Psalms 22:31

They shall come,.... One generation after another; there shall always be a succession of regenerate persons, who shall come to Christ, and to his churches; and a succession of Gospel ministers among

They shall come, and shall declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that he hath done this. Declare his righteousness - i:e., God's faithfulness to His promises in delivering Messiah, and saving His seed.

They; either the converts and worshippers, ver. ,29; or their seed last mentioned, . Or this may be indefinitely spoken, as such verbs are oft used, they shall come, i.e. some or other shall come, and do the work here mentioned, to wit, the apostles and ministers of the gospel. Shall come, to wit, from Judea and Jerusalem (from whence the gospel was first to go forth) to the Gentile world, to the several parts whereof the apostles went upon this errand. His righteousness; God’ s righteousness; either, 1. His wonderful grace and mercy to mankind, in giving them Christ and the gospel; for righteousness is oft put for mercy or kindness, as hath been noted again and again. Or, 2. That righteousness which God hath appointed for the justification of sinners, called the righteousness of faith, ,22 Php 3:9, which the Jews were ignorant of, and would not submit to, , but the Gentiles joyfully embraced. Or, 3. His truth or faithfulness, (which is very frequently and fitly called righteousness,) in the performance of those exceeding great and precious promises made and recorded in the Old Testament, and especially those two concerning the sending of the Messias, and concerning the calling of the Gentiles. That shall be born; either, 1. Spiritually, i.e. born again; for regeneration is oft called a birth; as ,5 John 1:13 , and a creation, . Or rather, 2. Naturally, i.e. unto succeeding generations; whereby David gives us a key to understand this Psalm, and teacheth us that he speaks not here of himself, or of the occurrences of his times, but of things which were to be done in after-ages, even of the spreading of the gospel among the Gentiles, in the time of the New Testament. That he hath done this, i.e. they shall declare that this is the work of God, and not of man, and carried on by his only power in the world, against all the wit and force of men. Or rather, because (this being added as a proof or demonstration of that righteousness of God now mentioned) he (i.e. the Lord, plainly understood here, and expressed in the foregoing verse) hath done or wrought it, to wit, his righteousness; i.e. he hath executed with his hand what he spake with his mouth; he hath demonstrated the truth of his promises by his actions, and by the accomplishment of them.

Psalms 22:31 They shall come, and shall declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that he hath done [this].Ver. 31. Declare his righteousness] i.e. His mercy and goodness, they shall propagate his praise to all posterity. That he hath done] Or performed, viz. the salvation promised by Christ.

(31) They shall come—i.e., the generation just foretold: it shall announce His righteousness to a still younger generation (literally, to a people born) that He wrought. The tale of Jehovah’s goodness to Israel would be handed on from age to age, “His triumphs would be sung By some yet unmoulded tongue.”

Verse 31. Unto a people that shall be born] That is, one generation shall continue to announce unto another the true religion of the Lord Jesus; so that it shall be for ever propagated in the earth. Of his kingdom there shall be no end. ANALYSIS OF THE TWENTY-SECOND PSALM This Psalm concerns the Messiah, his passion, and his kingdom. Though, in some sense, it, may be applied to David as a type, yet Christ is the thing signified, and therefore it is primarily and principally verified of and in him; for he is brought in here, speaking, First, Of his dereliction; then showing his passion, and the cruelty of his enemies. Secondly, Entreating ease and deliverance from his sufferings. Thirdly, Promising thanks to God; foretelling the preaching of the Gospel, and the enlargement of his kingdom by the accession of all nations. There are three chief parts in this Psalm:- I. Our Saviour's complaint, and the causes of it: prophetically expressing his sufferings nearly throughout the whole Psalm. II. His petition and prayer that God would not absent himself, but deliver and save him, Psalms 22:3-5; Psalms 22:9-11; Psalms 22:19-21. III. His thanksgiving and prophetic declaration concerning the conversion of the Gentiles; Psalms 22:22-31. I. He begins with a heavy complaint of dereliction in his extremity; and that he was not heard, though he prayed with strong crying and tears: "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" c. The words are repeated to show the deep anguish of his heart. 2. He shows how well-grounded his complaint was: for God had dealt with him contrary to his usual method for when his saints called upon him, he heard them in their distress. Martyres si non eripuit, tum non deseruit. "If he did not deliver the martyrs, yet he did not desert them in their sufferings." His case was more grievous than any that had gone before. Of this he speaks particularly in the three succeeding verses, Psalms 22:3-5, by which he reminds God of his promise: "Call on me in the time of trouble, and I will deliver thee." Of this they who went before had experience: and as he was the same God still, why should this Sufferer only be deserted? for they were heard and comforted. 1. "Thou art holy," propitious and benevolent. "Thou dwellest in the praises of Israel;" thou art continually helping them, and they are continually praising thee for this help. To prove all this he brings the example of the fathers: - 2. "Our fathers trusted in thee, and thou didst deliver them." 3. "They cried unto thee-and were not confounded." But my case is worse than any other: "I am a worm, and am no man." He then details his sufferings: - 1. The scoffs and scorns cast upon him: "I am become the reproach of men, and the despised among the people." 2.

31. and shall &c.] And they shall declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born; i.e. to the next generation. From one generation to another the tradition of Jehovah’s righteousness, of His faithfulness to His covenant, will be handed down. that he hath done this] Or as R.V., that he hath done it. The object is not expressed. Cp. Psalms 37:5 (which combines Psalms 22:8; Psalms 22:31); Psalms 52:9; Psalms 119:126; Isaiah 44:23; Numbers 23:19; Numbers 23:23. “Genesis 28:15 unites the first and last lines of the Psalm.” Kay. He has wrought out His purpose of salvation, interposed on His servant’s behalf, proved Himself the living righteous and true God. The song of praise, begun by the Psalmist (Psalms 22:22), is taken up by Israel; all the nations of the earth swell the chorus; and the strain echoes on through all the ages. So gloriously ends the Psalm which began in the darkest sorrow. Per crucem ad lucem. It is a parable of the history of the individual, of Israel, of the Church, of the world.

They shall come - That is, there were those who would thus come. Who these would be is not specified.

31. They shall come—The “seed,” or “generation” of the previous verse, shall come; that is, be born, appear upon the scene.