promotion of prosperity, industr... [ Continue Reading ]
HIS NAME SHALL ENDURE FOR EVER - Margin, as in Hebrew, “Shall be forever;” that is, “He” shall endure forever. HIS NAME SHALL BE CONTINUED AS LONG AS THE SUN - As long as that continues to shine - an expression designed to express perpetuity. See the notes at Psalms 72:5. The margin here is, “shall... [ Continue Reading ]
BLESSED BE THE LORD GOD, THE GOD OF ISRAEL - The God who rules over Israel; the God who is worshipped by the Hebrew people, and who is recognized as their God. They adore him as the true God; and he “is” their God, their Protector, their Friend. WHO ONLY DOETH WONDROUS THINGS - Things that can prop... [ Continue Reading ]
AND BLESSED BE HIS GLORIOUS NAME FOR EVER - The name by which he is known - referring perhaps particularly to his name “Yahweh.” Still the prayer would be, that all the names by which he is known, all by which he has revealed himself, might be regarded with veneration always and everywhere. AND LET... [ Continue Reading ]
THE PRAYERS OF DAVID THE SON OF JESSE ARE ENDED - This is not found in the Syriac. The following is added in that version at the close of the psalm: “The end of the Second Book.” In regard to this twentieth verse, it is quite clear that it is no part of the psalm; and it is every way probable that i... [ Continue Reading ]