Give the king Thy judgments, O God, and Thy righteousness unto the king’s son.
The world-wanted king
Society cannot exist without laws: these laws require to be expressed and enforced, and whoever does this is ruler. Again, whilst the millions have the instinct of obedience, and lack the faculty to rule, there are always some, on the other hand, in whom there is the tendency and the power to govern. Let us look at the reign of this ideal king as here sketched.
I. It is characterized by righteousness and compassion (Psalms 72:1-4). This compassion, this tender, practical sympathy for the woes of the indigent and oppressed, is not something opposed to righteousness. It is but a modification of righteousness, or rather, another phase of righteousness. Justice is but love sternly opposing all that is injurious to the universe, and benevolently encouraging all that is promotive of happiness. Justice is like some Alpine hill, when the sun is descending in the West” on one side it is dark, frowning, terrific, on the other side it glows in brightness, disports in beauty. This compassion, this mercy, “becomes the throned monarch better than his crown.”
II. It is characterized by the highest national blessings (Psalms 72:3; Psalms 72:7).
1. General peace. The prevalence of universal good-will is essential to universal peace. Men not seeking their own as the grand end, but seeking the good of each other.
2. Spiritual vitality.
3. The prosperity of the righteous. Men will be considered great, useful, and honourable in proportion to the amount of rectitude that lives in their hearts and comes out in their daily life.
III. It is characterized by its moral command over all peoples (Psalms 72:9-11). Moral worth is always mighty; like the sun, no man can ignore it, no man can disregard its influence, or deny its value. But moral worth in a king is especially mighty, it is seen, and wherever seen is felt. Moral worth is moral sovereignty.
IV. It is characterized by its expansibility and duration (Psalms 72:8; Psalms 72:16-17). The language does not mean that the king himself is to live and reign for ever, but that his name, his moral character, will be held in everlasting remembrance and will work on the earth for good as long as the sun and moon shall last.
V. It is characterized by its Divine establishment (Psalms 72:18-19). For such a king as this the mighty Sovereign of the universe deserves the devoutest praises of men. He alone can form the character of such a king. (Homilist.)
Messiah’s reign
I. Characteristics.
1. Righteousness (Psalms 72:2). (Isaiah 11:1-5; Isaiah 32:1; Isaiah 32:17). Not till He comes whose right it is to reign will there be on earth a king whose judgments shall be based on an absolute knowledge of men, independent of the sensual judgment of sight and hearing. Then, and then only, will the people have righteousness meted out to them; then only will the poor be perfectly defended from the oppression of the rich.
2. Strength (Revelation 12:10). In the day of Christ’s reign oppression shall not only come to an end, but the saints shall inherit the kingdom and the oppressor shall be cast out of power.
3. Gentleness (Psalms 72:6). Not with the sword does Christ win His kingdom, nor by such means will He execute righteousness in the deliverance of His poor and in the breaking of the tyrant’s power, but by the almighty strength of truth itself.
4. Peace and prosperity (Psalms 72:8; Psalms 72:10; Psalms 72:16). This can only indicate an abundance of every supply, both for the people in country and city, and for all purposes of state and kingdom.
II. Extent.
1. Duration. An everlasting reign (Psalms 72:15; Psalms 72:17). His Kingship, as well as His Priesthood, is in the power of an endless life (Psalms 21:4; Psalms 61:6-7).
2. Subjects. Not only of all nations, but of every class of men in all nations.
3. Territory (Psalms 72:8). What a heaven this earth will be with the curse removed, all wickedness and evil taken out of the hearts and lives of all people; waters shall break out in the desert, and the very beasts of the field and the forest shall rest at peace each side with the others.
III. Universal adoration.
1. Prayer. “Prayer shall be made to Him continually.” Every want shall be presented to Him, in the spirit of constant and humble, yet confident supplication, and no good thing will be witheld from those who pray.
2. Praise. “And daily shall He be praised.” Eternity will not be too long wherein to praise Him who shall have delivered our souls from death, from the deceit and oppression of the wicked, especially from the power of our great enemy, the devil; to praise Him for the unspeakable blessings of forgiveness, justification, regeneration, sanctification.
3. Gifts. “To Him shall be given the gold of Sheba.” The people will themselves be a free-will offering to their Lord and King; all that they are and have shall be laid at His feet as being worth nothing apart from Him and His blessing. Who shall say that in the age of glory there shall not be vast fields and unknown opportunities for the employment of all the redeemed and sanctified powers of man? (G. F. Pentecost, D. D.)
Jesus both King and King’s Son
“The king--the king’s son.” We see that our Lord is here termed both “king” and “the king’s son”; both as respect to His human nature and also as to His Divine origin; for the Father of the universe may, of course, be properly denominated King. Agreeably to this designation we find on Turkish coins the inscription, “Sultan, son of Sultan.” (George Phillips.)