Psalms 72
FBMeyerPsalms 72:1-11
“ King of Kings” Psalms 72:1-11 Solomon’ s reign opened as a morning without clouds. Much of the imagery of this royal ode is derived from the circumstances of his life. Compare Psalms 72:1-4 with his prayer for the listening heart, 1 Kings 3:9; the anticipations of peace, Psalms 72:3; Psalms 72:7, with his name, “ the peaceful one;” the rule from sea to sea, Psalms 72:8, with 1 Kings 4:24; the presents from Sheba, Psalms 72:10, with 1 Kings 10:1-29. But Solomon’ s failure to realize his ideals compelled men to anticipate with great desire the advent of a greater Prince of Peace. Of Jesus alone is this psalm true in its details. Notice the foundations of Jesus’ reign, Psalms 72:1-4; the perpetuity of His kingdom, Psalms 72:5-7, and its universality, Psalms 72:8-11. The poor are His care. The peace He gives is in abundance and it passes understanding. Sun and moon may fail, but His love is unaffected by the flight of ages. The rain on mown grass and the distilling of the dew are not more gentle than His work in human souls that lie open to His approach. Take this glorious psalm and claim it, verse by verse, as true for you.
The coming King Critics insist that for in the inscription should be of. Therefore this glorious Messianic Psalm was composed by Solomon. A conclusion which is not contradicted by Psalms 72:20, which was evidently appended (with the Doxology) by those who divided the Psalter into books, the second of which closes with this glowing description of the Lord’s Anointed and his reign. Behold the kingdom of heaven which is already set up and shall come yet more and more!
Psalms 72:1. Give the King thy judgments This reminds us of 1 Kings 3:9-28. In all judging and advising we need to catch sight of that which is in God’s mind and to reproduce it. This is what the Holy Spirit did for our Lord and will do for us (Isaiah 11:2-4). How instantly this petition was answered! (see the next verse).
Psalms 72:3. Peace to the people Peace as the result of righteousness (Isaiah 32:17; Hebrews 7:2). It was and still is common in the East to announce great events from the tops of the mountains (Isaiah 40:9).
Psalms 72:4-5. He shall judge the poor Compassion for the poor makes the throne endure. But how infinitely true this is of our Lord, to whom so many of these expressions must apply! (Revelation 5:9).
Psalms 72:6. Like rain upon the mown grass The mown grass is that which is shorn. On the shorn blades, suffering still from the scythe, that gentle rain descends which heals and revives, emblem of the blessed work of the Holy Spirit.
Psalms 72:7. Till the moon be no more (R.V.).
Psalms 72:8. The river The Euphrates (Exodus 23:31; Deuteronomy 11:24).
Psalms 72:10. The kings of Seba shall offer gifts Tarshish, on the far West, by the Straits of Gibraltar; Sheba and Seba, nations in South Arabia famed for their wealth. “The most uncivilized–the most distant–the most opulent–shall pay homage to Christ.”
Psalms 72:11. All kings shall serve Him Kings of wealth and thought, music and art have already acknowledged Him, and shall (Revelation 19:16).
Psalms 72:12. The needy when he crieth Our needs are arguments and reasons with Christ. Psalms 72:15. Prayer for Him continually “Men shall pray for Him continually: they shall bless Him all the day long” (R.V.). “We pray for Christ,” says Augustine, “when we pray for the Church of Christ, because it is his body.” We pray for Him when we say, “Thy kingdom come!” Though Christ is King of the poor, He shall have abundance of gold.
Psalms 72:16. An handful of corn in the earth Though there be but a handful, yet such shall be the marvellous increase that the slopes of the mountains shall wave with corn as Lebanon with cedars. As there is abundant produce in the country, there shall be vast populations in the city, numerous as blades of grass.
Psalms 72:17. His name shall have issue (R.V., marg.) It shall reproduce itself. The Gospel of the name of Jesus begets children in every nation enlightened by the sun. Well for us if we claim those blessings which are in Him for us (Ephesians 1:3).
Psalms 72:18-20. Blessed be the Lord God! This doxology reminds us of Psa 41:13, where the first book is closed. It is a sublime aspiration in which we who see the beginnings of this beneficent reign may well unite.
