| Psalms 71:1
| A psalm on Solomon.
| Psalm. Some copies add, "of David." But the Hebrew has only Lishlomo, "to Solomon;" (St. Jerome; Haydock) or, composed by Solomon. The former sense is more generally adopted, (Berthier) though the Chaldean and Eusebius look upon the latter as most plausible. David, however, seems to have written this last most beautiful piece, when he placed his son upon the throne; (3 Kings 1:47.) and being transported with a divine enthusiasm, he described the reign of the Messias, (Calmet) to whom alone many of the passages can be applied, (St. Augustine; Worthington) as the Jews, Chaldean, Kimchi, etc., confess, though they will not allow Jesus to be the Christ, ver. 5, 11, 17. (Calmet)
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| Psalms 71:2
| Give to the king thy judgment, O God: and to the king's son thy justice: To judge thy people with justice, and thy poor with judgment.
| Son. Solomon, (Berthier) or Cyrus, (Pr. disc.) or the Messias. Most blessed Trinity, enable the Son of man, or of David, to judge the world. (Worthington) (Isaias 10:3., and John 5:22.) --- Judgment. Equity is the duty of governors, as obedience is that of subjects. Solomon acted with the greatest sagacity, 1 Paralipomenon 22:10., and 29:23., and 2 Paralipomenon 1:10. The psalmist inculcates the obligation of defending the rights of the poor, who are under God's protection. To him even judges and monarchs must give an account, Deuteronomy 1:17., and 2 Paralipomenon 19:6.
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| Psalms 71:3
| Let the mountains receive peace for the people, and the hills justice.
| Justice. These blessings shall be so common; (Psalm 35:6., and Joel 3:18.) or, let princes pursue the paths of justice and peace, Micheas 6:1. Solomon was to enjoy a perpetual peace, (1 Paralipomenon 22:9.) as he was a figure of Jesus Christ, who has procured a more solid one for us, Ephesians 2:14., John 14:27., and Isaias 52:7. (Calmet) --- Hebrew has "by righteousness," as this is the source of true peace, Romans 14:17. These virtues are publicly enforced in the Church, as from a mountain, Isaias 2:2. (Berthier) --- Christ, the rock, (Haydock) and his ministers, the hills, preach reconciliation. (Worthington)
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| Psalms 71:4
| He shall judge the poor of the people, and he shall save the children of the poor; and he shall humble the oppressor.
| Oppressor. Literally, "calumniator." Christ has chained down the devil, the accuser of our brethren, Apocalypse 12:10., and 20:2. (Menochius) --- He hath taken away his spoils, (John 8:44.) and undertaken the defence of the humble, Isaias 11:4. Solomon was also the reverse of those wicked princes, who receive bribes, and neglect the poor, Isaias 1:23. (Calmet)
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| Psalms 71:5
| And he shall continue with the sun, and before the moon, throughout all generations.
| Before. Or, in the presence of the moon, as the Hebrew indicates, (Berthier) though St. Jerome translates, ultra, "beyond, or after." (Haydock) --- Yea, Christ existed before all the creation, (Psalm 109:3.; Calmet) and these comparisons do not insinuate that he will ever cease to be. (Theodoret) --- The kingdom of David and Solomon is described in the same poetic language, (Psalm 88:28., and 37.; Calmet) as it will remain for ever in the hands of the Messias. (Haydock) --- Hebrew makes a sudden address to the king, "they shall fear thee with the sun," which Houbigant dislikes. Some letters may have been changed, though the sense is not bad. (Berthier) --- "They shall fear thee at the rising of the sun, and shall pray to they by the light of the moon," Chaldean, both day and night. (Calmet) --- Solomon, as a figure of Christ, was good for some time; but no king, except our Saviour, will reign for ever. (Worthington) --- The mind of the prophet is now raised to behold him. (Menochius)
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| Psalms 71:6
| He shall come down like rain upon the fleece; and as showers falling gently upon the earth.
| Fleece. Or, "new cut grass," as the original term also signifies. Yet the explanation given by the Vulgate seems preferable, (Berthier) as an allusion is made to what happened to Gideon, (Judges 6:37.; Houbigant) prefiguring the miraculous conception of our Saviour. He shall call both the strayed sheep of the house of Israel, and the inhabitants of all the earth: as Solomon gave the greatest satisfaction to his people, during the early part of his reign, (Haydock) and spoke with the utmost eloquence, 3 Kings 4:34. (Calmet) --- Some supply His justice, (ver. 7.) or rather, "his word" shall come, Deuteronomy 32:2. (Calmet) --- The incarnation was effected sweetly, and in silence. (Worthington)
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| Psalms 71:7
| In his days shall justice spring up, and abundance of peace, till the moon be taken away.
