Psalm 72 (71):17Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

As they are blessed in Him, they will also honor Him—not by elevating Him through their own efforts, for He is inherently great, but by acknowledging and proclaiming His greatness. We glorify God in this way, as we declare, Hallowed be thy name, (Matt. 6:9) which is eternally sacred.

“And in Him shall all the families of the earth be blessed.” Here, the Prophet echoes the promise made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. God assured these three Patriarchs that “all the nations of the earth” (Gen. 12:18), or “the tribes of the earth” (Gen. 12:3), would receive a blessing. The various terms used signify all humankind. The blessed Paul elaborates on this, saying, “But the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say, and to seeds, as of many, but as of one, and to your seed, who is Christ” (Galatians 3:16), and in his letter to the Hebrews, he mentions, “not concerning angels did He take hold” (Hebrews 2:16). The current psalm also prophesies that “all the tribes of the earth shall be blessed in Him.” “All the nations shall find joy in Him.” The prophetic utterance distinguishes between the manner of discussing human beings and the divine. The term “blessed” is indeed attributed to God, as it is written, “blessed, the only sovereign, King of kings, and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light” (1 Tim. 6:15-16). The prophet denotes that all nations regard Him as blessed and worthy of praise. Subsequently, in revealing His hidden divinity more clearly, he states: Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel, the sole performer of wonders.

Some attempt to connect this to Solomon, but it is more fitting to associate it with Christ. For those who were not among the infants slain by Herod demonstrate that He existed alongside the Father before the world was formed, and that His name is exalted above all names, eternal in nature, as noted by Athanasius. Through Him, all the families of the earth shall be blessed, and all nations will give Him honor. Blessed signifies consecrated, filled with grace. For we believers, identified as Christians, are glorified by this name. God made a promise to Abraham that through his lineage, all nations would receive a blessing: "and in your seed all nations of the earth will be blessed" (Genesis 26:4). Paul clarifies that this seed of Abraham is Christ (Galatians 3:16). That is why all nations shall glorify Him, as he states. The expression tribes refers to the lineages of humanity. Theodoret observes that all nations call Him blessed and deserving of praise. Isychius notes that all tribes, tongues, and nations, which once lived in error, have now collectively embraced the blessing. This accounts for their intent to honor Him; with what expression of blessedness if not that found in the Gospel: "blessed is the womb that bore You, and the breasts at which You nursed."

While the Psalm is attributed to Solomon, it predominantly pertains to Christ, overshadowing Solomon's significance. On the surface, it appears to celebrate Solomon, yet in a deeper and more accurate interpretation, it refers to the true Peacemaker. This prophecy not only provided immense comfort to those alive at the time but also serves as an extraordinary source of encouragement for generations to come. The verses stating, "Before the sun His name abideth; and before the moon the generations" (Psalm 71:5), and various other divine and supernatural elements that transcend humanity, are indeed references to Christ. However, the part that mentions they shall pray for him (Psalm 71:15) could be seen as directed toward Solomon. Thus, we should not assume that the pure Wisdom expressed through the Prophets merely hinted at future knowledge. Instead, we should integrate future insights with present truths. When we encounter statements that seem to detract from the divine nature of the Savior, we should refrain from attributing them to Him. Likewise, we must not claim that anything noble, fitting for divine majesty, applies to Solomon, whose life did not conclude as perfectly as one might expect. Let us avoid twisting prophecies to fit our interpretations and instead strive to understand the historical context reasonably, distinguishing between what is historically articulated and what is prophetically intended without misapplying the two categories. We should assign appropriate meanings to both dimensions. However, when we discover a prophecy that retains historical fidelity while allowing for speculative application, we should interpret it through both lenses.

Although the world may often tremble due to the trials inflicted by humanity or the enmity of Satan, who seeks to sow discord, this kingdom, fortified by divine power, will remain secure. We observe that the sun and the moon serve as testaments to His eternal reign (Psalm 88:38). The subsequent phrase—"And in Him all the tribes of the earth shall be blessed; all the Gentiles shall delight in Him"—is derived from Genesis (Gen. 22:18) and echoed by the Apostle in his letter to the Galatians (Gal. 3:16). Thus, all nations will receive blessings from God through Christ, as they are born anew in Him and find their sustenance in Him. Therefore, at the final judgment, it will be proclaimed: "Come, ye blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world" (Matthew 25:34). This blessing ultimately signifies justification and adoption in Christ. Just as all the tribes of the earth will be blessed through Him, so too will the Gentiles collectively praise and honor Him.

The Father has granted authority to the Son to administer judgment. The Lord Christ is both the King and the Son of the King; in His divine essence, He was begotten by the Almighty God, and in His humanity, He is a descendant of King David.