Jesus was the name eternal

JESUS WAS THE NAME ETERNAL
EDITED BY GLENN PEASE
Psalm72:17 17May his name endure forever; may it
continue as long as the sun. Then all nations will be
blessedthrough him, and they will call him blessed.
THE ETERNALNAME NO. 27
A SERMON DELIVERED ON SABBATHEVENING, MAY 27, 1855, BY
THE REV. C. H. SPURGEON, AT EXETER HALL, STRAND.
“His name shall endure forever.” Psalm72:17.
NO one here requires to be told that this is the name of Jesus Christ, which
“shallendure forever.” Men have said of many of their works, “Theyshall
endure forever,” but how much have they been disappointed! In the age
succeeding the flood, they made the brick, they gatheredthe slime, and when
they had piled old Babel’s tower, they said, “This shall last forever.” But God
confounded their language. Theyfinished it not. By His lightenings, He
destroyedit and left it a monument of their folly. Old Pharaoh and the
Egyptian monarchs heaped up their pyramids, and they said, “They shall
stand forever,” and so indeed they do stand, but the time is approaching when
age shall devour even these. So with all the proudest works ofman, whether
they have been his temples or his monarchs, he has written “everlasting” on
them, but God has ordained their end and they have passedaway. The most
stable things have been evanescentas shadows and the bubbles of an hour,

speedily destroyedat God’s bidding. Where is Nineveh and where is Babylon?
Where the cities of Persia? Where are the high places of Edom? Where are
Moaband the princes of Ammon? Where are the temples or the heroes of
Greece?Where are the millions that passedfrom the gates ofThebes? Where
are the hosts of Xerxes or where the vast armies of the Romanemperors?
Have they not passedaway? And though in their pride they said, “This
monarchy is an everlasting one—this queen of the sevenhills shall be called
the eternalcity,” its pride is dimmed and she who satalone and said, “I shall
be no widow, but a queen forever,” she has fallen, has fallen, and in a little
while she shall sink like a millstone in the flood, her name being a curse and a
byword, and her site the habitation of dragons and of owls. Man calls his
work eternal— Godcalls them fleeting. Man conceives thatthey are built of
rock—Godsays, “Nay, sand. Orworse than that—they are air.” Man says he
erects them for eternity—God blows but for a moment and where are they?
Like baselessfabrics of a vision, they are passedand gone forever. It is
pleasant, then, to find that there is one thing which is to last forever.
Concerning that one thing we hope to speak tonight, if God will enable me to
preach and you to hear, “His name shall endure forever.” First, the religion
sanctifiedby His name shall endure forever. Secondly, the honor of His name
shall endure forever. And thirdly, the saving, comforting powerof His name
shall endure forever. I. First, THE RELIGION OF THE NAME OF JESUS IS
TO ENDURE FOREVER. Whenimpostors forged their delusions, they had
hopes that peradventure they might, in some distant age, carrythe world
before them. And if they saw a few followers gatheraround their standard,
who offered incense at their shrine, then they smiled and said, “My religion
shall outshine the stars and lastthrough eternity.” But how mistakenhave
they been! How many false systems have started up and passedaway!Why,
some of us have seen, evenin our short lifetime, sects that rose like Jonah’s
gourd in a single night and passedawayjust as swiftly. We, too, have beheld
prophets rise, who have had their hour, yes, they have had their day, as dogs
all have, but like the dogs, their day has passedawayand the impostor, where
is he? And the arch-deceiver, where is he? Gone and ceased. Speciallymight I
say this of the various systems of infidelity. Within a hundred and fifty years,
how has the boastedpowerof reasonchanged!It has piled up one thing, and
then in another day it has laughed at its own handiwork, demolishedits own

castle, and constructedanother, and the next day, a third. It has a thousand
dresses. Once it came forth like a foolwith its bells, heralded by Voltaire.
Then it came out a braggartbully, like
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Tom Paine. Then it changedits course and assumedanother shape, till finally
we have it in the base, bestial secularismofthe present day, which looks for
nothing but the earth, keeps its nose upon the ground, and like the beast,
thinks this world is enough or looks for anotherthrough seeking this. Why,
before one hair on this head shall be grey, the lastsecularistshall have passed
away. Before many of us are fifty years of age, a new infidelity shall come and
to those who say, “Where will saints be?” we can turn round and say, “Where
are you?” And they will answer, “We have altered our names.” They will have
altered their name, assumeda fresh shape, put on a new form of evil, but still
their nature will be the same, opposing Christ and endeavoring to blaspheme
His truths. On all their systems of religion, or non-religion, for that is a system
too, it may be written, “Evanescent—fading as the flower, fleeting as the
meteor, frail and unreal as a vapor.” But of Christ’s religion it shall be said,
“His name shall endure forever.” Let me now saya few things—not to prove
it, for that I do not wish to do—but to give you some hints whereby possibly I
may one day prove it to other people, that Jesus Christ’s religion must
inevitably endure forever. And first, we ask those who think it shall pass
away, when was there a time when it did not exist? We ask them whether they
can point their finger to a period when the religion of Jesus was anunheardof
thing. “Yes,” they will reply, “before the days of Christ and His apostles.”But
we answer, “Nay, Bethlehemwas not the birthplace of the Gospel, though
Jesus was born there, there was a Gospellong before the birth of Jesus and a
preachedone, too, although not preachedin all its simplicity and plainness, as
we hear it now. There was a Gospelin the wilderness of Sinai, although it
might be confusedwith the smoke of the incense and only to be seenthrough

slaughteredvictims, yet there was a Gospelthere.” Yes, more, we take them
back to the fair trees of Eden, where the fruits perpetually ripened and
summer always rested, and amid these groves we tell them there was a Gospel,
and we let them hear the voice of God, as He spoke to rebellious man and said,
“The seedof the woman shall bruise the serpent’s head.” And having taken
them thus far back, we ask, “Where were false religions born? Where was
their cradle?” Theypoint us to Mecca, orthey turn their fingers to Rome, or
they speak ofConfucius, or the dogmas of Buddha. But we say, you only go
back to a distant obscurity. We take you to the primeval age. We direct you to
the days of purity. We take you back to the time when Adam first trod the
earth and then we ask you whether it is not likely that as the first-born, it will
not also be the last to die? And as it was born so early and still exists, whilst a
thousand ephemera have become extinct, whether it does not look most
probable, that when all others shall have perished like the bubble upon the
wave, this one, only, shall swim, like a goodship upon the oceanand still shall
bear its myriad souls, not to the land of shades, but across the river of death to
the plains of heaven? We ask next, supposing Christ’s Gospelto become
extinct, what religion is to supplant it? We inquire of the wise man who says
Christianity is soonto die, “Pray, sir, what religion are we to have in its stead?
Are we to have the delusions of the heathen, who bow before their gods and
worship images of woodand stone? Will you have the orgies ofBaechus, or
the obscenities ofVenus? Would you see your daughters once more bowing
down before Thammuz, or performing obscene rites as of old?” Nay, you
would not endure such things. You would say, “It would not be tolerated by
civilized men.” “Thenwhat would you have? Would you have Romanism and
its superstition?” You will say, “No, Godhelp us, never.” They may do what
they please with Britain, but she is too wise to take old Popery back again
while Smithfield lasts and there is one of the signs of martyrs there. Ay, while
there breathes a man who marks himself a freeman and swears by the
constitution of Old England, we cannot take Popery back again. She may be
rampant with her superstitions and her priestcraft, but with one consentmy
hearers reply, “We will not have Popery.” Then what will you choose? Shallit
be Mohammedanism? Will you choose that, with all its fables, its wickedness,
and lasciviousness?I will not tell you of it. Nor will I mention the accursed
imposture of the West that has lately arisen. We will not allow Polygamy,

while there are men to be found who love the socialcircle and cannot see it
invaded. We would not wish, when God has given to man one wife, that he
should drag in twenty, as the companions of that one. We cannot prefer
Mormonism. We will not and we shall not. Then what shall we have in the
place of
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Christianity? “Infidelity!” you cry, do you, sirs? And would you have that?
Then what would be the consequence? Whatdo many of them promote?
Communist views and the realdisruption of all societyas at present
established. Would you desire reigns of terror here, as they had in France? Do
you wish to see all societyshatteredand men wandering like monster icebergs
on the sea, dashing againsteachother and being at last utterly destroyed?
God save us from Infidelity! What can you have, then? Nothing. There is
nothing to supplant Christianity. What religion shall overcome it? There is
not one to be comparedwith it. If we tread the globe round and searchfrom
Britain to Japan, there shall be no religion found, so just to God, so safe to
man. We ask the enemy once more, suppose a religion were to be found which
would be preferable to the one we love, by what means would you crush ours?
How would you get rid of the religion of Jesus? And how would you
extinguish His name? Surely, sirs, you would never think of the old practice of
persecution, would you? Would you once more try the efficacyof stakes and
fires, to burn out the name of Jesus?Would you try racks and thumbscrews?
Would you give us the boots and instruments of torture? Try it, sirs and you
shall not quench Christianity. Eachmartyr, dipping his finger in his blood,
would write its honors upon the heavens as he died, and the very flame that
mounted up to heaven would emblazon the skies with the name of Jesus.
Persecutionhas been tried. Turn to the Alps. Let the valleys of Piedmont
speak. Let Switzerland testify. Let France, with its St. Bartholomew. Let
England with all its massacres,speak.And if you have not crushed it yet, shall

you hope to do it? Shall you? Nay, a thousand are to be found and ten
thousand if it were necessary, who are willing to march to the stake tomorrow,
and when they are burned, if you could take up their hearts, you would see
engravedupon eachof them the name of Jesus. “His name shall endure
forever,” for how can you destroy our love to it? “Ah! but,” you say, “we
would try gentler means than that.” Well, what would you attempt? Would
you invent a better religion? We bid you do it and let us hear it. We have not
yet so much as believed you capable of such a discovery. What then? Would
you wake up one that would deceive us and lead us astray? We bid you do it,
for it is not possible to deceive the elect. You may deceive the multitude, but
God’s electshall not be led astray. They have tried us. Have they not given us
Popery? Have they not assailedus with Puseyism? Are they not tempting us
with wholesale Arminianism, by the wholesale? And do we therefore renounce
God’s truth? No. We have takenthis for our motto and by it we will stand.
“The Bible, the whole Bible. and nothing but the Bible,” is still the religion of
Protestants, andthe selfsame truth which moved the lips of Chrysostom, the
old doctrine that ravished the heart of Augustine, the old faith which
Athanasius declared, the goodold doctrine that Calvin preached, is our
Gospelnow, and God helping us, we will stand by it till we die. How will you
quench it? If you wish to do it, where can you find the means? It is not in your
power. Aha! Aha! Aha! We laugh you to scorn. But you will quench it, will
you? You will try it, do you say? And you hope you will accomplishyour
purpose? Yes, I know you will, when you have annihilated the sun, when you
have quenched the moon with drops of your tears, when you have dried up the
sea with your drinking. Then shall you do it. And yet you sayyou will. And
next, I ask you, suppose you did, what would become of the world then? Ah!
were I eloquent tonight, I might perhaps tell you. If I could borrow the
language ofa RobertHall I might hang the world in mourning. I might make
the sea the greatchief mourner, with its dirge of howling pain and its wild
death-march of disorderedwaves. I might clothe all nature—not in robes of
green, but in garments of somber blackness. Iwould bid hurricanes howl the
solemn wailing—thatdeath shriek of a world—for what would become of us,
if we should lose the Gospel? As for me, I tell you fairly, I would cry, “Let me
be gone!” I would have no wish to be here without my Lord. And if the Gospel
is not true, I should bless God to annihilate me this instant, for I would not

care to live if you could destroy the name of Jesus Christ. But that would not
be all, that only one man should be miserable, for there are thousands and
thousands who canspeak as I do. Again, what would become of civilization if
you could take Christianity away? Where would be the hope of a perpetual
peace? Where governments? Where your Sabbath-schools? Where allyour
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societies? Where everything that ameliorates the condition of man, reforms
his manners, and moralizes his character? Where? Letecho answer,
“Where?” “Theywould be gone and not a scrap of them would be left.” And
where, O men, would be your hope of heaven? And where the knowledge of
eternity? Where a help across the river death? Where a heaven? And where
bliss everlasting? All were gone if His name did not endure forever. But we
are sure of it, we know it, we affirm it, we declare it. We believe and always
will, that “His name shall endure forever”—ay, forever!Let who will, try to
stop it. This is my first point. I shall have to speak with rather bated breath
upon the second, althoughI feel so warm within as well as without, that I
would to God I could speak with all my strength as I might do. II. But
secondly, as His religion, so THE HONOR OF HIS NAME IS TO LAST
FOREVER. Voltaire saidhe lived in the twilight of Christianity. He meant a
lie. He spoke the truth. He did live in its twilight, but it was the twilight before
the morning—not the twilight of the evening, as he meant to say. Forthe
morning comes, whenthe light of the sun shall break upon us in its truest
glory. The scorners have said that we should soonforget to honor Christ and
that one day no man should acknowledgeHim. Now, we assertagain, in the
words of my text, “His name shall endure forever,” as to the honor of it. Yes, I
will tell you how long it will endure. As long as on this earth there is a sinner,
who has been reclaimedby omnipotent grace, Christ’s name shall endure. As
long as there is a Mary, ready to washHis feetwith tears and wipe them with
the hair of her head. As long as there breathes a chief of sinners, who has

washedhimself in the fountain openedfor sin and for uncleanness. As long as
there exists a Christian, who has put his faith in Jesus and found Him his
delight, his refuge, his stay, his shield, his song, and his joy, there will be no
fear that Jesus’name will cease to be heard. We can never give up that name.
We let the Unitarian take his gospelwithout a Godheadin it. We let him deny
Jesus Christ. But as long as Christians—true Christians, live, as long as we
taste that the Lord is gracious, have manifestations of His love, sights of His
face, whispers of His mercy, assurancesofHis affection, promises of His
grace, hopes ofHis blessing, we cannot ceaseto honor His name. But if all
these were gone, if we were to ceaseto sing His praise, would Jesus Christ’s
name be forgottenthen? No. The stones would sing, the hills would be an
orchestra, the mountains would skip like rams, and the little hills like lambs.
For is He not their Creator? And if the lips of all mortals were dumb at once,
there are creatures enoughin this wide world besides. Why, the sun would
lead the chorus. The moon would play upon her silver harp and sweetlysing
to her music. Stars would dance in their measured courses.The shoreless
depths of ether would become the home of songs and the void immensity
would burst out into one greatshout, “You are the glorious Son of God! Great
is Your majesty and infinite Your power!” Can Christ’s name be forgotten?
No. It is painted on the skies. It is written on the floods. The winds whisper it.
The tempests howl it. The seas chantit. The stars shine it. The beasts low it.
The thunders proclaim it. Earth shouts it. Heaven echoesit. But if that were
all gone, if this greatuniverse should all subside in God, just as a moment’s
foam subsides into the wave that bears it and is lostforever, would His name
be forgotten then? No. Turn your eyes up yonder. See heaven’s terra firma,
“Who are these that are arrayedin white and whence came they?” “These are
they that came out of greattribulation; they have washedtheir robes, and
made them white in the blood of the Lamb; therefore they are before the
throne of God, and praise him day and night in his temple.” And if these were
gone, if the last harp of the glorified had been touched with the last fingers, if
the lastpraise of the saints had ceased, if the last hallelujah had echoed
through the then desertedvaults of heaven, for they would be gloomy then—if
the lastimmortal had been buried in his grave, if graves there might be for
immortals—would His praise cease then? No, by heaven, no. Foryonder stand
the angels. They, too, sing His glory. To Him the cherubim and seraphim do

cry without ceasing, whenthey mention His name in that thrice holy chorus,
“Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of armies.” But if even these were perished—if
angels had been swept away, if the wing of seraph never flapped the ether, if
the voice of the cherub never sung his flaming sonnet, if the living creatures
ceasedtheir everlasting chorus, if the measured symphonies of glory were
extinct in silence, would His name then be lost? Ah! no. Foras Godupon the
throne, He sits, the everlasting One, the Father, Son, and Holy
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Ghost. And if the universe were all annihilated, still would His name be heard,
for the Father would hear it and the Spirit would hear it, and deeply engraven
on immortal marble in the rocks of ages, itwould stand—Jesus the Son of
God, co-equalwith His Father. “His name shall endure forever.” III. And so
shall the powerof His name. Do you inquire what this is? Let me tell you. Do
you see yonder thief hanging upon the cross?Beholdthe fiends at the foot
thereof, with open mouths, charming themselves with the sweetthought that
another soul shall give them meat in hell. Behold the death-bird, fluttering his
wings o’er the poor wretch’s head. Vengeance passesby and stamps him for
her own. Deepon his breast is written “a condemned sinner.” On his brow is
the clammy sweat, expressedfrom him by agony and death. Look in his heart,
it is filthy with the crust of years of sin. The smoke oflust is hanging within, in
black festoons ofdarkness. His whole heart is hell condensed. Now, look at
him. He is dying. One foot seems to be in hell, the other hangs tottering in life,
only kept by a nail. There is a powerin Jesus’eye. Thatthief looks, he
whispers, “Lord, remember me.” Turn your eye againthere. Do you see that
thief? Where is the clammy sweat?It is not there. Where is that horrid
anguish? Is it not there. Positivelythere is a smile upon his lips. The fiends of
hell, where are they? There are none, but a bright seraph is present, with his
wings outspread and his hands ready to snatch that soul, now a precious
jewel, and bear it aloft to the palace of the greatKing. Look within his heart,

it is white with purity. Look at his breast, it is no longer written “condemned,”
but “justified.” Look in the book of life, his name is graven there. Look on
Jesus’heart, there on one of the precious stones, He bears that poor thief’s
name. Yea, once more, look!See that bright one amid the glorified, clearer
than the sun and fair as the moon? That is the thief! That is the powerof
Jesus and that powershall endure forever. He who savedthe thief cansave
the lastman who shall ever live. For still,
“There is a fountain filled with blood Drawn from Immanuel’s veins; And
sinners plunged beneath that flood Lose all their guilty stains.
The dying thief rejoic’d to see That fountain in his day; O may I there, tho’
vile as he, Washall my sins away.
Deardying Lamb! That precious blood Shall never lose its power, Till all the
ransom’d church of God Is saved to sin no more.”
His powerful name shall endure forever. Nor is that all the powerof His
name. Let me take you to another scene and you shall witness somewhatelse.
There on that deathbed lies a saint. No gloomis on his brow, no terror on his
face. Weakly, but placidly he smiles. He groans perhaps, but yet he sings. He
sighs now and then, but more often he shouts. Stand by him. “My brother,
what makes you look in death’s face with such joy?” “Jesus,”he whispers.
What makes you so placid and so calm? “The name of Jesus.” See, he forgets
everything! Ask him a question. He cannotanswerit—he does not understand
you. Still he smiles. His wife comes, inquiring, “Do you know my name?” He
answers, “No.” His dearestfriend requests him to remember his intimacy. “I
know you not,” he says. Whisper in his ear, “Do you know the name of
Jesus?”and his eyes flash glory and his face beams heaven. His lips speak
sonnets and his heart bursts with eternity, for he hears the name of Jesus and

that name shall endure forever. He who landed one in heaven will land me
there. Come on, death! I will mention Christ’s name there. O grave!This shall
be
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my glory, the name of Jesus!Hell dog! This shall be your death, for the sting
of death is extracted— Christ our Lord. “His name shall endure forever.” I
had a hundred particulars to give you, but my voice fails, so I had better stop.
You will not require more of me tonight. You perceive the difficulty I feel in
speaking eachword. May God send it home to your souls!I am not
particularly anxious about my own name, whether that shall endure forever
or not, provided it is recordedin my Master’s book. GeorgeWhitefield, when
askedwhetherhe would found a denomination, said, “No, brother John
Wesleymay do as he pleases,but let my name perish. Let Christ’s name last
forever.” Amen to that! Let my name perish, but let Christ’s name last
forever. I shall be quite contentedfor you to go awayand forgetme. I have
not seenthe faces ofhalf of you again, I dare say. You may never be
persuaded to step within the walls of an conventicle. You will think it perhaps
not respectable enoughto come to a Baptist meeting. Well, I do not saywe are
a very respectable people, we don’t profess to be, but this one thing we do
profess, we love our Bibles. And if it is not respectable to do so, we do not care
to be had in esteem. But we do not know that we are so disreputable, after all,
for I believe, if I may state my own opinion, that if ProtestantChristendom
were counted out of that door, not merely every real Christian, but every
professor, I believe the PaedoBaptistswouldhave no very greatmajority to
boastof. We are not, after all, such a very small disreputable sect. Regardus
in England we may be, but take America, Jamaica, the West Indies, and
include those who are Baptists in principle, though not openly so, and we
surrender to none, not even to the EstablishedChurch of this country, in
numbers. That, however, we care very little about. For I say of the Baptist

name, let it perish, but let Christ’s name lastforever. I look forward with
pleasure to the day when there will not be a Baptistliving. I hope they will
soonbe gone. You will say, “Why?” Becausewheneverybody else sees
Baptism by immersion, we shall be immersed into all sects and our sectwill be
gone. Once give us the predominance and we are not a sectany longer. A man
may be a Churchman, a Wesleyan, or an Independent, and yet be a Baptist.
So that I say I hope the Baptist name will soonperish, but let Christ’s name
last forever. Yea, and yet again, much as I love dear old England, I do not
believe she will ever perish. No, Britain! You shall never perish, for the flag of
old England is nailed to the mast by the prayers of Christians, by the efforts of
Sunday schools andher pious men. But I say, let even England’s name perish.
Let her be mergedin one greatbrotherhood. Let us have no England, and no
France, and no Russia, and no Turkey, but let us have Christendom. And I
say heartily, from my soul, let nations and national distinctions perish, but let
Christ’s name last forever. Perhaps there is only one thing on earth that I love
better than the last I have mentioned, and that is the pure doctrine of
unadulterated Calvinism. But if that is wrong, if there is anything in that
which is false, I for one say let that perish too and let Christ’s name last
forever. Jesus!Jesus!Jesus!Jesus, “CrownHim Lord of all!” You will not
hear me say anything else. These are my last words in ExeterHall for this
time. Jesus!Jesus!Jesus!“CrownHim Lord of all.”
Takenfrom The C. H. Spurgeon Collection, Version1.0, Ages Software. Only
necessarychanges have beenmade, such as correcting spelling errors, some
punctuation usage, capitalizationof deity pronouns, and minimal updating of
a few archaic words. The content is unabridged. Additional Bible-based
resources are available at www.spurgeongems.org.

