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Psalm 72: The Psalm of the Great King
There is dispute about the authorship of this fascinating psalm.
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Some say it was penned by David about his son Solomon. The title, “ForSolomon” can also mean “Of Solomon” but it’s been suggested that it would beunlikely for Solomon to pray for himself in this fashion. And so we see David herepraying for the reign of his son as well as prophesying of Christ.
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Others would argue that Solomon is indeed the author, saying that the style of thepsalm is more like his than that of David.
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In either case Christians view Psalm 72 as Messianic, for it prophesies the reignof the Great King to come. Older Jewish writings also said it described Messiah. We can divide the psalm into three parts: (1) A description of the reign of the king: just,universal, benevolent, and perpetual; (2) a doxology; and (3) a postscript.
(1) <For Solomon.> Give the king thy judgments, O God, and thy righteousness unto the king's son.
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Because the transition from David’s kingship to Solomon’s was so important, theBible tells us much about it. David, we are told, prepared extensively for it,knowing Solomon was inexperienced. In 1 Chronicles 29 Solomon took thethrone while David was yet living. In an imposing celebration, David addressedthe people concerning the massive preparations which he had made for theTemple – including well over $5 billion in gold of his personal fortune. The
Psalms Bible Study Psalm 72
people responded with a huge offering of their own. An enormous number of sacrifices were offered, and Solomon was installed and began to function as king.
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If this were David’s prayer, it was certainly answered. Soon after beginning hisreign, Solomon had the famous encounter with the Lord which resulted in him being made the wisest man who ever lived. He was therefore able to give the judgments of God when rendering sentences for people.
(2) He shall judge thy people with righteousness, and thy poor with judgment. (3) The mountains shall bring peace to the people, and the littlehills, by righteousness. (4) He shall judge the poor of the people, he shallsave the children of the needy, and shall break in pieces the oppressor.
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Here we see a defining characteristic of the kingdom of Messiah, that he judgesthe people with righteousness. The ideal of justice among the Hebrews canarguable be found in Isaiah 11, another prophecy of Messiah, in which it says
“…he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears: But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove withequity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of hismouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.”
Here we see aperfect judge, rendering a perfect decision without being swayed by thesympathies that can be created by reflecting on someone’s wealth or poverty. Hemakes decisions based on the fear of the Lord and destroys those who do evil.
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The mountains can be symbolic language symbolizing kings, and the hills thusare princes. It speaks of governments which deal in righteousness. The poverty of
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Psalms Bible Study Psalm 72
the poor has been caused through injustice in many cases; this will not happenunder Messiah’s rule.
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As we saw all the way back in Psalm 2, the Kingdom of Christ will be fair but willcrush every manifestation of evil. Zechariah gives us the detail that those nations who do not wish to worship the true God in the manner He prescribes will receiveno rain.
(5) They shall fear thee as long as the sun and moon endure, throughout allgenerations. (6) He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass: asshowers that water the earth. (7) In his days shall the righteous flourish;and abundance of peace so long as the moon endureth.
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The reign of Messiah will never end. The Bible tells us that after the Lord Jesusreturns to Earth He will reign physically from Jerusalem for 1,000 years. This isknown as the Millennium. Believers who have lived in previous times will enjoy aresurrection body like that of Jesus and will reign with Him. After the 1,000 years are completed, Jesus will return rule back to the Father and we will enjoy the Presence of God forever.
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This is a picture of weary people being refreshed by having the Messiah’simmediate presence in their midst; scientists have recently discovered that cutgrass releases chemicals that reduce stress and make people cheerful.
(8) He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto theends of the earth. (9) They that dwell in the wilderness shall bow beforehim; and his enemies shall lick the dust. (10) The kings of Tarshish and of
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