John Calvin Commentary Psalms 72:17

"His name shall endure for ever; His name shall be continued as long as the sun: And men shall be blessed in him; All nations shall call him happy." — Psalms 72:17 (ASV)

His name shall endure for ever. The inspired writer again repeats what he had previously affirmed concerning the perpetual duration of this kingdom. And he doubtless intended carefully to distinguish it from earthly kingdoms, which either suddenly vanish, or eventually, oppressed with their own greatness, fall into ruin, their destruction affording incontestable evidence that nothing in this world is stable and of long duration.

When he says that his name shall endure for ever, it is not to be understood as merely implying that his fame should survive his death, as worldly men are ambitious that their name may not be buried with their body. He is rather speaking of the kingdom when he says that the name of this prince will continue illustrious and glorious for ever.

Some explain the words לפני-שמש, liphney-shemesh, which we have rendered in the presence of the sun, as if he meant that the glory with which God would invest the kings of Judah would surpass the brightness of the sun. But this is at variance with the context, for he had said above (Psalms 72:5), in the same sense, with the sun, and in the presence of the moon.

Therefore, after having mentioned the everlasting duration of this king’s name, he adds, by way of explanation, his name shall be continued in the presence of the sun. Literally, this means his name shall have children, (because the Hebrew verb is derived from the noun for son), that is to say, it shall be perpetuated from father to son. As the sun rises daily to enlighten the world, so shall the strength of this king be continually renewed, and thus it will continue from age to age for ever.

Similarly, we will later see that the sun and the moon are called witnesses of the same eternity (Psalms 89:38). From this it follows that this cannot be understood as referring to the earthly kingdom. That kingdom flourished for only a short time in the house of David; it not only lost its vigor by the third successor but was eventually ignominiously extinguished.

It properly applies to the kingdom of Christ. Although that kingdom often totters on the earth when assailed with the furious hatred of the whole world and battered by the most formidable engines of Satan, yet it is wonderfully upheld and sustained by God, so that it may not fail completely.

The words that follow, All nations shall bless themselves in him, have a twofold meaning. The Hebrews often use this form of expression when the name of any man is used as an example or formula of prayer for blessings. For instance, a man blesses himself in David when he beseeches God to be as favorable and bountiful to him as God proved Himself to be towards David.

On the other hand, one who employs the names of Sodom and Gomorrah to pronounce a curse is said to curse in them. If, then, these two expressions, they shall bless themselves in him, and they shall call him blessed, are used in the same sense, the expression to bless themselves in the king, will simply mean to pray that the same prosperity may be conferred upon us that was conferred upon this highly favored king, whose happy condition will excite universal admiration.

But if it is considered preferable to distinguish between these two expressions (which is also probable), then to bless one’s self in the king, will denote seeking happiness from him; for the nations will be convinced that nothing is more desirable than to receive laws and ordinances from him.