BIBLEHUB RESOURCES
The name of Christ
James Parsons.
I. THE SAVIOUR'S RENOWN. Forby "His name" we understand His
renown.
1. The source from whence this renownis derived. It is from His proper and
essentialdivinity; from His condescending and efficacious sufferings;from
His exaltationand mediatorial glory. What is all other renown comparedto
His?
2. The permanence with which it is invested. We have seenmuch of the
essentialperpetuity of our Saviour's renown, from what has already
transpired in the history and annals of the world. It has endured the attack of
heathenism when made under the elements of classic Greeceorthe powerof
inferior Rome. It has endured the attack of modern infidelity, which uttered
its hell-cry from philosopher to king, and back againfrom king to
philosopher, "Crush the wretch, crush the wretch!" — by that wretch
meaning the Redeemer, whose Cause and whose glorywe plead.
II. THE REDEEMER'SINFLUENCE.
1. Its method. It is securedthrough His Spirit, His Word, His Church.
2. Its character — it is one of blessing and grace. The religionof Christ alone
is the source alike of national, of domestic, and of individual felicity.
3. Its extent — "All nations shall callHim blessed."
(James Parsons.)
The imperishable name

Homilist.
We apply these words to Christ, although their literal reference may point to
another. What reasonhave we to believe that Christ's name will endure for
ever?
I. HE IS THE AUTHOR OF AN IMMORTALBOOK. Men's names come
down through the centuries by reasonof the books they have written,
although the time comes whenthe most enduring of these become obsolete
and pass away. Now, the Bible is Christ's book. He is at once its Author and
its substance. But, unlike other books, it has imperishable elements.
1. Its doctrines are true to the immortal intellect.
2. Its precepts are true to the undying conscience.
3. Its provisions are true to the unquenchable aspirations.
II. HE IS THE FOUNDER OF ENDURING INSTITUTIONS. Men's names
come down in institutions they have founded. Christ has instituted the Lord's
Supper. And the Sunday commemorates Him.
III. HE IS THE LIVING HEAD OF AN UNDYING FAMILY. Conclusion.
Trust this name.
(Homilist.)
The eternalname
It is the name of Jesus Christ. Text true of —
I. THE RELIGION SANCTIONEDBY HIS NAME.
1. There was never a time when it did not exist here on earth.
2. If it were destroyedno other religion would take its place.
3. If another could, by what means would you crush this?

4. And if it could be crushed, what would become of the world then: would life
be worth living?
II. THE HONOUR OF HIS NAME. As long as a redeemed sinner is to be
found, so long will the honour of Christ's name endure. And so of —
III. THE POWER OF HIS NAME. For it alone gives peace, purity, triumph
in death. Let all other names perish, as they will: but this never.
( C. H. Spurgeon.)
The honour of the name of Christ
J. Bannerman, D. D.
The language ofthis psalm cannot be confined to Solomon:it speaks ofhim
only as he was in office or characterthe type of Christ. The full meaning of
the psalm belongs to Christ alone. By the name of Christ, His chief greatness
or excellency, His peculiar honour and glory, is meant. Now, such glory has
been given to Christ —
I. BY GOD THE FATHER.
1. In the eternalcounsels.
2. At His baptism.
3. On the Mount Of Transfiguration.
4. By the Resurrection.
II. FROM THE ANGELS OF GOD. Their knowledge, theirsecurity, have
been furthered by Christ in His redeeming work.
III. FROM THE REDEEMED AMONG MEN. Throughtheir justification
and sanctificationthey become witnesses to the glory and greatness ofthe
Redeemer.
(J. Bannerman, D. D.)

Christ's renown
J. W. Adams, D. D.
By the name of Christ is signified His renown. Now, this prediction was
uttered more than a thousand years before the birth of Christ, and when deep
obscurity rested upon all that pertained to Him. And when He was born and
had entered on His ministry, there was scarcelyanything in His condition or
circumstances to justify the anticipation of His endless renown. He died
ignominiously forsakenofall His friends. But after His death their love
revived, and they went forth to preachHis name. But still there seemedlittle
probability that the name of their Mastershould endure for ever. Yet so it has
been. The triumphs of Christianity are all known. Time rolled on, and the
fame of Christ widened and spread. And His fame and renown are entirely
different from that which belongs to all others. For —
I. WHERE ONCE CHRIST'S NAME HAS BEEN KNOWN IT HAS NEVER
BEEN ENTIRELYROOTED OUT. Evenin the place where the seven
Churches of Asia withered under the curse of heaven, His name is not lost.
But other names, howevergreat, are.
II. THE KNOWLEDGE WHICH MEN HAVE OF HIM IS MORE
INTIMATE AND PARTICULAR THAN THAT WHICH THEY HAVE OF
ANY OF THE GREAT MEN OF THE PAST. How little we know of these ."
how much we know of Him.
III. And the knowledge ofHim is POSSESSED BYALL CLASSES. Notthe
rich and educatedalone, but the poor and the common people know Him.
IV. And HOW DIFFERENTTHE FEELINGS WHICH WE ASSOCIATE
WITH HIM FROM THOSE WHICH WE HAVE FOR OTHERS. It is not
mere admiration or respect, but we give Him our hearts. Every mention of His
name touches our deepestaffections. Whatwonder that He should receive the
homage of a world! But what is He to us? That is the all-important question.
Has such a friend, such a Saviour, no beauty in our eyes? God forbid that we
should refuse Him that love which He asks for, and so richly merits from us.

(J. W. Adams, D. D.)
His name shall endure
W. S. Goodall, M. A.
I. WHY MAY THE INFLUENCE OF CHRIST'S NAME BE EXPECTEDTO
ENDURE FOR EVER?
1. BecauseHe is the greatestbenefactorthe world has ever seen.
2. BecauseHe is a mighty conqueror. He achievedvictory, notwithstanding
fearful odds. Look at two periods in the history of the Church. Look at the
first three centuries. Emperors and rulers combined to exterminate this new
sect. The most determined means were adopted. Religious teachers were put
to death or castinto prison. Bibles were gatheredtogetherin response to
severaledicts and burned in different squares and marketplaces. Did these
succeed? The very means adopted to destroythe new faith were the means
blessedof God for perpetuating it. Religious teacherswere scatteredoverthe
then known world. To their amazement, I canwell believe, they found that
God had been preparing the world for their coming. Magnificentroads had
been made, so that they could pass easilyfrom town to town. The Greek
language was spokenso that they could address the people in their own
tongue. Verily it was only in the "fulness of time" that God "sentforth His
Son." If you wish to see triumph in connectionwith the preaching of the
Gospel, study the first three centuries of the Gospelhistory. Look at the last
century of the history of the Church. In that century you see the history and
the triumph of missions.
II. HOW IS CHRIST'S NAME TO BE PERPETUATED?
1. In the hearts of His people. Take Christ and His teaching out of song. Take
Christ and His Cross out of poetry, and you take awaytheir very heart and
soul and life. No teacherhas ever receivedsuch tribute as Christ has done.
The fact that you have the best geniuses in song, and poetry, and painting,

laying their offerings at His feetis one of the most convincing arguments in
favour of my text — "His name shall endure for ever."
2. By the characterofHis people. This is one thing that scepticismcannever
explain away. The maxims and the example of the world can never produce a
holy life. It takes Christianity to do that. A holy life is therefore one of the best
means by which the influence of Christ's name canbe perpetuated in this
world.
3. By the ordinances of the Church.
(W. S. Goodall, M. A.)
Christ -- His enduring name
John Cairns, D. D.
I. THE NAME OF JESUS OUR SAVIOUR IS FITTED TO ENDURE.
1. By virtue of the law which connects memory with greatness. The greatare
remembered — greatkings, greatheroes, greatsages,greatsaints — while the
crowdmust be forgotten. Jesus does not refuse to be commemorated
according to this standard. He does not struggle indeed for fame, but for
usefulness;but when He says, "Come unto Me," "Follow Me," He
presupposes transcendentgreatness. Evenon the human side the greatness of
Jesus is unexampled, the greatnessofknowledge, ofwisdom, of purity, of
benevolence, ofdevotion — such greatnessas amounts to absolute perfection.
2. By virtue of the law which connects memory with service.
3. By virtue of the law which connects memory with suffering. Even
destroyers and conquerors are better remembered by disasterthan by victory
— as Alexander by his premature death, Caesarby his assassination, and
Napoleonby his exile. How much more have the greatbenefactors ofour race
had their memories embalmed by suffering; so that they are cherished as their
works and endurances have costthem dear. But how imperfect is every such
image of the connectionbetweenthe Saviour's sufferings and the enduring of

His name! All others were born to suffer, if not in that form in some other;
they were sinners, and could not escape evenby labour and service to
mankind. But Jesus was above this doom, and stoopedto meet it — stooped
from a height beyond all parallel. "Though He was rich," etc. "The Son of
Man came not to be ministered unto,." etc.
II. IT IS DESTINEDTO ENDURE.
1. The name of Jesus is identified with the existence of the Church. Take it
away, and the Church falls. Christianity is obliterated, or sinks in fragmental
Take it away, and there is no pardon, no sanctification, no fellowship with
God, according to His own word, "No man comethunto the Fatherbut by
Me."
2. The name of Jesus Christ is hound up with the history and prospects of
mankind. This name is a key to the history of the world. It is not without
reasonthat history is divided into two greatperiods, before Christ and after
Christ.
3. The Saviour's name is destined to endure, because it is committed to the
watchful care of the Godhead. God the Father sees here the brightest
manifestation of Himself, for He thus reveals the fulness of power, the depth
of wisdom, the beauty of holiness, the tender radiance of mercy, all shining in
the face of Jesus Christ. The continued display of this glory to men and angels
is the lastend of redemption, the fulfilment by the Father of the prayer of the
Son, "Glorify Thy Son, that Thy Sonalso may glorify Thee." Shallthis last
prayer, then, be defeated? Shall these supreme manifestations of God, which,
pent up from everlasting days, have at last broken forth upon the universe, be
recalled? And shall the word of promise that has gone out of His mouth be
made void" I will make Thy name to be remembered in all generations"?
(John Cairns, D. D.)
The universality and perpetuity of Christ's reign
W. J. Dawson.,Footsteps ofTruth.

