Psalm 72:16

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Psalms 72:16

Psalms 72:16. There shall be an handful, &c.— "Let there be, or, though there be but an handful of corn thrown into the ground on the top of the mountains, in stony and barren ground, it shall produce an abundant increase; it shall spring up so plentifully, as that its waving and rustling on the hills shall resemble the shaking and noise made by the cedars on mount Lebanon." It is a strong figure, but well denotes the great increase and strength of the standing corn. It is prophetic of the... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Psalms 72:16

16. The spiritual blessings, as often in Scripture, are set forth by material, the abundance of which is described by a figure, in which a "handful" (or literally, "a piece," or small portion) of corn in the most unpropitious locality, shall produce a crop, waving in the wind in its luxuriant growth, like the forests of Lebanon. they of the city . . . earth—This clause denotes the rapid and abundant increase of population— of—or, "from" the city—Jerusalem, the center and seat of the typical... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Psalms 72:1-20

Psalms 72This royal psalm is one of two psalms that attribute authorship to Solomon in the superscription (cf. Psalms 127). It describes his reign but anticipates the rule of his successor, Jesus Christ, on earth in the future. [Note: Chisholm, "A Theology . . .," p. 270.] The psalmist prayed for the prosperity of the Lord’s anointed, ultimately Israel’s Messiah. Isaac Watts wrote the hymn "Jesus Shall Reign" after meditating on this psalm. [Note: Kidner, p. 253.] "The psalm is quoted nowhere... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Psalms 72:15-16

In return for his beneficent rule, the king would receive the blessing of his people. They would express their gratitude by bringing him wealth (cf. 1 Kings 10:10) and by praying for him. As a result of his good influence, his lands would enjoy prosperity, which Solomon compared to abundant crops, favored trees, and flourishing citizens."This verse [16], and the Psalm as a whole, shows that what we call the ’moral realm’ and the ’realm of nature’ form one indivisible whole to the Israelites. A... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Psalms 72:15-20

3. The consequences of a wide reign of justice 72:15-20 read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 72:1-20

Title.—A Psalm for (RV ’of’) Solomon.The title in AV suggests that David is the writer, and Solomon the subject, of this Ps., but, as RV shows, the authorship is really ascribed to Solomon. The Ps., however, appears rather to be the prayer of a subject for the king. Some actual ruler—Solomon, Hezekiah, or another—is no doubt in view, but, as in Psalms 45, the royal figure is so idealised that the Ps. becomes truly Messianic, and applicable only to the perfect divine King, though it is nowhere... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Psalms 72:16

(16) An handful.—Rather, abundance, from a root meaning spread. The clauses, as arranged in the text, evidently miss the intention of the writer. Render,“Let there be abundance of corn on the earth;On the top of the mountains let it wave like Libanus,”i.e., like the cedars of Libanus. The word rendered “wave” elsewhere is used of “earthquakes” or “violent storm,” and suggests here rather a violent agitation than the quiet waving of a sunny cornfield, as if the very mountains were under... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - Psalms 72:1-20

Missions: Growth of the Kingdom Psalms 72:0 The outlook seems dubious when we see (1) but a 'handful' of corn, (2) and that 'in the earth' one handful for a whole world, (3) and some on the top of the mountains. But it is reassuring when we know (1) that it is corn God's good wheat, (2) that even on the top of the mountains its fruit shakes like Lebanon. What will it be in the richer valleys? What were the words of Jesus but a handful of corn, and that upon the top of the mountains? But it is... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - Psalms 72:1-20

Psalms 72:1-20RIGHTLY or wrongly, the superscription ascribes this psalm to Solomon. Its contents have led several commentators to take the superscription in a meaning for which there is no warrant, as designating the subject, not the author. Clearly, the whole is a prayer for the king; but why should not he be both suppliant and object of supplication? Modern critics reject this as incompatible with the "phraseological evidence," and adduce the difference between the historical Solomon and the... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - Psalms 72:1-20

Psalms 72:0 The Kingdom Psalm 1. The King, who reigns in righteousness (Psalms 72:1-4 ) 2. His kingdom from sea to sea (Psalms 72:5-11 ) 3. The blessings and the kingdom (Psalms 72:12-20 ) The last Psalm of this Exodus section describes the establishment of the promised kingdom, the kingdom of heaven on earth. Surely the Spirit of God directed the arrangement of the Psalms, and put each into the right place. Here we have a beautiful prophecy of what is yet to be and for which all is... read more

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