Psalms 72

Psalms 72:1

Psalm 72: Messiah’s Glorious ReignThis Psalm starts out as a prayer for an earthly monarch, possibly Solomon, but before long we realize that the writer is looking beyond Solomon to the glories of the reign of the Lord Jesus Christ. It will be a wonderful time for this weary, warring world. The golden era for which mankind has yearned will then be ushered in. Creation’s groan will be hushed, and peace and prosperity will flourish. 72:1 In the first verse, we hear the prayer that rises from the holy convocation as the King is invested. Knox translates it, “Grant to the King Thy own skill in judgment; the inheritor of the throne, may He be just as Thou art just.” Every one of the “He will’s” or “He shall’s” in the rest of Psalm 72 will become fact when the Redeemer sets up His resplendent reign. 72:2 He will judge the people with righteousness and the poor with justice. Corruption, bribery and oppression will have ceased. Trials will be conducted with strict impartiality, and the poor will no longer be disadvantaged. 72:3 The mountains will bear a harvest of peace and prosperity for the people, and justice will cover the little hills. Mountains are often used in Scripture to signify governmental authorities. So the thought here may be that the subjects of Christ’s kingdom can expect equity and justice from all the courts in the landfrom the supreme court all the way down to the local magistrate. 72:4 Down through the centuries the poor and needy have been oppressed, underpaid, persecuted and even killed. In the Millennium, the King Himself will be their Advocate. He will emancipate them once for all and punish those who took advantage of them. 72:5, 6 His subjects will respect and fear Him as long as the sun and moon endure, throughout all generations. His presence shall prove beneficial and refreshingjust like rain upon the grass and showers on the parched earth.72:7 He will be the true MelchizedekKing of righteousness and King of peace. During His reign justice will flourish, and peace will abound, until the moon ceases to exist. Notice that righteousness precedes peace. “The work of righteousness will be peace, and the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance forever” (Isa_32:17). By His righteous work for us on the cross, He bequeathed peace to us. And by His righteous rule He will one day bring peace to the war-torn world. 72:8 The boast of the United Kingdom used to be, “The sun never sets on the British Empire.” British colonies were interspersed among the other nations of the world. But Christ’s kingdom will be universal. It will not be a matter of scattered colonies. All nations will be included. His dominion will extend from one sea to another and from the Euphrates River to the ends of the earth. 72:9 The ungovernable nomads of the desert will bow before Him at last, and His enemies will go down to defeat. To lick the dust means to suffer ignoble and shameful subjugation. 72:10, 11 Gentile kings will come to Jerusalem with tribute and with presents for the King of kings. Here comes the ruler of Spain, there are the heads of states from various island countries, and now you see the rulers of the sheikdoms of Southern Arabia. The airport is crowded with visiting dignitaries because all acknowledge His sway and all nations without exception serve Him. “Kings of wealth, and thought, and music, and art have already acknowledged Him, and shall,” said Meyer. 72:12-14 The King’s tremendous compassion for the needy is seen here. The poor, the downtrodden and the underdogs will have a Mighty Deliverer. Poverty will vanish and social injustice will be a thing of the past. The weak and the needy will have instant access to Him, and will be certain of considerate attention and prompt action. He will rescue them from unjust and cruel treatment, and He will show the world how precious their lives are to Him. 72:15 The shout, “Long live the King,” will rise from His loyal subjects. In their gratitude they will give Him gold from the treasures of Sheba. Never-ceasing prayer will ascend from all over the world for Him, and people will bless Him from dawn to dusk. 72:16 The fertility of the land will be indescribable. Barns and silos will bulge with grain. Even places never previously cultivated, like the top of the mountains, will wave with fields of ripened grain, undulating in the breeze like the forests of Lebanon. The cities will be richly inhabited with people, as the fields are filled with grass. It will be a population explosion of epic proportions, yet there will be no scarcity of food. 72:17 His name shall endure, loved and revered forever. As long as the sun exists, His fame shall continue. In accordance with the promise God made to Abraham, all men shall bless themselves in Him, and all nations shall call Him blessed. 72:18, 19 The Psalm closes with a doxology. The glorious reign of the Lord Jesus is God’s achievement. It is He who brings about these wonderful conditions, as no one else could do. And so it is fitting that His glorious name be praised forever, and that His glory fill the whole earth. 72:20 The prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended. This cannot mean that David’s prayers are ended as far as the Book of Psalm is concerned, for many more follow. It might mean that his prayers are ended as far as Book II of the Psalms is concerned, Psalms 72 being the last in Book II. But a more plausible explanation is that the predicted reign of the Lord Jesus Christ represents the ultimate fulfillment of his prayers. The kingdom described in the preceding verses was the subject of his last words (2Sa_23:1-4), and was the event toward which his prayers were directed. When the Messiah would take His place upon the throne and rule, David’s desires would be fully met.