Chapter 71

Finally, a psalm to David about Solomon. This psalm foretells the coming of Christ and the calling of the pagans. The psalm is inscribed: “about Solomon,” because Christ is the true Solomon - the peacemaker, as “who made both one and destroyed the middle wall of the fence” (Eph. 2:14). Ps.71:1. God, grant Thy judgment to the King. It has been determined by You, Father, that Your only begotten Son should shine forth as beings on earth. Therefore, let that which was determined of old by Thy judgment be brought to an end. And Thy truth to the Tsar's Son. The Son, Who is the Father's truth, is called the one who accepts the truth according to humanity. For Christ is both King and Son of Kings. Ps.71:2. Judge Your people in righteousness. For this is the reason for becoming man - to judge the dominance of Satan over us. Therefore, going to the crucifixion, Christ said: “Now is judgment for this world; now the prince of this world will be cast out” (John 12:31). Ps.71:3. May the mountains bring peace to people, and may the hills bring righteousness. “Mountains” and “hills” here refers to the angelic powers, which in ancient times, due to the wickedness that spread everywhere, did not dwell on earth, and which are now commanded to perceive peace with all people. Ps.71:4. Judges the poor of men. “Beggars” refers to those descended from idolatrous fathers and poor in all good things, or in general the entire human race. For “all have turned aside,” according to the saying of the psalm (Ps. 13:3). Ps.71:5. And he will remain with the sun. Forever, he says, His kingdom will last. And before the moon of the genus of childbirth. This One, who reigned at His coming over those who are on earth, is also the eternal Creator of all. Ps.71:6. It will fall like rain on the fleece, that is, silently, he said this because of His hidden coming. Ps.71:7. In His days righteousness will shine. For at His coming all warfare between the nations will cease. And the multitude of the world, the Dondezh will take away the moon. There will be such a multitude of the world at His coming that it will last until future times, in which “the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light” (Matthew 24:29). Ps.71:8. And it has from sea to sea. He says this because all nations have accepted faith in Him, and by this he expresses that he will prevail over the universe to its very limits. And since the limit of the earth is the great and immeasurable seas, to which others give the name Atlantic, the western and eastern oceans, the possession of the universe was rightly signified by the seas surrounding it from the outside, which is made even more clear by the following verse. Ps.71:9. And the enemies will lick His dust. His enemies will submit to Him so much that they will not even think about fighting with Him, which is why, in a figurative sense, they are depicted falling to the ground and through this expressing their submission. Ps.71:12. For deliver the poor from the strong. From the extremes, he says, to the uttermost reaches of the universe, nations and kings will worship Him, giving thanks for having delivered them from the dominance of Satan. Ps.71:14. He will deliver their souls from usury and unrighteousness, blotting out the handwriting they had given against themselves, and forgiving the debtor, both five hundred and fifty. And His name is honorable before them. Everyone will be honored and glorified. Ps.71:15. And he will live, and some of the gold of Arabia will be given to him. This is said in relation to Herod, who sent babies to be beaten. Therefore, He says that He will not be captured along with the beaten children. And the words: “and some of the gold of Arabia will be given to Him” clearly mean the gifts brought by the Magi. Naming Him in prayers and asking that through Him the Father would be worthy to give good things. Ps.71:16. There will be a claim on the land, that is, the Church and the universe; His fruit will be exalted more than Lebanon. Lebanon is Jerusalem, and its fruit is the word of the gospel. Therefore, he says that the preaching of the Gospel will be higher than the service of the law. And from His hail they will flourish like the grass of the earth. And this again means the Church, about which it is written: “the glorious city of God spoke of you” (Ps. 86:3). Ps.71:17. Before the sun is His name. Shows that this One, who was not killed along with the infants, existed before the creation of the world with the Father. Ps.71:18. Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, who alone works miracles. Having described everything that He does economically for those living on earth, He offers Him a song, saying that He is the God of Israel, Who alone could perform these miracles. What miracles? Is it not those who destroyed the dominion of Satan and delivered those who were subjected to their intrigues from the torment of demons? Please note that nothing said in the psalm befits Solomon, born of his wife Uriah - neither the words: “before the sun... His name” (Ps. 72:17), nor the others: “all the nations will serve Him” (Ps. 72:11), nor the following: “before the moon of generations of generations” (Ps. 72:5). And from all this it is clear that the psalm is spoken of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ps.71:19. And blessed is the name of glory. Therefore, everyone should praise Him. For although we do not know His nature as unapproachable, we nevertheless knew His saving name. The end of the song of David, son of Jesse. You might be interested in: