Psalms 72:11

11 And let all 1kings bow down before him, All 2nations serve him.

Psalms 72:11 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 72:11

Yea, all kings shall fall down before him
Or worship him; not with a civil, but religious worship; for such worship is due to Christ, he being God equal with the Father, and so to be equally honoured; the Creator of all things, the Redeemer of his people, Head and Lord of the church, and whom the angels adore; every part of worship is to be given him; internal, which lies in the exercise of faith, hope, love, fear and external, which consists of prayer to him, praise of him, preaching in his name, and the administration of ordinances; and this worship is to be performed in the same manner as to the Father, in spirit and in truth, in righteousness and holiness, with reverence and godly fear. This is to be understood, either literally of the kings of the earth, and which will have its full accomplishment in the latter day; see ( Isaiah 49:23 ) ( Isaiah 60:3 Isaiah 60:11 Isaiah 60:16 ) ; or mystically of such who are made kings unto God the Father by Christ; who reign spiritually now, through the power of divine grace in their hearts; have the honour, riches, and attendance of kings, and a crown and kingdom prepared for them; and shall reign with Christ on earth, though under him, at whose feet they cast their crowns: all this shows the dignity of Christ's person and office; that he is the Prince of the kings of the earth, the firstborn of God, whom he has made higher than they, and King of kings, and Lord of lords; whose princes, and all whose subjects, are altogether kings. This passage is allowed to belong to the Messiah, both by ancient and modern Jews F7; and indeed it never was true of Solomon, nor of any other;

all nations shall serve him;
which will be in the latter day; see ( Isaiah 2:2 ) ( Revelation 11:15 ) ( 15:4 ) ; the Jews say F8, that in the world to come, or the times of the Messiah, all the Gentiles shall be voluntary proselytes.


FOOTNOTES:

F7 Zohar in Gen. fol. 84. 4. Bemidbar Rabba, s. 13. fol. 209. 4. Midrash Megillat Esther, fol. 86. 2. R. Isaac Chizzuk Emunah, par. 1. p. 44.
F8 T. Avodah Zarah, fol. 24. 1.

Psalms 72:11 In-Context

9 Let the nomads of the desert bow before him, And his enemies lick the dust.
10 Let the kings of Tarshish and of the islands bring presents; The kings of Sheba and Seba offer gifts.
11 And let all kings bow down before him, All nations serve him.
12 For he will deliver the needy when he cries for help, The afflicted also, and him who has no helper.
13 He will have compassion on the poor and needy, And the lives of the needy he will save.

Cross References 2

  • 1. Psalms 138:4; Isaiah 49:23
  • 2. Psalms 86:9

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. Or "All kings will bow down"
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