1 A Psalme for Solomon. Giue the King thy Iudgements, O God, and thy Righteousnesse vnto the Kings sonne.
2 Hee shall iudge thy people with righteousnesse, and thy poore with iudgement.
3 The mountaines shal bring peace to the people, and the litle hils, by righteousnesse.
4 Hee shall iudge the poore of the people, he shall saue the children of the needie, and shallbreake in pieces the oppressour.
5 They shall feare thee as long as the Sunne & Moone indure, throughout all generations.
6 Hee shall come downe like raine vpon the mowen grasse: as showres that water the earth.
7 In his dayes shall the righteous flourish: and abundance of peace so long as the Moone endureth.
8 He shall haue dominion also from sea to sea, and from the riuer, vnto the ends of the earth.
9 They that dwell in the wildernesse shall bowe before him: and his enemies shall licke the dust.
10 The kings of Tarshish and of the Isles shall bring presents: the Kings of Sheba and Seba shalloffer gifts.
11 Yea, all Kings shall fall downe before him: all nations shall serue him.
12 For hee shall deliuer the needy when he crieth: the poore also, and him that hath no helper.
13 He shal spare the poore and needy, and shall saue the soules of the needy.
14 He shall redeeme their soule from deceit and violence: and precious shall their blood be in hissight.
15 And he shall liue, and to him shalbe giuen of the gold of Sheba; prayer also shalbe made for himcontinually, and daily shall he be praised.
16 There shalbe an handfull of corne in the earth vpon the top of the mountaines; the fruit thereofshall shake like Lebanon, and they of the citie shall flourish like grasse of the earth.
17 His name shall endure for euer: his name shalbe continued as long as the sunne: and men shalbeblessed in him; all nations shall call him blessed.
18 Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel, who only doth wonderous things.
19 And blessed be his glorious name for euer, and let the whole earth be filled with his glory. Amen,and Amen.
20 The prayers of Dauid the sonne of Iesse, are ended.
David begins with a prayer for Solomon. (1) He passes into a prophecy of the glories of his reign, and of Christ's kingdom. (2-17) Praise to God. (18-20)
1 This psalm belongs to Solomon in part, but to Christ more fully and clearly. Solomon was both the king and the king's son, and his pious father desired that the wisdom of God might be in him, that his reign might be a remembrance of the kingdom of the Messiah. It is the prayer of a father for his child; a dying blessing. The best we can ask of God for our children is, that God would give them wisdom and grace to know and to do their duty.
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.
18-20 We are taught to bless God in Christ, for all he has done for us by him. David is earnest in prayer for the fulfilment of this prophecy and promise. It is sad to think how empty the earth is of the glory of God, how little service and honour he has from a world to which he is so bountiful. May we, like David, submit to Christ's authority, and partake of his righteousness and peace. May we bless him for the wonders of redeeming love. May we spend our days, and end our lives, praying for the spread of his gospel.
Commentary by Matthew Henry, 1710.