Table of Contents
Background and Context
Psalm 72 is a magnificent royal psalm, a prayer for a king at the time of his coronation. The superscription attributes it to Solomon (“Of Solomon”), but the content feels more like a prayer for the king rather than by him. The most widely held view is that this was King David’s prayer for his son Solomon as he prepared to take the throne (see 1 Kings 1). It is a father’s blessing and a prophetic vision for what a perfect, God-honoring reign should look like.
The prayer sets forth the highest ideals for Israel’s monarchy. The king is to be God’s agent on earth, establishing perfect justice, defending the poor, bringing prosperity, and extending his peaceful rule over all nations.
While the prayer was for Solomon, its language is so expansive, universal, and perfect that no earthly king could ever fully live up to it. Solomon’s reign, for all its glory, was flawed and ended in disappointment. For this reason, both Jewish and Christian interpreters have long seen this psalm as a messianic prophecy, a prayer that finds its ultimate and perfect fulfillment only in the person and reign of the Lord Jesus Christ, the true Son of David.
Verse 20, “This concludes the prayers of David son of Jesse,” serves as a fitting end to Book Two of the Psalms, marking the culmination of David’s hopes in the promise of a future, ideal king.
Theological Themes
This psalm is a rich portrait of God’s ideal for leadership and His ultimate plan for the world.
Justice for the Poor and Needy: The primary characteristic of the ideal king is his commitment to justice, with a special emphasis on defending the most vulnerable members of society. He will “defend the afflicted,” “save the children of the needy,” and “crush the oppressor” (verse 4). His reign is a direct reflection of God’s own heart for the poor and marginalized.
Righteousness as the Source of Prosperity: The psalm draws a direct line between the king’s righteous rule and the well-being of the land. When the king is just, the “mountains will bring prosperity to the people” (verse 3), and his reign will be like refreshing “rain on a mown field” (verse 6). This reflects the Old Testament covenant principle that obedience and righteousness lead to blessing and abundance.
A Universal and Everlasting Kingdom: The vision of the king’s reign is global and eternal. His dominion will stretch “from sea to sea… to the ends of the earth” (verse 8), and his name will endure “as long as the sun” (verse 17). This hyperbolic language points beyond any human monarch to a divine King whose kingdom will have no end.
The King as a Conduit of Universal Blessing: The prayer culminates with the promise that “all nations will be blessed through him and they will call him blessed” (verse 17). This is a direct echo of the covenant God made with Abraham in Genesis 12. The ideal Son of David becomes the fulfillment of the promise to Abraham, the one through whom God’s blessing flows to the entire world.
Literary Structure and Genre
Psalm 72 is a royal psalm, specifically a coronation prayer. Its structure is a series of petitions and prophetic declarations for the king’s reign.
- Verses 1-7: A prayer for a reign of perfect justice and righteousness.
- Verses 8-14: A prayer for a reign of universal dominion and compassion.
- Verses 15-17: A prayer for a reign of enduring blessing and fame.
- Verses 18-20: A concluding doxology that praises God and closes the second book of the Psalter.
Verse by Verse Commentary on Psalm 72
Verses 1-7: A Prayer for a Just and Prosperous Reign
“Endow the king with your justice, O God, the royal son with your righteousness. May he judge your people in righteousness, your afflicted ones with justice… May he defend the afflicted among the people and save the children of the needy; may he crush the oppressor… 1In his days may the righteous flourish; may prosperity abound till the moon is no more.”
The psalm opens with a direct plea to God. The prayer is that God would give the king His own divine attributes of justice and righteousness. The king is not to rule by his own wisdom, but as a reflection of God’s perfect character. The primary focus of this justice is the poor and afflicted. A righteous king is, first and foremost, a champion for the vulnerable.
The result of this just rule will be peace and prosperity that flows down from the very mountains. The king’s reign is described as being as life-giving and refreshing as rain falling on a mown field, bringing new growth and life. This just and prosperous reign will not be temporary; it will flourish and abound “till the moon is no more.”
