He shall spare the poor and needy, and shall save the souls of the needy.
The verse belongs to a picture of a reign marked by righteousness and care for those without help, with the ideal king showing mercy to the poor and needy and saving them. In its wider setting of verses 8-15, that picture is framed as intercession for the salvation of souls throughout the earth.
The meaning is that the king is manly and noble in showing mercy and loving-kindness by pitying the poor and needy, sparing them, and saving and rescuing their lives and souls from harm. He delivers the helpless, redeems them from oppression and violence, and counts their blood precious. Such rule requires humility of heart, constant trust in God, unceasing watchfulness against temptation, obedience to God's law, and ruling justly in the fear of God.
This was the reign of righteousness offered to Solomon as an inspired prophecy of what his rule might have been as a just, merciful, God-fearing sovereign and teacher of righteousness. It could have been fulfilled if he had followed divinely inspired instruction to know God, serve Him with a perfect heart and willing mind, be strong, and keep His statutes, commandments, judgments and testimonies. His entire history could have been in accordance with this prophecy, and for a time he heeded wise counsels and brought glory to God. But the later years of his reign were marred by pride, self-sufficiency, self-exaltation, desire for political power, alliances with heathen nations, corruption of faith through association with idolaters, conformity to worldly customs, loss of sight of God's law, and idolatry, breaking down the barriers erected for the safety of the people.
The verse also shows that God Himself has pity on the poor and needy and saves their souls when they cry to Him. Even when Satan-led tyrants afflict His people, cause pain to the body, and take away temporal life, His permitting persecution does not mean He does not care. For His people are bought, are under His charge, are strengthened by His Spirit to endure, and their life hid with Christ cannot be touched, while He redeems them from deceit and violence and counts their blood precious.
When men in power oppress and rob their fellow men and no earthly court can be found to do justice, God Himself steps in for those who cannot defend themselves to spare and rescue them. He does not punish oppressors without first warning them repeatedly and testing the effect of His warnings, being long-suffering and not willing that any should perish. But when hearts harden and refuse warning and salvation, His forbearance reaches a limit with no second probation. Then He who exalted and favored men has to do with their casting down, punishing every act of oppression so that no earthly wisdom can shield wrongdoers from heaven's judgment. When men trust earthly powers instead of their Maker and lift themselves up in pride and self-confidence, God in His own time makes them to be despised and destroys them without remedy.
The verse belongs to a picture of a reign marked by righteousness and care for those without help, with the ideal king showing mercy to the poor and needy and saving them. In its wider setting of verses 8-15, that picture is framed as intercession for the salvation of souls throughout the earth.
The meaning is that the king is manly and noble in showing mercy and loving-kindness by pitying the poor and needy, sparing them, and saving and rescuing their lives and souls from harm. He delivers the helpless, redeems them from oppression and violence, and counts their blood precious. Such rule requires humility of heart, constant trust in God, unceasing watchfulness against temptation, obedience to God's law, and ruling justly in the fear of God.
This was the reign of righteousness offered to Solomon as an inspired prophecy of what his rule might have been as a just, merciful, God-fearing sovereign and teacher of righteousness. It could have been fulfilled if he had followed divinely inspired instruction to know God, serve Him with a perfect heart and willing mind, be strong, and keep His statutes, commandments, judgments and testimonies. His entire history could have been in accordance with this prophecy, and for a time he heeded wise counsels and brought glory to God. But the later years of his reign were marred by pride, self-sufficiency, self-exaltation, desire for political power, alliances with heathen nations, corruption of faith through association with idolaters, conformity to worldly customs, loss of sight of God's law, and idolatry, breaking down the barriers erected for the safety of the people.
The verse also shows that God Himself has pity on the poor and needy and saves their souls when they cry to Him. Even when Satan-led tyrants afflict His people, cause pain to the body, and take away temporal life, His permitting persecution does not mean He does not care. For His people are bought, are under His charge, are strengthened by His Spirit to endure, and their life hid with Christ cannot be touched, while He redeems them from deceit and violence and counts their blood precious.
When men in power oppress and rob their fellow men and no earthly court can be found to do justice, God Himself steps in for those who cannot defend themselves to spare and rescue them. He does not punish oppressors without first warning them repeatedly and testing the effect of His warnings, being long-suffering and not willing that any should perish. But when hearts harden and refuse warning and salvation, His forbearance reaches a limit with no second probation. Then He who exalted and favored men has to do with their casting down, punishing every act of oppression so that no earthly wisdom can shield wrongdoers from heaven's judgment. When men trust earthly powers instead of their Maker and lift themselves up in pride and self-confidence, God in His own time makes them to be despised and destroys them without remedy.