Buddha is reported to have saidthat he did not expecthis religion to last more
than 5,000 years.
(W. J. Dawson.)Voltairesaidhe lived in the twilight of Christianity. He meant
a lie; he spoke the truth. He did live in its twilight; but it was the twilight
before the morning; not the twilight of the evening, as he meant to say; for the
morning comes, whenthe light of the sun shall break upon us in its truest
glory. The scorners have said that we should soonforget to honour Christ,
and that one day no man should acknowledge Him. "His name shall endure
for ever."
(Footsteps ofTruth.)
And men shall be blessedin Him
What history owes to Jesus Christ
James Orr, D. D.
I. THE MORAL AND SOCIAL BENEFIT. We needto take the simplest,
plainest facts that lie upon the surface of history, to see what a revelation was
implied in the entrance of Christian ideas into such a world as this. It brought,
for one thing, a totally new idea of man himself, as a being of infinite dignity
and immortal worth; it taught that every man's soul, even the humblest,
poorest, and the most defiled, was made in God's image, is capable of eternal
life, and has an infinite value — a value that made worth while God's own
Son's dying to redeem it. It brought back to men's minds the sense of
responsibility to God — an idea that had never been possessed, orhad been
altogetheror almostaltogetherlost. It brought into the world a new spirit of
love and charity, something wonderful in the eyes of those heathen as they saw
institutions spring up round about them that they had never thought or heard
of in heathenism before. It flashedinto men's souls a new moral ideal, and set
up a standard of truth, and integrity, and purity, which has acted as an
elevating force on moral conceptionin the world till this hour. It restored
woman to her rightful place by man's side as his spiritual helpmate and equal,
and createdthat best of God's blessings onearth, the Christian home, where

children are rearedin the nurture and admonition of the Lord. It taught the
slave his spiritual freedom as a member of the Kingdom of God, gave him a
place there in Christ's kingdom as an equal with his own master, and struck
at the foundations of slavery by its doctrine of the natural brotherhood and
the dignity of man. It createdself-respect, a sense ofduty in the use of one's
powers for self-support and for the benefit of others. It urged to honest
labour. "Let him that stole stealno more," etc. And in a myriad ways, by
direct teaching, by the protest of holy lives, by its gentle spirit, it struck at the
evils and the corruptions and the malpractices and the cruelties of the time.
II. THE RELIGIOUS DEBT TO JESUS. It was Christianity that overthrew
the reign of those gods and goddesses ofGreece andRome, and sweptthem so
completely from the path of history that no one, even in his wildest
imagination, now dreams of the possibility of their revival. It was Christianity
that, still maintaining something of its youthful energy, laid hold of these
rough barbarian people in the Middle Ages and trained them to some kind of
civilization and moral life. It was Christianity that in England and Scotland
lighted the light that by and by spreadits radiance through every part of the
country. It is Christianity that to-day is teaching the nations to burn their
idols, to ceasetheir horrid practices, to take on them the obligations of moral
and civilized existence. Whateverblessings orhopes we trace to our religion,
whateverlight it imparts to our minds or cheerto cur hearts, whateverpower
there is in it to sustain holiness or conquer sin, all that we owe to the coming
of our Lord Jesus Christ.
III. THE ETERNALBENEFITS."Jesus hath abolisheddeath," we read,
"and hath brought life and immortality to light through His Gospel." And
what was better, He not only taught men the way of life, but stoodthere
Himself, the greatmedium of return to God. He stood there not only teaching
men what the wayof life was, but He Himself was there to place their feet in
its paths. He not only taught us about God, but showedus how to be at peace
with Him — brought us back to God, from whom we had wandered, and
reconciledus with God. He not only warned us of the dangers and the evils of
the life of sin, of the ruin, the destruction which sin brought with it, of the
alienation, the estrangementfrom the life of God that was in sin; but He
united Himself there with us, with His infinite mercy in our lone, and lost, and

condemned condition, took upon Himself there, on His own soul, that burden
we could not for ourselves bear, and through His cross and passionopened the
kingdom of heaven to all believers.
(James Orr, D. D.)
COMMENTARIES
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers
(17) Shall be continued.—Rather, have issue. Literally, send out new shoots.
As long as the sun.—See Note on Psalm72:5.
Shall be blessedin him.—Or, bless themselves in him. The meaning is clear,
though the Hebrew is rather vague. The monarch will himself be a source of
blessing to his people, who will never tire of blessing him. The psalmist’s
prayer finds a genuine echo in the noble dedicationof In Memoriam:
“Mayyou rule us long,
And leave us rulers of your blood
As noble, till the latest day!
May children of our children say,
‘She wrought her people lasting good.’”
For the doxology closing the secondbook, and for the note apparently
appended by the collectorof this book, “the prayers of David the son of Jesse
are ended,” see GeneralIntroduction.
BensonCommentary

Psalm72:17. His name shall endure for ever — Namely, the honour and
renown of his eminent wisdom, and justice, and goodness.This agrees but
very obscurelyand imperfectly to Solomon, who stained the glory of his reign
by his prodigious luxury, and oppression, and apostacyfrom God, into which
he fell in the latter part of his days. His name shall be continued — Hebrew,
‫,ןוני‬ jinnon, shall be propagated, or transmitted, to his children; as long as the
sun — Hebrew, ‫לפל‬ ‫,ׁשמון‬ liphnee shemesh, before the sun; meaning, either,
1st, Publicly, and in the face of the sun: or, 2d, Perpetually; as a constantand
inseparable companion of the sun; as long as the sun itself shall continue. Men
shall be blessedin him — In him, as it was promised to Abraham, shall all the
true children of Abraham be blessedwith the blessings of grace and glory,
and that by and through his merits and Spirit. Hebrew, ‫,נכרבתן‬ jithbarechu,
shall bless themselves. All nations shall call him blessed — They shall bless
God for him, shall continually extol and magnify him, and think themselves
happy in him. To the end of time and to eternity, his name shall be celebrated;
every tongue shall confess it, and every knee shall bow before it. And the
happiness shall also be universal, complete, and everlasting;men shall be
blessedin him truly and for ever.
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary
72:2-17 This is a prophecy of the kingdom of Christ; many passagesin it
cannot be applied to the reign of Solomon. There were righteousness and
peace atfirst in the administration of his government; but, before the end of
his reign, there were troubles and unrighteousness. The kingdom here spoken
of is to lastas long as the sun, but Solomon's was soonat an end. Even the
Jewishexpositors understoodit of the kingdom of the Messiah. Observe many
greatand precious promises here made, which were to have full
accomplishmentonly in the kingdom of Christ. As far as his kingdom is set
up, discord and contentions cease, in families, churches, and nations. The law
of Christ, written in the heart, disposes men to be honest and just, and to
render to all their due; it likewise disposes mento live in love, and so produces
abundance of peace. Holiness and love shall be lasting in Christ's kingdom.
Through all the changes ofthe world, and all the changes oflife, Christ's
kingdom will support itself. And he shall, by the gracesand comforts of his
Spirit, come down like rain upon the mown grass;not on that cut down, but

that which is left growing, that it may spring again. His gospelhas been, or
shall be, preachedto all nations. Though he needs not the services ofany, yet
he must be servedwith the best. Those that have the wealth of this world,
must serve Christ with it, do goodwith it. Prayershall be made through him,
or for his sake;whatever we ask of the Father, should be in his name. Praises
shall be offered to him: we are under the highest obligations to him. Christ
only shall be feared throughout all generations. To the end of time, and to
eternity, his name shall be praised. All nations shall callHIM blessed.
Barnes'Notes on the Bible
His name shall endure for ever - Margin, as in Hebrew, "Shallbe forever;"
that is, "He" shall endure forever.
His name shall be continued as long as the sun - As long as that continues to
shine - an expressiondesigned to express perpetuity. See the notes at Psalm
72:5. The margin here is, "shallbe as a son to continue his father's name
forever." The Hebrew word - ‫וני‬ nûn - means "to sprout, to put forth;" and
hence, to "flourish." The idea is that of a tree which continues always to
sprout, or put forth leaves, branches, blossoms;or, which never dies.
And men shall be blessedin him - See Genesis 12:3;Genesis 22:18. He will be
a source of blessing to them, in the pardon of sin; in happiness;in peace;in
salvation.
All nations shall call him blessed - Shall praise him; shall speak of him as the
source of their highest comforts, joys, and hopes. See Luke 19:38;Matthew
21:9; Matthew 23:39. The time will come when all the nations of the earth will
honor and praise him.
Jamieson-Fausset-BrownBible Commentary
17. His name—or, "glorious perfections."
as long as the sun—(Compare Ps 72:5).
men shall be blessed—(Ge 12:3;18:18).
Matthew Poole's Commentary

His name; the honour and renown of his eminent wisdom, and justice, and
goodness;which agrees but very obscurely; and imperfectly to Solomon, who
stained the glory of his reign by his prodigious luxury and oppression, and
apostacyfrom God, into which he fell in the latter part of his days.
Shall be continued; or, shall be propagatedor transmitted to his children;
which suits much better to Christ, from whom we are calledChristians, than
to Solomon.
As long as the sun, Heb. before the sun; either,
1. Publicly, and in the face of the sun. Or,
2. Perpetually; as a constantand inseparable companion of the sun; as long as
the sun itself shall continue. See Poole "Psalm72:5".
Be blessedin him; either,
1. As a pattern of blessedness. Whenany man shall wish well to a king, he
shall say, The Lord make thee like Solomon. See Poole "Genesis22:18". Or
rather,
2. As the cause ofit, by and through his merits and mediation.
Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible
His name shall endure for ever,.... As a King; for he is chiefly spokenof here
in his kingly office: not merely the fame of him; for so the fame of an earthly

king; even of a tyrant, may continue as long as the world does;but the
meaning is, that he himself should continue in his office for ever: his throne is
for everand ever; of his government there will be no end; his kingdom is an
everlasting one; he shall reign over the house of Jacob, and on the throne of
David, for everand ever: he shall have no successorin this his office, any
more than in the priestly office;which is an unchangeable one, or does not
pass from one to another: his Gospelis his name, Acts 9:15; and that shall
endure for ever, or to the end of the world; until all his electare gathered in,
notwithstanding the violent persecutions ofmen, the cunning craft of false
teachers, andthe death of Gospelministers and professors:as long as this is
preached, Christ's name will endure, since he is the sum and substance of it;
and not only is his name perpetuated in his Gospel, but also in his ordinances,
those of baptism and the Lord's supper, which are administered in his name,
and will be unto his secondcoming;
his name shall be continued as long as the sun; or "shallbe sonned" or
"filiated" (r); that is, shall be continued in his sons, in his spiritual offspring,
as long as the sun lasts;as the names of parents are continued in their
children; so the name of Christ is, and will be, continued in him: he has
children which the Lord has given him; a seedthat he shall see in all periods
of time, to whom he stands in the relation of the everlasting Father;these bear
his name, are called"Christians" from him, and these his seedand offspring
shall endure for ever: for though sometimes their number may be few; yet
there are always some in the worst of times; Christ has always had some to
bear his name, and ever will have; and in the latter day they will be very
numerous, even as the sand of the sea. The Jews take the word "Yinnon",
here used, for a name of the Messiah(s), and render the words, "before the
sun his name was Yinnon"; and so the Targum,
"before the sun was, or was created, (as in the king's Bible,) his name was
prepared;''
or appointed: for they say(t), the name of the Messiahwas one ofthe seven
things createdbefore the world was:it is certainthat Christ was the Son of
God, from eternity, or the eternal Son of God: he was so before his
resurrectionfrom the dead, when he was only declared, and did not then

