A manual of the book of Psalms · Martin Luther
PSALM LXXII.
_David, praying for Solomon, sheweth the goodness and glory of his, in type, and in truth, of Christ’s kingdom.—He blesseth God._ A Psalm for Solomon. Give the king thy judgments, O God, and thy righteousness unto the king’s son. He shall judge thy people with righteousness, and thy poor with judgment. The mountains shall bring peace to the people, and the little hills, by righteousness. He shall judge the poor of the people, he shall save the children of the needy, and shall break in pieces the oppressor. They shall fear thee as long as the sun and moon endure, throughout all generations. He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass: as showers _that_ water the earth. In his days shall the righteous flourish: and abundance of peace so long as the moon endureth. He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth. They that dwell in the wilderness shall bow before him; and his enemies shall lick the dust. The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall bring presents: the kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts. Yea, all kings shall fall down before him: all nations shall serve him. For he shall deliver the needy when he crieth; the poor also, and _him_ that hath no helper.
He shall spare the poor and needy, and shall save the souls of the needy. He shall redeem their soul from deceit and violence: and precious shall their blood be in his sight. And he shall live, and to him shall be given of the gold of Sheba: prayer also shall be made for him continually: _and_ daily shall he be praised. There shall be an handful of 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. His name shall endure for ever: his name shall be continued as long as the sun: and _men_ shall be blessed in him: all nations shall call him blessed. Blessed _be_ the LORD God, the God of Israel, who only doeth wondrous things. And blessed _be_ his glorious name for ever: and let the whole earth be filled _with_ his glory; Amen, and Amen. The prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended. This is a most remarkable prophecy concerning Christ and his kingdom, to be spread throughout the whole world, over all kingdoms, and the isles of the sea: which should not be a kingdom of death, sin, and judgment, but a kingdom of grace, righteousness, peace, and joy.—But the life, the victory, the peace, and the glory of the church shall be hidden; they shall be hidden in God; and the saints in this world shall endure the most bitter hatred of the world, and its persecutions; they shall shed their blood for Christ; nevertheless, that blood shall be precious in the sight of the Lord, and he shall require it.
This Psalm also, verse 15, declares that the old worship of the law of Moses should be abrogated, and a new worship set up, which should consist in prayer and the giving of thanks. “Prayer shall be made unto him (saith he) continually, and daily shall he be praised.” For the sacrifice of praise and the preaching of the gospel, is the daily sacrifice, and the highest worship of the New Testament. Here you hear nothing of circumcision, or the law of Moses, as that which the nations should receive. It saith that the kings of nations and nations themselves shall endure and shall praise this king. Therefore, this king, Christ, is truly and properly God. For prayer is the worship of the first and greatest commandment, and is due to God alone; for he alone can deliver from death and every affliction.
Text from Project Gutenberg, public domain in the United States.