Reflections on Psalms 72

 Psalms 72(Contemporary English Version)

1. (By Solomon.) Please help the king to be honest and fair just like you, our God.
   
2. Let him be honest and fair with all your people, especially the poor.
   
3. Let peace and justice rule every mountain and hill.
   
4. Let the king defend the poor, rescue the homeless, and crush everyone who hurts them.
   
5. Let the king live forever like the sun and the moon.
   
6. Let him be as helpful as rain that refreshes the meadows and the ground.
   
7. Let the king be fair with everyone, and let there be peace until the moon falls from the sky.
   
8. Let his kingdom reach from sea to sea, from the Euphrates River across all the earth.
   
9. Force the desert tribes to accept his rule, and make his enemies crawl in the dirt.
   
10. Force the rulers of Tarshish and of the islands to pay taxes to him. Make the kings of Sheba and of Seba bring gifts.
    
11. Make other rulers bow down and all nations serve him.
    
12. Do this because the king rescues the homeless when they cry out, and he helps everyone who is poor and in need.
    
13. The king has pity on the weak and the helpless and protects those in need.
    
14. He cares when they hurt, and he saves them from cruel and violent deaths.
    
15. Long live the king! Give him gold from Sheba. Always pray for the king and praise him each day.
    
16. Let cities overflow with food and hills be covered with grain, just like Mount Lebanon. Let the people in the cities prosper like wild flowers.
    
17. May the glory of the king shine brightly forever like the sun in the sky. Let him make nations prosper and learn to praise him.
    
18. LORD God of Israel, we praise you. Only you can work miracles.
    
19. We will always praise your glorious name. Let your glory be seen everywhere on earth. Amen and amen.
    
20. This ends the prayers of David, the son of Jesse.

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Psalms 72 is one of only two psalms attributed to Solomon. The other being Psalms 127. Though this psalm likely describes his reign, it also speaks of the Messiah's milllennial reign. This psalm portrays the king, not as a dictator over the people, but more a savior of the people to protect and provide for them. Solomon perceived that his role as king was to rule with righteousness and justice. Therefore, he prayed for God to give him justice and righteousness. God was his source. He did not see himself as a deity, as was/is sometimes the case with kings. If his reign was successful praise belonged to the Lord, not himself: "May the LORD God, the God of Israel, be praised, who alone does wonders." (72:18)

Verses 8-11 take on Messianic overtones as the king's reign is envisioned as being worldwide: "may he rule from sea to sea" and "let all kings bow down to him, all nations serve him." (72:8, 11) These overtones also carry over into verses 12-14 as the king is seen as the rescuer of the poor and afflicted, redeeming them from oppression and violence, "for their lives are precious in his sight." (72:14) This last statement is especially descriptive of the Messiah.

The Messianic overtones continue into verses 15-17 with prayer for the king's reign to endure forever. And then the prayer, "May all nations be blessed by him and call him blessed." (72:17) We can look forward to the Messiah's reign as a time free of oppression when peace and prosperity reign. There is no mention in the psalm of the wicked or of evil deeds, for the wicked have been crushed and justice reigns.

Though it is said of the king that "all nations (will) be blessed by him and call him blessed." (72:17), the praise goes to "the Lord God of Israel, who alone does wonders." The king is only His instrument for righteousness and justice.