Psalms 72:16, commentary and pictures

The verse portrays the abundance and flourishing that mark a righteous reign, where even a handful of grain sown in the earth on the top of the mountains yields plentiful fruit that shakes like Lebanon, and those of the city flourish like grass of the earth. As inspired prophecy it set forth the just, righteous and prosperous reign entrusted to Solomon, the kind of rule he could have had if he had followed God's instruction given also through David.

For a time Solomon fulfilled the prophecy by heeding wise counsel and bringing glory to the God of Israel. He afterward broke down the barriers God had erected and corrupted his pure and elevated character through pride, self-sufficiency, self-exaltation, desire for political power and self-aggrandizement, alliances with heathen nations, procuring the silver of Tarshish and the gold of Ophir at great cost and sacrifice of integrity, association with idolaters, conformity to worldly customs, marriage with worshipers of false gods, and idolatry, so his entire history did not remain in accordance with the prophecy.

His failure shows that separation from God moves step by step, with one false step preparing the way for the next. It teaches followers of Christ to honor God by studying and obeying His teachings, refusing conformity to the world's standard of right, holding to the standard given in Holy Writ, and guarding against every worldly influence that weakens moral power.