Psalm 72 comments

 

Psalm 72:1 ¶  «A Psalm for Solomon.» Give the king thy judgments, O God, and thy righteousness unto the king’s son.

 

The shows that it was written by David for his son, Solomon.

 

Prophetically we might consider that the son of David is a title for the Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

Matthew 1:1  The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.

 

Psalm 72:2 ¶  He shall judge thy people with righteousness, and thy poor with judgment. 3  The mountains shall bring peace to the people, and the little hills, by righteousness. 4  He shall judge the poor of the people, he shall save the children of the needy, and shall break in pieces the oppressor. 5  They shall fear thee as long as the sun and moon endure, throughout all generations. 6  He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass: as showers that water the earth. 7  In his days shall the righteous flourish; and abundance of peace so long as the moon endureth. 8  He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth. 9  They that dwell in the wilderness shall bow before him; and his enemies shall lick the dust. 10  The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall bring presents: the kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts. 11  Yea, all kings shall fall down before him: all nations shall serve him. 12  For he shall deliver the needy when he crieth; the poor also, and him that hath no helper. 13  He shall spare the poor and needy, and shall save the souls of the needy. 14  He shall redeem their soul from deceit and violence: and precious shall their blood be in his sight. 15  And he shall live, and to him shall be given of the gold of Sheba: prayer also shall be made for him continually; and daily shall he be praised. 16  There shall be an handful of corn in the earth upon the top of the mountains; the fruit thereof shall shake like Lebanon: and they of the city shall flourish like grass of the earth. 17  His name shall endure for ever: his name shall be continued as long as the sun: and men shall be blessed in him: all nations shall call him blessed.

 

It is David’s wish that his son judge the people fairly and uprightly in verse 2. See the passage in Isaiah for a prophetic reference to Christ’s reign in His millennial kingdom.

 

Isaiah 11:1 ¶  And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: 2  And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD; 3  And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears: 4  But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.

 

 

   

Solomon is known to be a wise and righteous judge of his people which was given to him by God along with much more, so David’s prayer is answered in the affirmative.

 

2Chronicles 1:11  And God said to Solomon, Because this was in thine heart, and thou hast not asked riches, wealth, or honour, nor the life of thine enemies, neither yet hast asked long life; but hast asked wisdom and knowledge for thyself, that thou mayest judge my people, over whom I have made thee king: 12  Wisdom and knowledge is granted unto thee; and I will give thee riches, and wealth, and honour, such as none of the kings have had that have been before thee, neither shall there any after thee have the like.

 

In verse 3 this came to mind at first.

 

Isaiah 52:7 ¶  How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!

 

And this is a reference to spiritual peace commentators say. Others say the mountains and little hills are prophetically speaking, the church and its evangelists.

 

David prophesies about the blessings of Solomon’s reign as the text aligns with a prophecy about Christ’s millennial reign on earth for a thousand years.

 

Isaiah 9:7  Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

 

Daniel 2:44  And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.

 

So, while we can see here the glory of Solomon’s reign to come we can also imagine the glory of Christ’s reign on earth. This can only be understood in the scope of believing that Christ will physically and literally reign on earth. This is not a spiritual reign through the church or supposed Christian kingdoms and countries but with His presence in command.

 

Look at these four verses regarding Christ ruling the earth with a rod of iron.

 

Psalm 2:9  Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.

 

Revelation 2:27  And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.

 

Revelation 12:5  And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.

 

Revelation 19:15  And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.

 

In the contexts of both Solomon’s reign and Christ’s reign there will be showers of blessings for those people who acknowledge and accept their authority. The land will reflect the justice they manifest.

 

We then look forward to the return of Christ to rule the earth.

 

Revelation 11:15  And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.

 

Titus 2:13  Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

 

Psalm 72:18 ¶  Blessed be the LORD God, the God of Israel, who only doeth wondrous things. 19  And blessed be his glorious name for ever: and let the whole earth be filled with his glory; Amen, and Amen. 20  The prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended.

 

Let’s follow with David in praise of God. Heaven and earth will be filled with His praise.

 

Psalm 41:13  Blessed be the LORD God of Israel from everlasting, and to everlasting. Amen, and Amen.

 

1Chronicles 29:10 ¶  Wherefore David blessed the LORD before all the congregation: and David said, Blessed be thou, LORD God of Israel our father, for ever and ever.

 

Nehemiah 9:5  Then the Levites, Jeshua, and Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabniah, Sherebiah, Hodijah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah, said, Stand up and bless the LORD your God for ever and ever: and blessed be thy glorious name, which is exalted above all blessing and praise.

 

The scene in Heaven and earth.

 

Revelation 5:13  And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.