Psa 72:3, 85:11, Isa 45:8, 55:10-11 | JFB | e4.org | 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 (Ps 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" (Isa 45:13). MAURER translates, "Let all kinds of salvation (prosperity) be fruitful" (Ps 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 (Isa 5:6; De 32:2; 2Sa 23:4; Ps 72:6).

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

returneth not—void; as in Isa 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 Isa 55:12, 13, is, however, to be at the Jews' final restoration and conversion of the world (Isa 11:9-12; 60:1-5, 21).