become the Son of God: he was ownedby his divine Father, and believed in as
the Sonof Godby men before that time: he was so before his incarnation, and
not by that: he, the Sonof God, was sent in human nature, and made manifest
in it, and was knownby David and Solomon, under that relation; and, as such,
he was concernedin the creationof all things; and was in the day of eternity,
and from all eternity, the only begottenSon of the Father; see Psalm2:7; but
the versionand sense which Gussetius (u) gives seembest of all; "his name
shall generate", or"begetchildren before the sun"; that is, his name
preached, as the Gospel, which is his name, Acts 9:15, shall be the means of
begetting many sons and daughters openly and publicly, in the face of the sun,
and whereverthat is;
and men shall be blessedin him; men, and not angels, sinful men; such as are
by nature children of wrath, and cursed by the law of works, yetblessedin
Christ; even all electmen, all that are chosenin him, whether Jews or
Gentiles;for he is the "seedofAbraham", in whom "all the nations of the
earth should be blessed", Genesis22:18;as they are with all spiritual
blessings;with redemption, peace, pardon, righteousness, and eternallife:
they are in him, and blessedin him; he is their head and representative, and
so blessedin him; he is the fountain, cause, author, and giver of all blessings;
they all come from him, through him, and for his sake, through his blood,
righteousness, andsacrifice. Or, "they shall be blessedin him": that is, his
children and spiritual offspring, in whom his name is perpetuated. Or, "they
shall bless themselves in him" (w); reckonthemselves blessedin him, and
make their boastof him, and glory in him;
all nations shall call him blessed;as he is a divine Person;not only the Son of
the Blessed, but God over all, blessedfor ever; and as man, being setat the
right hand of God, crownedwith glory and honour, and all creatures, angels
and men, subject to him; and as Mediator, acknowledging him to be the
fountain of all blessednessto them, and, upon that account, ascribing all
blessing, honour, glory, and praise, unto him.
(r) "filiabitur", Montanus, Vatablus, Michaelis. (s) T. Bab. Sanhedrin, fol. 98.
2. Midrash Echa Rabbati, fol. 50. 2. Pirke Eliezer, c. 32. fol. 33. 2.((t) T. Bab.
Pesachim, fol. 54. 1. Nedarim, fol. 39. 2. Bereshit Bereihit Rabba, s. 1. fol. 1. 2.

(u) Ebr. Comment. p. 511. (w) "etbenedicentes sibi in eo", Junius &
Tremellius; so Cocceius,Michaelis, Ainsworth.
Geneva Study Bible
His name shall endure for ever: his name shall be continued as long as the
sun: and men shall be blessedin him: all nations shall call {o} him blessed.
(o) They will pray to Godfor his continuance and know that Godprospers
them for his sake.
EXEGETICAL(ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)
Cambridge Bible for Schools andColleges
17. May his name endure for ever;
As long as the sun doth shine may his name have Issue:
May all nations bless themselves in him, (and) call him happy.
The Psalmistprays that the king’s name may not perish like the name of the
wicked(Job 18:19), but may always have issue, be perpetuated in his posterity
as long as time lasts (cp. Psalm72:5). The Ancient Versions however(LXX,
Syr., Targ., Jer.)point to the reading yikkôn, shall be established, insteadof
yinnôn, shall have issue, a word which is found nowhere else. Cp. Psalm
89:37;1 Kings 2:12; 1 Kings 2:45. The LXX reads, “All the families of the
earth shall be blessedin him, all nations shall call him happy.” But eachof
these last three verses is a tristich, and the words “allfamilies of the earth”
are introduced from Genesis 12:3. May all nations bless themselves in him,
invoking for themselves the blessings which he enjoys as the highest and best
which they can imagine (cp. Genesis 48:20);—anallusion to the promises to
Abraham and Isaac (Genesis 22:18;Genesis 26:4).
Pulpit Commentary

Verse 17. - His Name shall endure forever (comp. Psalm45:2, 6; Psalm
102:12;Isaiah9:7). "The eternity of the Name is basedupon the eternity of
the kingdom" (Hengstenberg). His Name shall be continued as long as the sun
(comp. ver. 5); or, his Name shall be renewed - shall spring againto fresh life.
Dr. Kay compares an expressionof Renan's, "Sonculte se rajeunira." And
men shall be blessedin him; literally, men shall bless themselves in him
(comp. Genesis 22:18;Genesis 26:4). All nations shall callhim blessed. With
these words the psalm, properly speaking, ends. The doxology(vers. 18, 19)
and the note (ver. 20)were probably appended by the arrangerof the book.
Keil and DelitzschBiblical Commentary on the Old Testament
This third strophe contains prospects, the ground of which is laid down in the
fourth. The position of the futures here becomes a different one. The
contemplation passes fromthe home relations of the new government to its
foreign relations, and at the same time the wishes are changedinto hopes. The
awe-commanding dominion of the king shall stretch even into the most distant
corners of the desert. ‫םיןצ‬ is used both for the animals and the men who
inhabit the desert, to be determined in eachinstance by the context; here they
are men beyond all dispute, but in Psalm74:14; Isaiah23:13, it is matter of
controversywhether men or beasts are meant. Since the lxx, Aquila,
Symmachus, and Jerome here, and the lxx and Jerome in Psalm74:14, render
Αἰθίοπες, the nomadic tribes right and left of the Arabian Gulf seem
traditionally to have been associatedin the mind with this word, more
particularly the so-calledIchthyophagi. These shallbend the knee
reverentially before him, and those who contend againsthim shall be
compelled at lastto veil their face before him in the dust. The remotestwest
and south become subject and tributary to him, viz., the kings of Tartessus in
the south of Spain, rich in silver, and of the islands of the Mediterraneanand
the countries on its coasts, that is to say, the kings of the Polynesianportion of
Europe, and the kings of the Cushitish or of the Joktanitish ‫לבׁש‬ and of the
Cushitish ‫,ׁשבס‬ as, according to Josephus, the chief city of Mero‫כ‬ was called
(vid., Genesis, S. 206). It was a queen of that Joktanitish, and therefore South
Arabian Sheba, - perhaps, however, more correctly(vid., Wetzstein in my
Isaiah, ii. 529)of the Cushitish (Nubian) Sheba, - whom the fame of Solomon's
wisdom drew towards him, 1 Kings 10. The idea of their wealthin gold and in

other precious things is associatedwith both peoples. In the expression ‫לןב‬
fo deviecnoc ton si etubirt eht )4:3 mlasP .fc ,3:71 sgniK 2 ,etubirt yap ot( ‫פוח‬
as rendered in return for protectionafforded (Maurer, Hengstenberg, and
Olshausen), nor as an actrepeated periodically (Rdiger, who refers to 2
Chronicles 27:5), but as a bringing back, i.e., repayment of a debt, referre s.
reddere debitum (Hupfeld), after the same idea according to which obligatory
incomings are called reditus )revenues(. In the synonymous expression ‫ברןב‬
‫ׁשלׁשר‬ the presentationappears as an actof sacrifice. ‫ׁשלׁשר‬ signifies in Ezekiel
27:15 a payment made in merchandise, here a rent or tribute due, from ‫,רכר‬
which in blending with the Aleph prostheticum has passedoverinto ‫רכר‬ by
means of a shifting of the sound after the Arabic manner, just as in ‫ׁשלׁשׁש‬ the
verb ‫,רכׁש‬ to interweave, passesoverinto ‫רכׁש‬ (Rdigerin Gesenius'Thesaurus).
In Psalm 72:11 hope breaks through every bound: everything shall submit to
his world-subduing sceptre.
PRECEPTAUSTIN RESOURCES
What a Name!
ReadPsalm72:12-20
"His name shall endure forever; His name shall continue as long as the sun.
And men shall be blessedin Him; all nations shall callHim blessed" (v. 17).
Originally, that was written about Solomon. But as we read this verse, we see
that it also refers to Jesus.

It speaks ofHis name. "You shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His
people from their sins"(Matt. 1:21). That's what His name means--Savior.
What kind of a name is it? It is enduring: "His name shall endure forever" (v.
17). I'm a student of biography. When I go to used-book sales, I buy books
about old people--old preachers, missionaries andstatesmen--folks who have
been forgotten. Have you ever read an old edition of an encyclopedia and
thought, Who are these people? I've never heard of them. Their names did not
endure. In fact, some of the names in the headlines today will be forgottena
few months from now. But not so with Jesus. He has the enduring name, a
name that "is above every name" (Phil. 2:9).
Jesus also has an enriching name. "Men shall be blessedin Him." The names
of some people don't bring blessing--they bring cursing. You certainly
wouldn't call your son "Judas" oryour daughter "Jezebel." ButJesus has an
enriching name. It brings blessing. We have been blessedin Him "with every
spiritual blessing" (Eph. 1:3).
His name also is an enabling name. "Blessedbe the Lord God, the God of
Israel, who only does wondrous things!" (v. 18). God enables us, through the
name of Jesus, to do wonderful things. In the Book ofActs we find the name
of Jesus on the lips of the apostles. "Inthe name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth
rise up and walk" (3:6). What a privilege it is to know His name. What a
privilege it is to have the authority of His name as we pray and serve Him.
* * *
There is no other name like Jesus. It is full of power and authority. It is
enduring and brings blessing and enablement to those who know His name.
Do you know Jesus as your Savior? "Whoevercalls on the name of the Lord
shall be saved" (Rom. 10:13).

