Psalms 72:17

A PROPHECY OF BLESSINGS IN CHRIST

"His name shall endure forever;

His name shall be continued as long as the sun:

And men shall be blessed in him;

All nations shall call him happy."

"His name shall endure forever ... shall be continued as long as the sun" (Psalms 72:17). We absolutely must see something more in promises like this than the mere fact of some man's getting his named mentioned in the history books, whether sacred or secular history. If something like that is all that is meant here, then the names Korah, Cain and Judas Iscariot have received exactly the same thing, along with the name of Solomon.

No! What is meant here is that the mighty Name of this Great One who is spoken of here shall be a vital and active force in the world throughout the full term of earth's existence, "as long as the sun." This could have no reference at all to any king, much less Solomon.

"And men shall be blessed in him" (Psalms 72:17). The only one who ever lived on earth "in whom" men can be blessed is Jesus Christ the Messiah. "All spiritual blessings in the heavenly places are in Christ (Ephesians 1:3)." That means, of course, that there are not any blessings "in Solomon." By no system of accommodation known to this writer can such a statement as this be understood of anyone who ever lived except the Lord Jesus Christ.

"All nations shall call him happy" (Psalms 72:17). This expression seems hardly appropriate as a reference to Christ; but the words all nations is just as inappropriate as a reference to Solomon; therefore, we shall allow it as a reference to Christ not fully understood by this writer.

This verse is the conclusion of the psalm. The next two verses constitute the doxology, and the final verse designates this psalm with Psalms 72 as the "prayers of David."