Psa 72:3, 85:11, Isa 45:8, 55:10-11 | JFB | STEP | 3. As mountains and hills are not usually productive, they are here selected to show the abundance of peace, being represented as bringing-- or, literally, "bearing" it as a produce. by righteousness-- that is, by means of his eminently just and good methods of ruling.

‏ Psalms 72:3

3. As mountains and hills are not usually productive, they are here selected to show the abundance of peace, being represented as

bringing--or, literally, "bearing" it as a produce.

by righteousness--that is, by means of his eminently just and good methods of ruling.

‏ Psalms 85:11

11. Earth and heaven shall abound with the blessings of this government;

‏ Isaiah 45:8

8. Drop--namely, the fertilizing rain (Psa 65:12).

skies--clouds; lower than the "heavens."

righteousness--that is, the dews of the Holy Spirit, whereby "righteousness" shall "spring up." (See latter end of the verse).

earth--figuratively for the hearts of men on it, opened for receiving the truth by the Holy Ghost (Ac 16:14).

them--the earth and the heavens. Horsley prefers: "Let the earth open, and let salvation and justice grow forth; let it bring them forth together; I the Lord have created him" (Is 45:13). Maurer translates, "Let all kinds of salvation (prosperity) be fruitful" (Psa 72:3, 6, 7). The revival of religion after the return from Babylon suggests to the prophet the diffusion of Messiah's Gospel, especially in days still future; hence the elevation of the language to a pitch above what is applicable to the state of religion after the return.

‏ Isaiah 55:10-11

10. The hearts of men, once barren of spirituality, shall be made, by the outpouring of the Spirit under Messiah, to bear fruits of righteousness (Is 5:6; De 32:2; 2Sa 23:4; Psa 72:6).

snow--which covers plants from frost in winter; and, when melted in spring, waters the earth.

returneth not--void; as in Is 55:11; it returns not in the same shape, or without "accomplishing" the desired end.

bud--germinate.

11. (Mt 24:35). Rain may to us seem lost when it falls on a desert, but it fulfils some purpose of God. So the gospel word falling on the hard heart; it sometimes works a change at last; and even if so, it leaves men without excuse. The full accomplishment of this verse, and Is 55:12, 13, is, however, to be at the Jews' final restoration and conversion of the world (Is 11:9-12; 60:1-5, 21).