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CHARLES SIMEON
THE PERPETUITYAND EXCELLENCY OF CHRIST’S KINGDOM
Psalms 72:17. His name shall endure for ever: his name shall be continued as
long as the sun: and men shall be blessedin him: all nations shall call him
blessed.
NONE of the Prophets, except Isaiah, have written so copiouslyand so plainly
respecting Christ as David. His prophecies are very frequently referred to in
the New Testament;and their accomplishment in Jesus is frequently asserted,
incontestably proved, and copiouslyillustrated. The psalm before us was most
probably the last that David penned. It was written at the close ofhis life, on
occasionofSolomon’s coronation. The dying monarch hearing that his son
Adonijah had usurped his throne, gave immediate orders that Solomonshould
be anointed with the holy oil, and placedupon the throne, and be proclaimed
king throughout all his dominions; that by this means his oath to Bathsheba,
respecting the successionofSolomon, might be fulfilled, and the nation be
rescuedfrom the calamities in which a disputed successionmight involve it
[Note:1 Kings 1:33-35.]. The psalm begins with a prayer for Solomon, and
proceeds to foretell the peace, glory, extent, duration, and happiness of his
government. But beyond, a doubt, a greaterthan Solomonis here: the

Messiahhimself is manifestly referred to; and the words of our text must be
consideredas describing his kingdom:
I. Its perpetuity—
[The names, not of the Jewishmonarchs only, but also of many heroes of
antiquity, have been handed down to us, and probably will be transmitted to
the latestgenerations. Butthere are severalpoints of view in which the
remembrance of Jesus’name differs widely from that of any other person
whatever.
It is transmitted to us in a way of filiation.—Other names come down to us by
means of historic records:but that of our blessedLord “is continued,” or
propagated(as the word means) in the same way as the name of a father is
continued in his children. Children were born to him by the preaching of his
Gospel;and, after him, were called Christians: from that period, others have
risen up, in constant succession, to perpetuate his name: nor shall the line ever
be broken: “insteadof the fathers there shall be children, who shall make his
name to be remembered in all generations [Note:Psalms 45:16-17;Psalms
145:4-6.].”
It is heard with the same regard that it ever was.—There was a time when the
name of C ζsaror of Alexander made whole nations tremble: but who fears
them now? What is their love or their hatred unto us? What is Solomon
himself to us? We admire his character;but for his personwe have no regard.
But it is not thus with the sacredname of jesus. We tremble at it with a holy
awe;we love it, as expressing all that is amiable and endearing. We dread his
displeasure above all things, and covethis favour more than life itself. And as
long as the sun shall continue its course, so long shall the name of Jesus be
veneratedand adored.
It “endures” in spite of all the endeavours that have been made to blot out the
remembrance of it from under heaven.—No soonerwas the name of Jesus
exalted by the preaching of the Apostles, than the rulers exerted all their
powerto suppress it: they beat and imprisoned the preachers, and menaced
them with yet severerpunishment, if they should presume to speak any more
in his name [Note:Acts 4:17-18;Acts 5:28; Acts 5:40.]. Thus also, in all

subsequent ages, “the potentates ofthe earth have takencounseltogether
againstthe Lord, and againsthis Anointed, saying, Let us break their bands
asunder, and castawaytheir cords from us [Note: Psalms 2:2.].” What name,
like that of Jesus, is proscribed at this day? We may descantupon the virtues
of ancient sages;and the more light we can throw upon their characters,the
more acceptable we shallbe in every company: but let us speak of Jesus, letus
setforth his transcendentexcellencies,and expatiate upon all the wonders of
his love, and we shall excite in our hearers nothing but disgust. But has this
confederacyprevailedto banish his name? No; rather, “the more his people
have been afflicted, the more they have grown and multiplied:” and however
earth and hell may combine their efforts to efface his memory, or diminish his
influence, “He who sitteth in the heavens shall laugh at them, and have them
in derision [Note: Psalms 2:4.].”]
II. Its excellency—
[The administration of Solomonwas attended with greatbenefit to his people:
and such a king as he must be consideredas a rich blessing to any nation. But
there are many benefits which it is not in the powerof any king to
communicate. What can a creature do to mitigate our pains, or to rescue us
from the dominion of unbridled lusts? It is otherwise with the Lord Jesus:he
can impart to his subjects whateverblessings they need, for body or for soul,
for time or for eternity. Do we desire the pardon of our sins? We may be
“justified freely through his blood [Note: Romans 5:9.].” Do we long for peace
of conscience? He has left it to his subjects as a legacy[Note:John 14:27.], and
gives them “a peace whichpassethall understanding [Note: Philippians 4:7.].”
Do we stand in need of strength? “Through him we shall be enabled to do all
things [Note: Philippians 4:13.].” Do we extend our desires to all the glory of
heaven? “In him we may be savedwith an everlasting salvation[Note:Isaiah
45:17.].” It is not ufficient to say that the subjects of Christ’s kingdom may be
thus blessed;for they actually are so:there is not one in all his dominions who
is not thus highly favoured. If we consultthe prophets, they declare this
uniformly; and representthem all as saying, “In the Lord have I
righteousness andstrength [Note: Isaiah45:24-25.].” If we consult the
Apostles, they declare, that every blessing we enjoy is “in him, even in him;”
yea, that “in him we are blessedwith all spiritual and eternalblessings [Note:

Ephesians 1:3-13. where it is repeated at leasteight times. Strange that any
should overlook this truth.].”]
III. Its universality—
[The greatestmonarchs of this world hare had a very limited sway:and many
who have been calledtheir subjects have been so rather in name than in
reality. But Christ’s dominion shall be strictly and literally universal: “the
kingdoms of the world shall become the kingdoms of the Lord and of his
Christ [Note:Revelation11:15.].” Already there are some of all nations who
submit to his government. We may go to the most uncultivated parts of the
earth, where human nature seems but little elevatedabove the beasts, and
there we shall find some who acknowledgehim as their sovereignLord. But
his dominion is certainly at present very limited. There is a time however
coming, when “allnations shall call him blessed.” The rich and greatshall
take upon them his yoke:according as it is said, “All kings shall fall down
before him: all nations shall serve him [Note:ver. 10, 11.].” The poor and
mean also shall devote themselves to his service, according to that prediction,
“Holiness to the Lord shall be written upon the bells of the horses [Note:
Zechariah 14:9; Zechariah14:20-21].” Thus shall “all know the Lord, from
the leasteven to the greatest[Note:Jeremiah31:34.].” As at this presenttime
all the subjects of his kingdom are blessing and adoring him as the one author
of all their happiness, so, at a future period, shall “everyknee bow to him, and
every tongue confess [Note:Romans 14:11.];” and “the whole earth shall be
filled with his glory [Note:ver. 19.].” But it is not till the day of judgment that
the full accomplishment of this prophecy shall be seen. Then “a multitude that
no man can number, of all nations and kindreds, and people and tongues,
shall stand before him, and cry with united voices, Worthy is the Lamb that
was slain! Salvationto our God, and to the Lamb for ever [Note: Revelation
5:11-12;Revelation7:9-10.]!”]
We cannotmore profitably improve this subject, than by inquiring,
1. What blessings have we receivedfrom Christ?
[If we be indeed subjects of his kingdom, it cannot fail but that we must have
receivedmany blessings at his hands. Has he then “blessedus” with the

pardon of our sins? Has he filled us with joy and peace in believing? Has he
endued us with grace and strength to subdue our spiritual enemies? and
transformed us into his own image in righteousness and true holiness? This is
the criterion whereby we must judge of our interestin him: for he cannotbe a
Saviour to us, unless he save us from the dominion, as well as from the guilt,
of all our sins.]
2. What is the dispositionof our minds towards him?
[Can we possibly be partakers of his benefits, and feel no dispositionto “bless
his name?” Surely a grateful sense ofhis goodnessmust characterise those
who are so greatlyindebted to him. To those who believe, he is, and must be,
precious — — —]
JOHN GILL
Verse 17
His name shall endure for ever,.... As a King; for he is chiefly spokenof here
in his kingly office: not merely the fame of him; for so the fame of an earthly
king; even of a tyrant, may continue as long as the world does;but the
meaning is, that he himself should continue in his office for ever: his throne is
for everand ever; of his government there will be no end; his kingdom is an
everlasting one; he shall reign over the house of Jacob, and on the throne of
David, for everand ever: he shall have no successorin this his office, any
more than in the priestly office;which is an unchangeable one, or does not
pass from one to another: his Gospelis his name, Acts 9:15; and that shall
endure for ever, or to the end of the world; until all his electare gathered in,
notwithstanding the violent persecutions ofmen, the cunning craft of false
teachers, andthe death of Gospelministers and professors:as long as this is
preached, Christ's name will endure, since he is the sum and substance of it;
and not only is his name perpetuated in his Gospel, but also in his ordinances,

those of baptism and the Lord's supper, which are administered in his name,
and will be unto his secondcoming;
his name shall be continued as long as the sun; or "shall be sonned" or
"filiated"F18;that is, shall be continued in his sons, in his spiritual offspring,
as long as the sun lasts;as the names of parents are continued in their
children; so the name of Christ is, and will be, continued in him: he has
children which the Lord has given him; a seedthat he shall see in all periods
of time, to whom he stands in the relation of the everlasting Father;these bear
his name, are called"Christians" from him, and these his seedand offspring
shall endure for ever: for though sometimes their number may be few; yet
there are always some in the worst of times; Christ has always had some to
bear his name, and ever will have; and in the latter day they will be very
numerous, even as the sand of the sea. The Jews take the word "Yinnon",
here used, for a name of the MessiahF19,and render the words, "before the
sun his name was Yinnon"; and so the Targum,
"before the sun was, or was created, (as in the king's Bible,) his name was
prepared;'
or appointed: for they sayF20,the name of the Messiahwas one of the seven
things createdbefore the world was:it is certainthat Christ was the Son of
God, from eternity, or the eternal Son of God: he was so before his
resurrectionfrom the dead, when he was only declared, and did not then
become the Son of God: he was ownedby his divine Father, and believed in as
the Sonof Godby men before that time: he was so before his incarnation, and
not by that: he, the Sonof God, was sent in human nature, and made manifest
in it, and was knownby David and Solomon, under that relation; and, as such,
he was concernedin the creationof all things; and was in the day of eternity,
and from all eternity, the only begottenSon of the Father; see Psalm2:7; but
the versionand sense which GussetiusF21 gives seembestof all; "his name
shall generate", or"begetchildren before the sun"; that is, his name
preached, as the Gospel, which is his name, Acts 9:15, shall be the means of
begetting many sons and daughters openly and publicly, in the face of the sun,
and whereverthat is;

and men shall be blessedin him; men, and not angels, sinful men; such as are
by nature children of wrath, and cursed by the law of works, yetblessedin
Christ; even all electmen, all that are chosenin him, whether Jews or
Gentiles;for he is the "seedofAbraham", in whom "all the nations of the
earth should be blessed", Genesis22:18;as they are with all spiritual
blessings;with redemption, peace, pardon, righteousness, and eternallife:
they are in him, and blessedin him; he is their head and representative, and
so blessedin him; he is the fountain, cause, author, and giver of all blessings;
they all come from him, through him, and for his sake, through his blood,
righteousness, andsacrifice. Or, "they shall be blessedin him": that is, his
children and spiritual offspring, in whom his name is perpetuated. Or, "they
shall bless themselves in him"F23; reckonthemselves blessedin him, and
make their boastof him, and glory in him;
all nations shall call him blessed;as he is a divine Person;not only the Son of
the Blessed, but God over all, blessedfor ever; and as man, being setat the
right hand of God, crownedwith glory and honour, and all creatures, angels
and men, subject to him; and as Mediator, acknowledging him to be the
fountain of all blessednessto them, and, upon that account, ascribing all
blessing, honour, glory, and praise, unto him.
MATTHEW HENRY
VIII. That he shall be honoured and beloved by all his subjects (Psalm72:15):
He shall live; his subjects shall desire his life (O king! live for ever ) and with
goodreason;for he has said, BecauseI live, you shall live also;and of him it is
witnessedthat he liveth, everliveth, making intercession, Hebrews 7:8,
Hebrews 7:25. He shall live, and live prosperously; and, 1. Presents shallbe
made to him. Though he shall be able to live without them, for he needs
neither the gifts nor the services of any, yet to him shall be given of the gold of
Sheba - gold, the best of metals, gold of Sheba, which probably was the finest

