Psalm 72:1-20

Cross-references For Better Understanding a Related Topics b Additional Materials c

Summary

• Prosperity associated with justice and righteousness.

Details and/or Comments

• This is a psalm of prayer for a king, one of David's offspring; and was possibly used at the time of the king's coronation. Very few of the Davidic kings were in any way like the righteous king described here (especially among the later kings). But the day is coming, in which the psalm will be fulfilled totally - in a future Davidic king, Jesus Christ.

Though there is no direct New Testament reference to this psalm, all the characteristics of the righteous ruler described here are found in New Testament descriptions of Jesus Christ.

• You can ask yourself, "What would a righteous ruler be like?" Or you can ask, "What will the future rule of Jesus Christ be like?" The answer is the same for both questions.

Scripture

Psalm 72:1-20

• SEE: Jesus' Future Rule

The justice and righteousness he brings.

Scripture Passage	Comments and Links
Psa 72:1 God, give the king your justice; your righteousness to the royal son.	The goal of a righteous king: justice and righteousness. The Davidic kings of the past never fully met this goal (though some did better than others). Justice
Psa 72:2 He will judge your people with righteousness, and your poor with justice.	Justice for the poor. Note that they are described as God's people and God's poor. Judgment The Poor
Psa 72:3 The mountains shall bring prosperity to the people. The hills bring the fruit of righteousness.	Prosperity connected with righteousness! Prosperity Righteousness
Psa 72:4 He will judge the poor of the people. He will save the children of the needy, and will break the oppressor in pieces.	Justice for the poor and destruction of the oppressor. The Oppressed and Afflicted Oppression
Psa 72:5 They shall fear you while the sun endures; and as long as the moon, throughout all generations.	Fear of God connected with the duration of the sun/moon. Figuratively, this means "forever." Fear of God Sun Moon
Psa 72:6 He will come down like rain on the mown grass, as showers that water the earth.	Using rain as a picture of his refreshing presence, with the justice and righteousness he brings. Rain
Psa 72:7 In his days, the righteous shall flourish, and abundance of peace, until the moon is no more.	Peace "Until the moon is no more" - figuratively, this means "forever."

The extent of his rule, and the reason for it.

Scripture Passage	Comments and Links
Psa 72:8 He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, from the River to the ends of the earth.	Dominion for the righteous king ... Ruling/Dominion
Psa 72:9 Those who dwell in the wilderness shall bow before him. His enemies shall lick the dust. Psa 72:10 The kings of Tarshish and of the islands will bring tribute. The kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts. Psa 72:11 Yes, all kings shall fall down before him. All nations shall serve him.	His rule - the whole earth. This was partially fulfilled in the life of Solomon (see the examples given in v. 10); it will be completely fulfilled by Jesus Christ. King Nation
Psa 72:12 For he will deliver the needy when he cries; the poor, who has no helper. Psa 72:13 He will have pity on the poor and needy. He will save the souls of the needy. Psa 72:14 He will redeem their soul from oppression and violence. Their blood will be precious in his sight.	Why will his rule be extended so far? Because he is righteous and just! (More references to the poor and afflicted, who he will rescue from the hands of the oppressors.)

Blessings for all.

He will be a blessing to the people, and they will be a blessing to him.

Scripture Passage	Comments and Links
Psa 72:15 He shall live, and to him shall be given of the gold of Sheba. Men shall pray for him continually. They shall bless him all day long.	"He shall live" - If connected to v. 14, it refers to the oppressed person; if connected to the rest of v. 15, it refers to the king (like, "Long may he live!"). Both are grammatically possible, and both fit the context.
Psa 72:16 There shall be abundance of grain throughout the land. Its fruit sways like Lebanon. Let it flourish, thriving like the grass of the field.	May there be abundant blessings and plentiful harvests. Food Abundance
Psa 72:17 His name endures forever. His name continues as long as the sun.	May his reputation remain as long as the sun exists (= figurative for "forever"). Reputation
Men shall be blessed by him. All nations will call him blessed.	May he and the peoples be a blessing to each other. This line is a reminder of the promise God made to Abraham - Genesis 12:3, etc. Abrahamic Covenant Blessings (and Their Nature)

The Psalms are divided into five "books." The following three verses are actually the closing lines to "Book 2." The original "Psalm 72" would have ended with verse 17!

Scripture Passage	Comments and Links
Psa 72:18 Praise be to Yahweh God, the God of Israel, who alone does marvelous deeds. Psa 72:19 Blessed be his glorious name forever! Let the whole earth be filled with his glory! Amen and amen.	Praise be to God! It is our desire that the goodness of God be seen everywhere on earth. The Power and Works of God The Concept of "Name"
Psa 72:20 This ends the prayers by David, the son of Jesse.	Psalm 72 may have been the last psalm written by David, chronologically (i.e., before his death), even though it isn't the last one found in the book of Psalms.

Scripture Passages (Only books that have relevance to this study have active links. The others are in italics.) Genesis  •  Exodus  •  Leviticus  •  Numbers  •  Deuteronomy  •  Joshua  •  Judges  •  Ruth  •  1 Samuel  •  2 Samuel  •  1 Kings  •  2 Kings  •  1 Chronicles  •  2 Chronicles  •  Ezra  •  Nehemiah  •  Esther  •  Job  •  Psalms  •  Proverbs  •  Ecclesiastes  •  Song of Solomon  •  Isaiah  •  Jeremiah  •  Lamentations  •  Ezekiel  •  Daniel  •  Hosea  •  Joel  •  Amos  •  Obadiah  •  Jonah  •  Micah  •  Nahum  •  Habakkuk  •  Zephaniah  •  Haggai  •  Zechariah  •  Malachi Matthew  •  Mark  •  Luke  •  John  •  Acts  •  Romans  •  1 Corinthians  •  2 Corinthians  •  Galatians  •  Ephesians  •  Philippians  •  Colossians  •  1 Thessalonians  •  2 Thessalonians  •  1 Timothy  •  2 Timothy  •  Titus  •  Philemon  •  Hebrews  •  James  •  1 Peter  •  2 Peter  •  1 John  •  2 John  •  3 John  •  Jude  •  Revelation

—— To avoid any copyright issues, all Scripture is either from a public domain translation (such as the World English Bible), my own translation, or a combination of these. ——

The name "Yahweh," when present in an Old Testament passage, represents the Hebrew name for the God of the Bible.

Unless otherwise noted, all notes and comments are © by Dennis Hinks.