Psalms72
New Living Translation
1 Give your love of justice to the king, O God, and righteousness to the king’s son.
2 Help him judge your people in the right way; let the poor always be treated fairly.
3 May the mountains yield prosperity for all, and may the hills be fruitful.
4 Help him to defend the poor, to rescue the children of the needy, and to crush their oppressors.
5 May they fear you as long as the sun shines, as long as the moon remains in the sky. Yes, forever!
6 May the king’s rule be refreshing like spring rain on freshly cut grass, like the showers that water the earth.
7 May all the godly flourish during his reign. May there be abundant prosperity until the moon is no more.
8 May he reign from sea to sea, and from the Euphrates River to the ends of the earth.
9 Desert nomads will bow before him; his enemies will fall before him in the dust.
10 The western kings of Tarshish and other distant lands will bring him tribute. The eastern kings of Sheba and Seba will bring him gifts.
11 All kings will bow before him, and all nations will serve him.
12 He will rescue the poor when they cry to him; he will help the oppressed, who have no one to defend them.
13 He feels pity for the weak and the needy, and he will rescue them.
14 He will redeem them from oppression and violence, for their lives are precious to him.
15 Long live the king! May the gold of Sheba be given to him. May the people always pray for him and bless him all day long.
16 May there be abundant grain throughout the land, flourishing even on the hilltops. May the fruit trees flourish like the trees of Lebanon, and may the people thrive like grass in a field.
17 May the king’s name endure forever; may it continue as long as the sun shines. May all nations be blessed through him and bring him praise.
18 Praise the Lord God, the God of Israel, who alone does such wonderful things.
19 Praise his glorious name forever! Let the whole earth be filled with his glory. Amen and amen!
20 (This ends the prayers of David son of Jesse.)
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Psalms 72Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Psalms 72. The full AI study guide (summary, themes, context) has its own page.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: David begins with a prayer for Solomon. (1). He passes into a prophecy of the glories of his reign, and of Christ's kingdom. (2–17). Praise to God. (18–20).
v1
This psalm belongs to Solomon in part, but to Christ more fully and clearly. Solomon was both the king and the king's son, and his pious father desired that the wisdom of God might be in him, that his reign might be a remembrance of the kingdom of the Messiah. It is the prayer of a father for his child; a dying blessing. The best we can ask of God for our children is, that God would give them wisdom and grace to know and to do their duty.
vv2-17
This is a prophecy of the kingdom of Christ; many passages in it cannot be applied to the reign of Solomon. There were righteousness and peace at first in the administration of his government; but, before the end of his reign, there were troubles and unrighteousness. The kingdom here spoken of is to last as long as the sun, but Solomon's was soon at an end. Even the Jewish expositors understood it of the kingdom of the Messiah. Observe many great and precious promises here made, which were to have full accomplishment only in the kingdom of Christ. As far as his kingdom is set up, discord and contentions cease, in families, churches, and nations. The law of Christ, written in the heart, disposes men to be honest and just, and to render to all their due; it likewise disposes men to live in love, and so produces abundance of peace. Holiness and love shall be lasting in Christ's kingdom. Through all the changes of the world, and all the changes of life, Christ's kingdom will support itself. And he shall, by the graces and comforts of his Spirit, come down like rain upon the mown grass; not on that cut down, but that which is left growing, that it may spring again. His gospel has been, or shall be, preached to all nations. Though he needs not the services of any, yet he must be served with the best. Those that have the wealth of this world, must serve Christ with it, do good with it. Prayer shall be made through him, or for his sake; whatever we ask of the Father, should be in his name. Praises shall be offered to him: we are under the highest obligations to him. Christ only shall be feared throughout all generations. To the end of time, and to eternity, his name shall be praised. All nations shall call HIM blessed.
vv18-20
We are taught to bless God in Christ, for all he has done for us by him. David is earnest in prayer for the fulfilment of this prophecy and promise. It is sad to think how empty the earth is of the glory of God, how little service and honour he has from a world to which he is so bountiful. May we, like David, submit to Christ's authority, and partake of his righteousness and peace. May we bless him for the wonders of redeeming love. May we spend our days, and end our lives, praying for the spread of his gospel.
Key Words
שְׁלֹמֹה: Shelomah, David's successor
נָתַן: to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
מֶלֶךְ: a king
מִשְׁפָּט: properly, a verdict (favorable or unfavorable) pronounced judicially, especially a sentence or formal decree (human or (participant's) divine law, individual or collective), including the act, the place, the suit, the crime, and the penalty; abstractly, justice, including a participant's right or privilege (statutory or customary), or even a style
אֱלֹהִים: gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative
צְדָקָה: rightness (abstractly), subjectively (rectitude), objectively (justice), morally (virtue) or figuratively (prosperity)
בֵּן: a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.)
דִּין: a straight course, i.e. sail direct
עַם: a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock
צֶדֶק: the right (natural, moral or legal); also (abstractly) equity or (figuratively) prosperity
Cross References
Psalms 72Solomon's anointing as the king's son under David, initiating his typical peaceful reign.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
The Messiah's righteous judgment of the poor and destruction of the oppressor.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Fulfilled in Christ, the seed of Abraham in whom all nations are blessed.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
The righteous Branch of David executing judgment and justice in the earth.
Supported by Matthew Henry, John Calvin
David's last words describing a righteous ruler as rain on tender grass.
Supported by Matthew Henry, John Calvin
The endless peace and eternal duration of the Messiah's righteous government.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
The Queen of Sheba bringing gifts types foreign kings honoring the Messiah.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The solemn oath that the whole earth shall be filled with God's glory.
Supported by Matthew Henry, John Calvin
Wisdom's declaration that kings reign and decree justice only by divine authority.
Supported by John Calvin
An everlasting dominion given to the Son of Man which shall not pass.
Supported by Matthew Henry
The inheritance of the uttermost parts of the earth given to God's Son.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Messianic dominion spoken of in identical terms from sea to sea.
Supported by JFB
Solomon's historical boundary of rule types the universal dominion of Christ.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The Davidic covenant promised to endure forever like the sun and moon.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Confirms David, the son of Jesse, as the speaker of these final prayers.
Supported by Matthew Poole