| Justice. Hebrew, "the just," who appear most under a good king, being animated by his example. (Haydock) --- Away. Chaldean, "till those who adore the moon be exterminated." This idolatry pervaded almost all the east. Solomon's reign was very peaceable, 3 Kings 4:25. But this was only a feeble representation of the peace which Christ should bring. At his birth, the whole world was at peace. Angels proclaimed it to all the earth, Luke 2:14., and Isaias 2:4. (Calmet) --- It is certain, that the internal peace of Solomon's reign did not continue to the end, (Haydock) much less till the moon should be taken away. (Berthier)
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| Psalms 71:8
| And he shall rule from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth.
| To sea. Solomon ruled from the Mediterranean, Red, and Indian Seas, to the Persian Gulph, and the Euphrates, having all Arabia tributary to him, (Haydock) and the countries as far as Syria; so that he enjoyed all that had been promised by God, Genesis 15:18., Numbers 34:3., and 2 Paralipomenon 9:26., and 3 Kings 4:24. --- The earth, denotes this kingdom. (St. Jerome in Isaias 13:4.) But if we explain it of Christ, his Church has no limits. In spite of the corruption of the world, she still asserts her title of Catholic. (Calmet) --- She is universal, both as to time and place, and always visible, ver. 15. (Worthington) --- Her divine head began to propagate this kingdom, after he had been baptized in the river Jordan, (Berthier) as the Fathers agree. This unlimited dominion was promised, (Psalm 2:7.; Calmet) and the prophet Zachary, (Zacharias ix.) seems to quote this passage, when speaking of the Messias alone; so that it is best to understand it in this sense, as the Septuagint have done, by oikoumenes. (Berthier) (Isaias 9:6.)
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| Psalms 71:9
| Before him the Ethiopians shall fall down; and his enemies shall lick the ground.
| Ethiopians. So St. Jerome, Aquila, etc., translate Tsiim, (Haydock) which denotes any nations living at a distance from commerce, (Berthier) or islanders, and those who are accustomed to sail, Isaias 13:21. People on the continent, as well as those in islands, and ships, shall submit to Solomon, (3 Kings 10:11.) as all shall yield to Christ, (Calmet) at least at the day of judgment. --- Ground. Prostrating to adore him, Isaias 49:23. (Berthier) --- Thus the Persians approach their kings, (Val. Max. 7:3.) as the Muscovites and Chinese do still. (Calmet) --- The eunuch of the queen of Ethiopia was the first convert of those who did not live in the holy land, Acts 8:27. (Menochius)
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| Psalms 71:10
| The kings of Tharsis and the islands shall offer presents: the kings of the Arabians and of Saba shall bring gifts;
| Tharsis. Bordering on "the sea," (Berthier) or in Cilicia, though we find not that Solomon ever claimed any authority there, or that the Mediterranean was under his control. He sent his fleet indeed to Tharsis; (3 Kings 10:22.) but Arabia and Saba brought presents, or tribute to him. Under the name of islands, the Hebrews comprise all places, to which they had to go by water, as Asia Minor, etc., Isaias 66:19. (Calmet) --- The three kings were the first who verified this prediction concerning our Saviour; [Matthew ii.] and afterwards Constantine and other potentates embraced his religion. Among other islands, Britain, which is the greatest in Europe, was partly converted in the days of the apostles, (Theodoret in Timothy, etc.) and more under Eleutherius; though the English nation received the faith from St. Augustine of Canterbury and others, sent by Pope Gregory the Great, A.D. 596. (Worthington) --- Saba. Hebrew Seba. The preceding Arabia is sheba, (Haydock) and refers to some of those who peopled that country. --- Gifts, or tribute, 1 Paralipomenon xviii. (Calmet) --- If the former term, presents, (Hebrew mincha, "a sacrifice of flour," etc.; Haydock) be taken in the strict sense, the text cannot be applicable to any but the true God, the Messias. (Berthier) --- The wise men, who came from this country, adored and offered presents to Christ, Matthew 2:(Menochius)
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| Psalms 71:11
| And all kings of the earth shall adore him: all the nations shall serve him.
| Earth, is omitted in Hebrew, Roman Septuagint, etc., so that this cannot regard Solomon, (Berthier) though he was reverenced by all the neighbouring kings, 3 Kings 10:23. Christ alone is the universal king, (Apocalypse 19:16., and Philippians 2:10.; Calmet) to whom every knee shall bend, at least when all shall appear in judgment. Many kings shall submit before. (Berthier)
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| Psalms 71:12
| For he shall deliver the poor from the mighty: and the needy that had no helper.
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| Psalms 71:13
| He shall spare the poor and needy: and he shall save the souls of the poor.