gold; for he that is best must be served with the best. Those that have
abundance of the wealthof this world, that have gold at command, must give
it to Christ, must serve him with it, do goodwith it. Honour the Lord with thy
substance. 2. Prayers shall be made for him, and that continually. The people
prayed for Solomon, and that helped to make him and his reign so greata
blessing to them. It is the duty of subjects to make prayers, intercessions,and
giving of thanks, for kings and all in authority, not in compliment to them, as
is too often done, but in concernfor the public welfare. But how is this applied
to Christ? He needs not our prayers, nor can have any benefit by them. But
the Old Testamentsaints prayed for his coming, prayed continually for it; for
they calledhim, He that should come. And now that he has come we must
pray for the successofhis gospeland the advancement of his kingdom, which
he calls praying for him (Hosanna to the Son of David, prosperity to his
reign), and we must pray for his secondcoming. It may be read, Prayershall
be made through him, or for his sake;whatsoeverwe ask ofthe Father shall
be in his name and in dependence upon his intercession. 3. Praises shallbe
made of him, and high encomiums given of his wisdom, justice, and goodness:
Daily shall he be praised. By praying daily in his name we give him honour.
Subjects ought to speak wellof the government that is a blessing to them; and
much more ought all Christians to praise Jesus Christ, daily to praise him; for
they owe their all to him, and to him they lie under the highest obligations.
That his government shall be perpetual, both to his honour and to the
happiness of his subjects. The Lord Jesus shallreign for ever, and of him only
this must be understood, and not at all of Solomon. It is Christ only that shall
be feared throughout all generations (Psalm72:5) and as long as the sun and
moon endure, Psalm72:7. 1. The honour of the princes is immortal and shall
never be sullied (Psalm 72:17):His name shall endure for ever, in spite of all
the malicious attempts and endeavours of the powers of darkness to eclipse
the lustre of it and to cut off the line of it; it shall be preserved; it shall be
perpetuated; it shall be propagated. As the names of earthly princes are
continued in their posterity, so Christ's in himself. Filiabitur nomen ejus - His
name shall descendto posterity. All nations, while the world stands, shall call
him blessed, shallbless God for him, continually speak wellof him, and think

themselves happy in him. To the end of time, and to eternity, his name shall be
celebrated, shallbe made use of; every tongue shall confess it and every knee
shall bow before it. 2. The happiness of the people if universal too; it is
complete and everlasting:Men shall be blessed, truly and for ever blessed, in
him. This plainly refers to the promise made unto the fathers that in the
Messiahallthe nations of the earth should be blessed. Genesis12:3.
CALVIN
15. And he shall live. To refer the word live to the poor, as some do, seems
forced. What David affirms is, that this king shall be rewarded with long life,
which is not the leastof God’s earthly blessings. The words which follow are
to be read indefinitely, that is to say, without determining any particular
person; 140 as if it had been said, The gold of Arabia shall be given him, and
prayers shall everywhere be made for his prosperity. There is thus againa
repetition of what had been previously said concerning his power; for if
Arabia shall pay him tribute, how vast an amount of riches will be gathered
from so many countries nearer home! Christ, it is true, does not reign to
hoard up gold, but David meant to teachby this figure, that even the nations
which were most remote would yield such homage to him, as to surrender to
him themselves and all that they possessed. It is no uncommon thing for the
glory of the spiritual kingdom of Christ to be portrayed under images of
outward splendor. David, in conformity with this usual style of Scripture, has
here foretold that the kingdom of Christ would be distinguished for its wealth;
but this is to be understood as referring to its spiritual character. Whence it
appears how wickedlyand wantonly the Papists have perverted this passage,
and made it subserve their purpose of raking to themselves the perishable
riches of the world. Moreover, when he speaks ofthe common prayers of the
people, by which they will commend the prosperity of the king to the care of
God, he intimates that so well-pleasedwill they be with being his subjects, that
they will accountnothing so desirable as to yield entire submission to his

authority. Many, no doubt, rejecthis yoke, and hypocrites fret and murmur
secretlyin their hearts, and would gladly extinguish all remembrance of
Christ, were it in their power;but the affectionate interesthere predicted is
what all true believers are careful to cultivate, not only because to pray for
earthly kings is a duty enjoined upon them in the Word of God, but also
because they ought to feel a specialdesire and solicitude for the enlargement
of the boundaries of this kingdom, in which both the majesty of God shines
forth, and their ownwelfare and happiness are included. Accordingly, in
Psalm118:25, we will find a form of prayer dictated for the whole Church,
That God would bless this king; not that Christ stands in need of our prayers,
but because he justly requires from his servants this manifestationor proof of
true piety; and by it they may also exercise themselves in praying for the
coming of the kingdom of God
Cyril J. Barber
15. And he shall live. To refer the word live to the poor, as some do, seems
forced. What David affirms is, that this king shall be rewarded with long life,
which is not the leastof God’s earthly blessings. The words which follow are
to be read indefinitely, that is to say, without determining any particular
person; 140 as if it had been said, The gold of Arabia shall be given him, and
prayers shall everywhere be made for his prosperity. There is thus againa
repetition of what had been previously said concerning his power; for if
Arabia shall pay him tribute, how vast an amount of riches will be gathered
from so many countries nearer home! Christ, it is true, does not reign to
hoard up gold, but David meant to teachby this figure, that even the nations
which were most remote would yield such homage to him, as to surrender to
him themselves and all that they possessed. It is no uncommon thing for the
glory of the spiritual kingdom of Christ to be portrayed under images of

outward splendor. David, in conformity with this usual style of Scripture, has
here foretold that the kingdom of Christ would be distinguished for its wealth;
but this is to be understood as referring to its spiritual character. Whence it
appears how wickedlyand wantonly the Papists have perverted this passage,
and made it subserve their purpose of raking to themselves the perishable
riches of the world. Moreover, when he speaks ofthe common prayers of the
people, by which they will commend the prosperity of the king to the care of
God, he intimates that so well-pleasedwill they be with being his subjects, that
they will accountnothing so desirable as to yield entire submission to his
authority. Many, no doubt, rejecthis yoke, and hypocrites fret and murmur
secretlyin their hearts, and would gladly extinguish all remembrance of
Christ, were it in their power;but the affectionate interesthere predicted is
what all true believers are careful to cultivate, not only because to pray for
earthly kings is a duty enjoined upon them in the Word of God, but also
because they ought to feel a specialdesire and solicitude for the enlargement
of the boundaries of this kingdom, in which both the majesty of God shines
forth, and their ownwelfare and happiness are included. Accordingly, in
Psalm118:25, we will find a form of prayer dictated for the whole Church,
That God would bless this king; not that Christ stands in need of our prayers,
but because he justly requires from his servants this manifestationor proof of
true piety; and by it they may also exercise themselves in praying for the
coming of the kingdom of God
THE CHILDHOOD OF SOLOMON
Dr. W. A. Criswell
Psalm72
6-25-61 7:30 p.m.

The sermon tonight is on the childhood of Solomon. Following these
characters andthese stories through the Old Testament, we have come to the
conclusionof the life of David, and now we begin to follow the life of King
Solomon. There is a psalm, number 72, that is dedicated to Solomon. Let us
turn to it:
Give the king Thy judgments, O God, and Thy righteousness unto the king’s
Son.
He shall judge Thy people with righteousness and Thy poor with judgment.
The mountains shall bring peace to the people, and the little hills, by
righteousness.
[Psalm 72:1-3]
Now if we have turned to it, 72, Psalm 72, beginning at verse 7, let’s read it
togetherto the end of the psalm, 72, one of the most beautiful in all of the
Word of God. As you read it you caneasily see that Solomonis a type of the
Lord Jesus our Savior. Now together, all of us beginning at verse 7, Psalm 72:
In His days shall the righteous flourish; and abundance of peace so long as the
moon endureth.
He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the River unto the ends
of the earth.
They that dwell in the wilderness shall bow before Him; and His enemies shall
lick the dust.

The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall bring presents: the kings of Sheba
and Seba shall offer gifts.
Yea, all kings shall fall down before Him: all nations shall serve Him.
For He shall deliver the needy when he crieth; the poor also, and him that
hath no helper.
He shall spare the poor and needy, and shall save the souls of the needy.
He shall redeemtheir soul from deceit and violence: and precious shall their
blood be in His sight.
And He shall live, and to Him shall be given of the gold of Sheba: prayer also
shall be made for Him continually; and daily shall He be praised.
There shall be an handful of corn in the earth upon the top of the mountains;
the fruit thereofshall shake like Lebanon: and they of the city shall flourish
like grass ofthe earth.
His name shall endure for ever: His name shall be continued as long as the
sun: and men shall be blessedin Him: all nations shall callHim blessed.
Blessedbe the Lord God, the God of Israel, who only doeth wondrous things.
And blessedbe His glorious name for ever: and let the whole earth be filled
with His glory. Amen, and Amen.
The prayers of David the son of Jesseare ended.
[Psalm 72:7-20]
I repeat: that is one of the most beautiful psalms in the Word of God.
When this boy Solomonwas born, we do not know. We do not know because
we do not know how old he was when he beganto reign. All we know is that
he was very young and of tender years [1 Chronicles 29:1]. He was born
evidently some time around 1035 BC.