Verses 8-14: A Prayer for a Universal and Compassionate Reign
“May he rule from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth… All kings will bow down to him and all nations will serve him. For he will deliver the needy who cry out, the afflicted who have no one to help. He will take pity on the weak and the needy and save the needy from death. He will rescue them from oppression and violence, for precious is their blood in his sight.”2
The vision now expands to a global scale. The king’s dominion will cover the entire known world, from the Mediterranean Sea to the Persian Gulf (“sea to sea”) and from the Euphrates River to the remotest corners of the earth. Kings from distant lands like Tarshish (likely in Spain) and Sheba (in Arabia) will bring him tribute and gifts.
Verses 12-14 provide the reason for his universal appeal. His kingdom expands not through brutal conquest, but through his irresistible compassion. He earns the allegiance of the nations because he is a king who delivers the needy, takes pity on the weak, and rescues the oppressed. The statement “precious is their blood in his sight” is a powerful declaration of the value he places on human life, especially the lives of the most vulnerable. This is the very character of God reflected in His anointed king.
Verses 15-17: A Prayer for an Enduring and Blessed Reign
“Long may he live! May gold from Sheba be given him. May people ever pray for him and bless him all day long… May his name endure forever; may it continue as long as the sun. Then all nations will be blessed through him, and they will call him blessed.”
The prayer continues with a plea for the king’s long life and prosperity. He will be so honored that he will receive the fabled gold of Sheba. The agricultural abundance under his rule will be miraculous, with grain growing even on the tops of mountains.
Verse 17 is the glorious climax of the prayer for the king. His name and his fame will endure forever. He will not be a forgotten ruler. More than that, he will be the fulfillment of the Abrahamic promise. Just as God told Abraham that all nations would be blessed through him, so this king will be the conduit of God’s blessing to the entire world.
Verses 18-20: Concluding Doxology
“Praise be to the LORD God, the God of Israel, who alone does marvelous deeds. Praise be to his glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory. Amen and Amen. This concludes the prayers of David son of Jesse.”
The psalm ends with a doxology, a burst of pure praise to God. This doxology serves two purposes. It is the fitting “Amen” to the glorious vision of the coming king, and it also functions as the formal conclusion to Book Two of the Psalms (Psalms 42-72). The final hope is that the glory of God will fill the whole earth, a hope that is realized through the reign of the ideal king. The final note, “This concludes the prayers of David son of Jesse,” is an editorial postscript from the compiler of the Psalter, marking the end of a major collection of Davidic psalms.
Practical Lessons for Today
Leadership is About Justice and Compassion: Psalm 72 provides a timeless template for all leadership, whether in government, business, or the church. True God-honoring leadership is measured by its commitment to justice, its integrity, and its compassion for the poor and vulnerable.
Pray for Our Leaders: This psalm is a model for how to pray for those in authority. We should pray that God would grant them wisdom, righteousness, and a heart of compassion, so that peace and prosperity might flourish.
Our Ultimate Hope is in a King: The perfect reign described in this psalm makes us long for a better world. It points us to the truth that our ultimate hope is not in any political party or human leader, but in the return of the true King, Jesus Christ, who alone will bring perfect justice and peace to the earth.
Our King is Compassionate: The reason the Messiah’s kingdom is so desirable is because of His character. He is the one who delivers the needy, takes pity on the weak, and considers the blood of the vulnerable to be precious. We can come to this King with confidence, knowing that He is compassionate and full of grace.
Cross References
Isaiah 9:7: “Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever.” The prophet Isaiah picks up the themes of Psalm 72, prophesying a future Son of David whose kingdom of justice and peace will be eternal.
Isaiah 11:4: “but with righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth.” Isaiah’s description of the messianic “Branch” from the stump of Jesse directly reflects the primary characteristic of the ideal king in Psalm 72: his unwavering commitment to justice for the poor.
Genesis 12:3: “I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” Psalm 72:17 explicitly connects the reign of the ideal king to the fulfillment of this foundational promise made to Abraham, showing that the Davidic king is the means by which God’s blessing extends to the whole world.
Revelation 11:15: “The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said: ‘The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah, and he will reign for ever and ever.'” This proclamation from Revelation is the ultimate fulfillment of the prayer in Psalm 72. The universal and everlasting reign prayed for by David finds its final answer in the eternal kingdom of Jesus Christ.