The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1892-06-16
"My hand trembled to touch the harp of

"My hand trembled to touch the harp OF
Zion"
We cannot do better than to give Calmet's
note on Psalm 72: Transported with joy and
gratitude at the browning Of Solomon. David
addressed this Psalm to God, in which he prays
him to pour out his blessings on the young
King and upon the people. He then, rspt in
divine enthusiasm, ascends to higher subject,
and sings the glory of the Messiah. and the
| magnifceDce of his reign. So that in this
Psalm We may sec great number OF express
sions which cannot relate to Solomon, unless
in a hyberbolcal and fgurative sense; but ap-
piled to Christ, they are literally and vigorously
exact"
e Author.
Though authorities differ, It is quite admitted
David wrote this Psalm on the ascent Of his
son Solomon to tho throne of Israel.
3. Time and Place.
The Psalm was composed B. c. 1015 at Jeru-
salem.
4. Object Of the Psalm.
First and literally the Psalm refers to the
coronation of Solomon, but We cannot wholly
explain it without understanding many state
mcnts as abiding to the Messiah. DIR. Adam
Clarke said, "This {the application to Solomon)
is but the shell of the Psalm: the Kernel is
Christ aud his Kingdom, under whom right
cousness, peace and fidelity shall flourish, and
unto whom all nations shall do homage for
ever and ever"
Pool declares "That David, or'at least the
Holy Ghost, who declared this Psalm, did look
beyond Solomon and unto the Messiah. of
whom Solomon was an illustrious and unques-
tionable type, seems manifest from divers
passages of this Psalm, which do not agree to
Solomon. nor to any other King but the Mes
slab, and from the confession of the Jewish
doctors themselves who so understand it,"
We have here the prevailing opinion among
commentators.
5. Notes.
/. Judgments and righteousness. ". L. The
word Judgments refer to the laws. One who
rules must know the laws, and then he must
administer them In a righteous spirit. Even
the poor ". q must have advantage of fair,
legal treatment.
2. The world, high and low, both literally az
to land and populously as people, shall abound
in peace growing out Of righteous civil admin
istration Of Law.
8. Solomon gained wide range in territory.
but the description is too broad to match his
limited kingdom.
4. We have a fine ideal Of what civil ruler
should BIO and do.
5. We find great National prosperity where
Governmental affairs proceed tremendously and
wisely.
6. 1t may be difficult to tell just what parts
Oh the G5aIm refer TO Solomon ana WHAT 10
Christ. III some respects statements are equally
applicable to both. A careful reader can draw
the lines quite accurately.
Z. AS sort OF farewell this Psalm is impress
i've. 1t was probably the last written produo-
ton of David. ". 20) lie was near death.
8. We add Ruskin's beautiful words on
Verse 8: He shall come down like rain upon
the n,own grass"
Observe the peculiar characters of the grass,
which adapt it especially for the service of
man, are its apparent humility and cheerful
ness.
Its humility, in that It seems created only
for lowest service, appointed to be trodden On
and fed upon.
It's chcerfulness. in that it seems TO exult
under all kinds of violence and suffering.
You roll it, and It is stronger the next day /;
you NOW it, and it multiplies its shoots, as II
it were grateful you tread upon 1t, and 1t
only sends up richer perfume"