Now he was the eldest, we think, son of David and Bathsheba. And the reason
there would be any doubt about it is because of1 Chronicles 3:5, in naming
the children of David, beginning at Amnon, and Chileab or Daniel, and
Absalom and Adonijah [1 Chronicles 3:1-2]—and then it finally names these:
“And these were born unto David in Jerusalem;Shimea, and Shobab, and
Nathan, and Solomon, four, of Bathshua, Bathsheba, the daughter of Ammiel”
[1Chronicles 3:5].
Now you would think, reading that, that there were five sons—the eldestof
which of course died when the child was born [2 Samuel 11:26-27, 12:13-18]—
that there were five children born, five sons born to David and Bathsheba;
and from the list here in 1 Chronicles, you would think that he was the
youngest:Shimea, Shobab, Nathan, of whom the line of Christ did come
[Luke 3:31], and Solomon[1 Chronicles 3:5]. Well, when we read of the birth
of the child in 2 Samuel 12, it seems to be almost certainthat Solomonwas the
eldestof the living children of David and Bathsheba, for after the death of the
first son, “And David comfortedBathsheba his wife, and she bare a son, and
he called his name Solomon; and the Lord loved him” [2 Samuel 12:24]. So
the explanation must be something like this: that in 1 Chronicles when the
children of Bathsheba and David are named [1 Chronicles 3:5], the name of
Solomonis last because ofimportance, because ofemphasis. After naming the
children, then Solomonis named lastbecause he was the most gifted and the
most glorious of them all. And that’s the way that Josephus takesit. When
Josephus writes the story, he also says that Solomonis the eldestson of David
and of Bathsheba.
Now his name has a beautiful meaning. David was a man of blood and of war
[1 Chronicles 28:3], from his youth, from the time that he was a ruddy-faced
lad [1 Samuel 16:12]. He came into that first encounterwith Goliath from
Philistia [1 Samuel 17:32-50], and he cut off his head with Goliath’s own
sword[1 Samuel17: 51], and from that day, David, even as a youth, was a
man of blood, and a man of violence, and a man of war [1 Chronicles 28:3].
And as he grew older in his life, he began to long for the quiet and the peace
that God could bring to his kingdom. So when he named his boy who was
born to him in Hebron, he called his name Absalom, “the father of peace” [1
Chronicles 3:1-2]. And then when he named this boy born to him in

Jerusalem, he calledhim Solomon[2 Samuel 12:24], which means “the
peaceful.” You cansee in David’s war-like reign a longing for the quiet and
the restthat would be given to the kingdom from God in peace. Now look at
what David did with him when the boy was born:
And David comforted Bathsheba his wife, and she bare a son, and he called
his name Peaceful:and the Lord loved him. And He sent by the hand of
Nathan the prophet; and Nathan called his name Jedidiah, because ofthe
Lord.
[2 Samuel 12:24-25]
Jedidiah: “beloved of Yah, Jehovah”, “belovedof the Lord.” Now almost
certainly this word translated “And he sent by the hand of Nathan the
prophet” means this: “and he, David, sent the boy Solomoninto the hand of
Nathan the prophet” [2 Samuel 12:25]. When the boy was born, a beautiful
son, endowed with every gift from heaven, David placed his tutelage and his
sponsorshipand his instruction in the hands of the greatprophet.
Could you imagine therefore the marvelous admonition and inheritance and
training that he receivedfrom the prophet Nathan? Nathan, being himself of
the schoolofthe prophets, Nathan would have taught him all of the store, and
the lore, and the history, and the story of Israel. Beginning at the first verse of
the first chapter of Genesis,he would have taught that boy all of the things of
the revelations of God. Then he would have taught him poetry, and
psalmology, and history, and the lore and wisdom of all of the East. And then
the boy, being the sonof David and having inherited from David some of those
wonderful musical gifts and talents, he must have taught the boy and
cultivated in him all of those rich inheritances that he receivedfrom his
wonderful father. So the lad, from the days that he was born, clearlythe Lord

loved him [2 Samuel 12:24], and Nathan teaching him [2 Samuel 12:25], and
bringing him up in all of the wisdom and literature of the ancientHebrew
race, what a wonderful, gifted boy he was! And what a marvelous
opportunity lay before him as Nathan guided his life, as he grew in wisdom
and in stature and in the favor of God and man, even like the greatantitype,
the Lord Jesus Himself [Luke 2:52].
Now there is a secretthat was kept hidden through all of the days of his youth,
his childhood, and you don’t see it until the time comes for him to accedeto
the throne. It is never mentioned before, and when David did this we do not
know. The first time the secretis revealedis in 1 Kings chapter 1, verse 13
and verse 17:“Nathan came unto Bathsheba the mother of Solomon, saying,
Go and get thee in unto King David, and say unto him”—and this is the secret
that for the first time is revealed—”Didstnotthou, my lord, O king, swear
unto thine handmaid, saying, Assuredly Solomonthy son shall reign after me,
and he shall sit upon my throne? why then doth Adonijah reign?” [1 Kings
1:13]. Then it is repeated:“And she said unto him,” according to the word of
the prophet Nathan, “My lord, thou swarestby the Lord thy God unto thine
handmaid, saying, Assuredly Solomonthy son shall reign after me, and he
shall sit upon my throne” [1 Kings 1:17].
So somewhere, and we don’t know when, but somewhere, sometime afterthe
birth of Solomon and under the tutelage and training of Nathan the prophet
[2 Samuel 12:25], somewhere Davidswore to Bathsheba that that boy should
follow him into the kingdom and should rule over the people of the Lord [1
Kings 1:13, 17].
Now, there’s a very plain and simple reasonwhy it should have been kept
secret. There were much older brothers than Solomon;Amnon, and Absalom,
and Adonijah, and a dozen others whose names have perished from memory.
And had that boy been marked out as the heir apparent to the throne, the
imperious passions ofan Absalom or an Adonijah or an Amnon would have
destroyedthe boy from the face of the earth.
Even because ofthe jealousyof the elevenbrethren of Joseph, they soughtto
destroy him, and sold him to the Ishmaelites, who sold him as a slave down in

the land of Egypt [Genesis 37:3-4, 11, 23-28, 36]. How much more would the
imperious, contumacious, proud sons of David, like cruel Amnon, like
vengeful Absalom, like ambitious Adonijah, have destroyed this lad had it
been known that David had swornthat he was to follow him in the kingdom?
[1 Kings 1:13, 17]. So it was a secretkept in the heart of Bathsheba, knownto
Nathan, and sworn by David before the Lord God, that this boy, this lad, this
child should follow him in the kingdom [1 Kings 1:13, 17]. And the Lord
loved him [2 Samuel 12:24].
Now we’re going to follow, for the few minutes that remain, the childhood of
Solomon. The boy was born and the boy grew up as a child in a dark and
troublous time, for the latter part of David’s reign was affliction, and tears,
and castigation, andpunishment, and trouble, and sorrow. Beyondanything
that you could read, outside of the story of a Macbeth or a King Lear, is the
tragedy that overwhelmed, in tears and in blood, the latter reign of the
kingdom of David. And he was born in that era, and he grew up in that dark
and fearsome hour. In the latter part of David’s reign he was no longer the
greatsoldier and the commander of his men, but more and more David
withdrew into the pomp of his palace and into the voluptuous seclusionof his
harem. And somehow the greatking lostthe affectionof a great many of his
people, and secretlythere burned againsthim a deep and violent indignation.
For example, Ahithophel, his secretand wise and marvelous counselor, the
friend of his heart, Ahithophel, became his bitter enemy, and finally, in the
rebellion of Absalom, his open and avowedenemy [2 Samuel 15:12, 31]. And
Solomongrew up in that part of David’s life.
Another thing: David gave himself to the unspeakable practice of polygamy.
Before David’s day some of the patriarchs fell somewhatinto that tragic
mistake, but not like David. David is the first one who opens the floodgates of
that awful store of jealousy, and domestic bitterness, and hatred, and envy,
and ambition that rules every court that ever had, or does have, a harem.
He had two wives as he was a refugee in the wilderness [1 Samuel 18:27,
25:42]. Then he had five wives in Hebron [2 Samuel 3:2-5]. And he had any
number of wives, we do not know how many—”He multiplied,” the Bible says,
“multiplied his wives in Jerusalem,” andbeside the concubines who were

attendant upon every easternOriental court [2 Samuel 5:13]. And into the
jealousyand into the awful ambition of the separate family groups in that
multiplied, polygamous situation createdby David, in that this boy Solomon
was born, and in it he grew up as a child.
But mostly, mostly those dark and troublous times were made and createdby
the cruel bitterness, and the ungovernable passion, and the hatred and
vengefulness, the bloodthirstiness of David’s sons. Amnon: Solomonwas a
boy, Solomon was a child when Amnon, in the cunning of his cousinJonadab,
brought about the violence on Absalom’s sisterTamar [2 Samuel 13:1-19].
And then Solomonwas a child, he was a boy, when he watchedAbsalom
sullenly bide his time [2 Samuel 14:20-22]. And after two years, when all
suspicionwas allayed, [Absalom] made a feast, invited his father the king, and
because Davidcould not go, pled that then his eldest sonbe sent to represent
the king. And when David acquiescedthat Amnon, this eldest sonand heir
apparent to the throne—when Amnon came in that dark and awful night,
Absalom murdered his own brother [2 Samuel 13:23-33].
And the boy Solomonsaw David, because he loved that eldestson, refuse to
punish him [1 Samuel 3:13]. The indulgence of a father can destroy a man’s
life and ruin a boy’s hope! And David, of all fathers, was weak and indulgent
with his sons. And when Absalom slew Amnon [2 Samuel 13:23-33], because
David refused to do anything about the violent crime that Amnon had
wrought upon Absalom’s sister[2 Samuel 13:1-19], why, Absalom fled, and
was in the court of his maternal grandfather [2 Samuel 13:37-39].
Absalom’s mother was a king’s daughter, and her father was king of Geshur,
which is a kingdom north and eastof the Sea of Galilee. And Absalom fled
and lived three years there in the court of his maternal grandfather [2 Samuel
13:38]. Then by a ruse of Joabhe came back and for two years lived in
Jerusalem, never seeing the face of David [2 Samuel 14:1-28]. Then when
Absalom forced Joabto effecta reconciliation, why, David took Absalom back
into his heart and kissedhis son, of whom he was inordinately proud [2
Samuel 14:29-33]. Davidloved the beauty of Absalom, and the graciousness
of the manner of Absalom, and the personality of that boy, beyond anything in

the world. And Absalom could do anything with David at the beginning, in
the middle, and at the end.
And Absalom began to stealthe hearts of the people [2 Samuel 15:1-6]. Never
occurredto Absalom to look upon this child, Solomon, as an heir to the
throne. He lookedupon himself with such pride and such imperious
contumaciousnessthat everybody in the kingdom was as nothing compared to
the glory and the beauty of Absalom! I repeat: it never entered his heart that
this child would be somedayheir of the throne [1 Kings 1:13, 17]. So Absalom
stole the hearts of the people [2 Samuel15:6].
And then this youth, Solomon, lived through the days when David took his
wives and his sons and children and fled for his life before Absalom [2 Samuel
15:14-16]. Whenthe Bible says that David took his wives and his children and
fled before the face of Absalom, that means that Bathsheba was there, and
that means, by the side of Bathsheba, Solomonpressedclosedbehind [2
Samuel 15:16].
The day that is described with more words by far than any other day in the
story of the whole Bible—many, many times more than the descriptionof the
day of the cross [Matthew 27:32-50]—the day that is described, the longestof
any day in the Bible, is the day that David fled before the soldiers of Absalom
[2 Samuel 15:13-19:7]. And it begins with David standing under the olive tree
at the foot of Mount Olives, at the Brook Kidron, and watchedthe soldiers,
and watchedthe people pass by [2 Samuel15:17-18], and weeping with them
as they passed[2 Samuel 15:23].
Can you imagine the indelible impression made upon the mind of that boy as
he stood that day by the side of Bathsheba his mother and David his father,
and saw the soldiers pass with bowedheads and their tears falling to the
ground? And as he watchedthe people pass by who were loyal to David, with
ashes on their head, with their garments rent, and with their tears falling on
the ground, the boy learned that day who were his friends and who were the
friends of his father. And when Solomon came into the kingdom, those men
that he saw that day, who were following with bowed and weeping heads his
father David, those were the men that Solomonchose to be his men in building

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