Psalms 72:12-20
“ His Name Shall Endure for Ever” Psalms 72:12-20 How is it that lands so distant as Tarshish, by the Strait of Gibraltar; so rich as Sheba and Seba in south Arabia; tribes so wild as the Bedouin of the desert; and nations so imperial as those beyond the River, shall own the sway of Christ? The answer is given in Psalms 72:12 -For! The world is full of sorrow and injustice, and He who can stanch flowing wounds and mete out justice to the oppressed, will win all hearts and become the acknowledged Leader of mankind. He shall live! We cannot forget our Lord’ s own words: “ I am He that liveth and was dead, and behold I am alive for evermore,” Revelation 1:18. Jesus is possessed of the ageless life of the eternal Word, of the human life which He bore through His sojourn on earth, and of that indissoluble life in virtue of which He exercises His priesthood, Hebrews 7:17, r.v. margin. “ We pray for Christ,” says; Augustine, “ when we pray for His Church, because it is His body; and when we say, ‘ Thy kingdom come.’” His name shall have issue, Psalms 72:17, r.v., margin. It will reproduce itself. The children of “ the Name” are found in every land, and will ultimately people the world. For Review Questions, see the e-Sword Book Comments.
The coming King Critics insist that for in the inscription should be of. Therefore this glorious Messianic Psalm was composed by Solomon. A conclusion which is not contradicted by Psalms 72:20, which was evidently appended (with the Doxology) by those who divided the Psalter into books, the second of which closes with this glowing description of the Lord’s Anointed and his reign. Behold the kingdom of heaven which is already set up and shall come yet more and more!
Psalms 72:1. Give the King thy judgments This reminds us of 1 Kings 3:9-28. In all judging and advising we need to catch sight of that which is in God’s mind and to reproduce it. This is what the Holy Spirit did for our Lord and will do for us (Isaiah 11:2-4). How instantly this petition was answered! (see the next verse).
Psalms 72:3. Peace to the people Peace as the result of righteousness (Isaiah 32:17; Hebrews 7:2). It was and still is common in the East to announce great events from the tops of the mountains (Isaiah 40:9).
Psalms 72:4-5. He shall judge the poor Compassion for the poor makes the throne endure. But how infinitely true this is of our Lord, to whom so many of these expressions must apply! (Revelation 5:9).
Psalms 72:6. Like rain upon the mown grass The mown grass is that which is shorn. On the shorn blades, suffering still from the scythe, that gentle rain descends which heals and revives, emblem of the blessed work of the Holy Spirit.
Psalms 72:7. Till the moon be no more (R.V.).
Psalms 72:8. The river The Euphrates (Exodus 23:31; Deuteronomy 11:24).
Psalms 72:10. The kings of Seba shall offer gifts Tarshish, on the far West, by the Straits of Gibraltar; Sheba and Seba, nations in South Arabia famed for their wealth. “The most uncivilized–the most distant–the most opulent–shall pay homage to Christ.”
Psalms 72:11. All kings shall serve Him Kings of wealth and thought, music and art have already acknowledged Him, and shall (Revelation 19:16).
Psalms 72:12. The needy when he crieth Our needs are arguments and reasons with Christ. Psalms 72:15. Prayer for Him continually “Men shall pray for Him continually: they shall bless Him all the day long” (R.V.). “We pray for Christ,” says Augustine, “when we pray for the Church of Christ, because it is his body.” We pray for Him when we say, “Thy kingdom come!” Though Christ is King of the poor, He shall have abundance of gold.
Psalms 72:16. An handful of corn in the earth Though there be but a handful, yet such shall be the marvellous increase that the slopes of the mountains shall wave with corn as Lebanon with cedars. As there is abundant produce in the country, there shall be vast populations in the city, numerous as blades of grass.
Psalms 72:17. His name shall have issue (R.V., marg.) It shall reproduce itself. The Gospel of the name of Jesus begets children in every nation enlightened by the sun. Well for us if we claim those blessings which are in Him for us (Ephesians 1:3).
Psalms 72:18-20. Blessed be the Lord God! This doxology reminds us of Psa 41:13, where the first book is closed. It is a sublime aspiration in which we who see the beginnings of this beneficent reign may well unite.