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| Psalms 71:14
| He shall redeem their souls from usuries and iniquity: and their names shall be honourable in his sight.
| Usuries. Hebrew toc, (Haydock) means "fraud and usury." Eternal torment is the usury which God exacts for murder, etc., (St. Augustine) or a transient pleasure. (Haydock) --- From this Christ has redeemed us, (Berthier) as well as from iniquity. (St. Augustine) --- Original sin is the capital, for which the devil claims usury. (Bellarmine) --- Name. Hebrew, "blood." Septuagint properly wrote aima, which has been changed for onoma. The sense is not very different, as those who respect a person's name, are careful to defend him from death. (Berthier) --- Hebrew, "their blood is precious," Psalm 115:15., and 1 Kings 26:21. Solomon repressed all injustice, so that usury was banished, and the poor was so much enriched, as not to be forced to borrow. (Calmet) --- Yet, after his fall, he laid heavy burdens on his people. (Haydock) --- How much has the name and blood of Christians cost! Yet we fear not to scandalize those (Berthier) for whom Christ died! The most beautiful qualification of all in power is, to protect the poor, and to promote the work of God, for which he lends them his authority. (Haydock)
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| Psalms 71:15
| And he shall live, and to him shall be given of the gold of Arabia, for him they shall always adore: they shall bless him all the day.
| Arabia. Hebrew sheba, ver. 10. (Haydock) --- This was accomplished by the wise men. [Matthew ii.] (Eusebius) --- For him, (de ipso.) They shall adopt the form of prayer which he has taught, (St. Augustine) or they shall adore him on his own account. (Berthier) --- Through him we have access in one spirit to the Father, Ephesians 2:18., and Romans 5:1. People might pay a civil respect also to Solomon. --- He shall live. The prolongation of the ruler's life is sometimes (Haydock) a blessing, Proverbs 28:2. The poor shall live, and pay the taxes cheerfully, praying for his prince, etc. (Calmet) --- They shall adore God, and offer their vows for him, (Haydock) as subjects would do for Solomon, and the crowds did for Jesus Christ, crying out, Hosanna, etc., Matthew xxi. (Menochius)
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| Psalms 71:16
| And there shall be a firmament on the earth on the tops of mountains, above Libanus shall the fruit thereof be exalted: and they of the city shall flourish like the grass of the earth.
| A firmament on the earth, etc. This may be understood of the Church of Christ, ever firm and visible: and of the flourishing condition of its congregation. (Challoner) --- The strength or staff of bread shall not fail, Psalm 104:16., and Isaias 3:1. (Calmet) --- Protestants, "there shall be a handful of corn in the," etc. (Haydock) --- Thus moderns follow the Rabbins, who greatly exaggerate the abundance which will take place under the Messias, as expecting that wheat will then grow as high as cedars. The country was indeed very luxuriant and populous in the reign of Solomon. But the fathers explain this of the Church, founded on Christ, the rock, and enriched with all virtues, (Calmet) and the most efficacious sacraments, particularly with the holy Eucharist, to which St. Jerome may allude: "there shall be memorable wheat," etc. (Haydock) --- By these hyperbolical allegories, the abundance enjoyed in the Church was denoted. (Menochius)
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| Psalms 71:17
| Let his name be blessed for evermore: his name continueth before the sun. And in him shall all the tribes of the earth be blessed: all nations shall magnify him.
| Continueth. Protestants marginal note, "shall be as a son, to continue his father's name for ever." The Messias is the eternal son of God. Hebrew yinnin, (Keri.) might be rendered (Haydock) filiabitur, (Montanus) if this word were Latin. The ancient Jews considered this as one of the titles of the Messias. Chaldean, "before the sun was, his name was prepared." (Berthier) --- This is the third time that the glory of Christ is pronounced eternal, ver. 5., and 7. (Haydock) --- He is for ever blessed: but we cannot think of Solomon, without remembering his almost incredible fall. (Calmet) --- Blessed. This was spoken only of the Messias, (Berthier) who is the cause of salvation to all the elect. None are saved who do not continue in Him, (Menochius) by faith and good works.
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| Psalms 71:18
| Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who alone doth wonderful things.
| The God. Hebrew repeats this word, (Haydock) as the Septuagint of St. Jerome did. (Ep. ad Sun.) (Calmet) --- Alone. Miracles can be wrought only by God's power. (Worthington)
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| Psalms 71:19
| And blessed be the name of his majesty for ever; and the whole earth shall be filled with his majesty. So be it. So be it.
| So be it. Hebrew, "And amen." See Psalm xl. (Haydock) --- This glory of God was David's most ardent wish. (Worthington) --- It is suspected that the collector of the psalms added these two verses, (Muis) as all the books end alike. (Calmet)
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| Psalms 71:20
| The praises of David, the son of Jesse, are ended.
| Are ended. By this it appears that this psalm, though placed here, was in order of time the last of those which David composed, (Challoner) as he died soon after. (Menochius) --- The subject which he has here treated, (Haydock) concentrated all his thoughts and desires. (Eusebius) --- "The prayers of David, son of Jesse, have been summed up." (Theodotion and V Edition.) (Haydock) --- It is probable that the collections of the psalms were made at different times; (Berthier) and though many were found after this second book was completed, it was not judged expedient to make any alteration. The Syriac and Arabic pass over this sentence entirely, (Calmet) which might be added by Esdras. (Worthington) --- The following psalms have the name of Asaph, etc., in the titles. (Flaminius) --- Yet it is certain that David composed some at least, which are place after this. See Psalm cix., etc. (Haydock) --- The true David ceaseth not to sing new canticles in his Church. (St. Augustine) (Worthington)
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