Teks -- Psalms 72:4 (NET)

72:4 He will defend the oppressed among the people; he will deliver the children of the poor and crush the oppressor.

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per frasa)

Wesley: Psa 72:4 - Judge

Vindicate them from their oppressors.

JFB: Psa 72:4

That peace, including prosperity, as an eminent characteristic of Christ's reign (Isa 2:4; Isa 9:6; Isa 11:9), will be illustrated in the security provided for the helpless and needy, and the punishment inflicted on oppressors, whose power to injure or mar the peace of others will be destroyed (compare Isa 65:25; Zec 9:10).

JFB: Psa 72:4 - children of the needy

For the needy (compare sons of strangers, Psa 18:45 [Margin]).

Calvin: Psa 72:4 - He shall judge the poor of the people

4.He shall judge the poor of the people The poet continues his description of the end and fruit of a righteous government, and unfolds at greater length what he had briefly touched upon concerning the afflicted among the people. But it is a truth which ought to be borne in mind, that kings can keep themselves within the bounds of justice and equity only by the grace of God; for when they are not governed by the Spirit of righteousness proceeding from heaven, their government is converted into a system of tyranny and robbery. As God had promised to extend his care to the poor and afflicted among his people, David, as an argument to enforce the prayer which he presents in behalf of the king, shows that the granting of it will tend to the comfort of the poor. God is indeed no respecter of persons; but it is not without cause that God takes a more special care of the poor than of others, since they are most exposed to injuries and violence. Let laws and the administration of justice be taken away, and the consequence will be, that the more powerful a man is, he will be the more able to oppress his poor brethren. David, therefore, particularly mentions that the king will be the defender of those who can only be safe under the protection of the magistrate, and declares that he will be their avenger when they are made the victims of injustice and wrong. The phrase, The children of the afflicted, is put for the afflicted, an idiom quite common in Hebrew, and a similar form of expression is sometimes used by the Greeks, as when they say υἱους ἰατρων, the sons of physicians, for physicians. ¹³⁰ But as the king cannot discharge the duty of succouring and defending the poor which David imposes upon him, unless he curb the wicked by authority and the power of the sword, it is very justly added in the end of the verse, that when righteousness reigns, oppressors or extortioners will be broken in pieces. It would be foolish to wait till they should give place of their own accord. They must be repressed by the sword, that their audacity and wickedness may be prevented from proceeding to greater lengths. It is therefore requisite for a king to be a man of wisdom, and resolutely prepared effectually to restrain the violent and injurious, that the rights of the meek and orderly may be preserved unimpaired. Thus none will be fit for governing a people but he who has learned to be rigorous when the case requires. Licentiousness must necessarily prevail under an effeminate and inactive sovereign, or even under one who is of a disposition too gentle and forbearing. There is much truth in the old saying, that it is worse to live under a prince through whose lenity everything is lawful, than under a tyrant where there is no liberty at all.

TSK: Psa 72:4 - He shall judge // break // the oppressor

He shall judge : Psa 72:12-14, Psa 109:31; Isa 11:4; Eze 34:15, Eze 34:16; Zec 11:7, Zec 11:11; Mat 11:5

break : Psa 2:9, Psa 94:5; Job 19:2, Job 34:24; Pro 20:26; Jer 51:20-23

the oppressor : Isa 9:4, Isa 51:12, Isa 51:13; Dan 2:34, Dan 2:35; Zec 9:8-10; Rev 18:6-8, Rev 18:20, Rev 18:24, Rev 19:2

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per Ayat)

Poole: Psa 72:4 - Judge // The children of the needy

Judge i.e. vindicate them from their potent oppressors, as judging is used, Psa 43:1 , and oft elsewhere.

The children of the needy whom the rich peradventure did seize upon for bondmen, upon some pretence or other.

Haydock: Psa 72:4 - Regard // Stripes

Regard. They are not restrained by the thoughts of death, (Haydock) which they banish (Worthington) as much as possible. Protestants, "There are no bands ("of pain." Munster) in," &c. (Haydock) ---

Stripes. They quickly remove their light afflictions. (Worthington) ---

"And their halls are strong." (St. Jerome) ---

"Their strength is firm;" (Protestants) "fat." (Marginal note) (Haydock) ---

Septuagint follow another derivation, which is equally accurate. (Berthier) ---

The wicked die with content and ease, in an advanced age, falling off like ripe apples, without being torn violently away or bound. They look not on all sides to see if there be no escaping. (Menochius) ---

Having enjoyed all the luxuries of life unto satiety, they are resigned to die, little suspecting what will follow. (Haydock) ---

They are like victims fattened for slaughter, Proverbs vii. 22. (St. Augustine) ---

A noted English deist had the assurance to say on his death-bed, and to have place on his tomb-stone, Dubius, sed non improbus vixi: securus morior, haud perturbatus! (Haydock)

Gill: Psa 72:4 - He shall judge the poor of the people // he shall save the children of the needy // and shall break in pieces the oppressor

He shall judge the poor of the people,.... Of the people of God, whether among Jews or Gentiles; See Gill on Psa 72:2;

he shall save the children of the needy; whose parents being needy, they are so too, in a spiritual sense, and in distressed circumstances. Such Christ saves from their sins; from the curses and condemnation of the law: from, wrath to come, and out of the hands of all their enemies;

and shall break in pieces the oppressor; the tyrant Satan, the god of this world; that has usurped a power over it; who works in the children of disobedience, and leads captive the people of God in their unregenerate state: the "calumniator", as some render the word; the accuser of the brethren: "the defrauder" ^q, as others: who beguiled our first parents, and deceives mankind. Now it was foretold of Christ that he should break his head; and he was manifested in the flesh to destroy his works; and him himself; and he has broke him and all his schemes in pieces, and spoiled all his principalities and powers: The Syriac Version reads, "tyrants" or "oppressors", in the plural number; and it may include the Jews, who were the persecutors and oppressors of the first Christians; and Rome, Pagan and Papal; antichrist, and all the antichristian states, which have been, or will be, broken to pieces by Christ; who will rule them with a rod of iron, and break them in pieces as a potter's vessel, Rev 2:27.