Psalm 72

This is one of two psalms that attribute authorship to Solomon in the superscription (cf. Ps. 127). It describes his reign but anticipates the rule of his successor, Jesus Christ, on earth in the future millennial reign.¹³³

Solomon wrote of the blessings that God bestows through His anointed ruler. Because the Lord had appointed the king and because he ruled righteously Solomon expected his reign to be far reaching. He asked God to bless his reign with peace and prosperity because he protects the oppressed.

 1. A plea for ability to rule well 72:1-7

72:1-4 This prayer for the ability to rule justly and righteously is similar to Solomon's request for wisdom that he voiced at the beginning of his reign (1 Kings 3:9). His references to the mountains and hills are probably metaphorical allusions to his government (cf. Ps. 30:7; Isa. 2:2; 41:15; Jer. 51:25; Dan. 2:35, 44; Rev. 17:9). Verse 4 describes basic justice.

72:5-7 In verse 5 the antecedent of "them"in the NASB is the oppressed of verse 4, and "Thee"refers to God. In the NIV the translators, following the Septuagint, felt the king was the subject of the whole verse. The Hebrew text favors the NASB rendering. In verses 6 and 7 the king is the subject.

The effects of a just and righteous king, the type of person Solomon asked God to make him, are as beneficial to his people as rain and peace are to the landscape.

"It is the other side of kingship to the rod of iron' of Psalm 2:9; yet the one is the true complement of the other, as verse 4 has shown already."¹³⁴

 2. A plea for wide influence 72:8-14

72:8-11 It was not a sign of egotism that Solomon requested a universal dominion, as verses 12-14 make clear. The "river"is the Euphrates, the most significant river in terms of the land promises God gave to Abraham and his descendents. Tarshish probably refers to Tartessus in southwest Spain, Sheba to modern Yemen in southwestern Arabia, and Seba to upper (southern) Egypt, which is now the Sudan.

72:12-14 Solomon wanted a wide ranging kingdom so that he might establish justice and righteousness in the whole earth. Then multitudes of people would benefit in the ways he described in these verses.

 3. The consequences of a wide reign of justice 72:15-20

72:15-17 In return for his beneficent rule the king would receive the blessing of his people. They would express their gratitude by bringing him wealth (cf. 1 Kings 10:10) and by praying for him. As a result of his good influence, his lands would enjoy prosperity that Solomon compared to abundant crops, favored trees, and flourishing citizens. Such a king would enjoy lasting praise, not just the appreciation of the generation he served (cf. Gen. 12:2-3; Rev. 21:24).

72:18-19 Behind the earthly king, Solomon saw the Lord God. If praise came to Solomon, even more credit should go to the God of Israel for enabling the king to exercise such a marvelous reign. Solomon acknowledged God's sovereignty by appealing to Him for the personal equipment he needed to rule justly (vv. 1-11). He also did so by attributing blessing to the Lord here at the end of the psalm.

This closing benediction is a doxology similar to the one that ended Book 1 of the Psalter (Ps. 41:13). Probably the editors of the collection of psalms placed Psalm 72 here because of this doxology and because the whole theme of this psalm is so positive, optimistic, and God honoring.

72:20 This verse was probably an editorial addition rather than a part of Psalm 72 in view of what it says. At least 18 psalms that follow this one were David's (Pss. 86; 101; 103; 108-110; 122; 124; 131; 133; and 138-145). Consequently this verse may have ended an earlier edition of the Psalms rather than the present one. Interestingly the word "prayers"is a synonym for "psalms"as used here. Prayers and praises are the two most characteristic marks of the Psalter.

The theme of Psalm 72 is God's just and righteous rule over the earth. Solomon prayed God might work through him and his administration to bring such a rule to pass. God answered Solomon's petitions largely. However because Solomon proved unfaithful to God his reign was not as great a blessing as it might have been. When Solomon's successor, Jesus Christ, returns to earth and establishes His reign the conditions Solomon requested will find perfect fulfillment. For us Solomon's petitions constitute a model of what the godly should desire and pray for regarding God's just rule on the earth (cf. Matt. 6:10).