Psalm 72 - David Prays for Solomon

“We see on the shore of time the wrecks of the Caesars, the relics of the Moguls, and the last remnants of the Ottomans, Charlemagne, Maximillian, Napoleon, how they flit like shadows before us! They were and are not; but Jesus forever is.” Charles H.Spurgeon

In this Psalm we see two mountain peaks, one looks smaller and in a great distance and the one that looks larger is the one in front of us the one we can see more clearly. In this Psalm a picture of two Kings, Solomon and the Messiah. The Messiah is the one that we see in the distance. Solomon is the one that is in the spotlight as the new King of Israel at his time of coronation.

Solomon him self never did fulfill the promise of this psalm; only one Person could ever do that He who said, “One greater than Solomon is here.” Matt 12:47 It is a Messianic Psalm in that only Jesus reign as the King. Solomon was only a shadow of the King that would reign.

It is either a Psalm of David for his son or the prayer of Solomon at his time of coronation. 1 Kings 3:9 Give me an understanding heart so that I can govern Your people well and know the difference between right and wrong. For who by himself is able to govern this great people of Yours?"

In Zechariah 9, listen to this language:

“Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, you king is coming to you; He is just and endowed with salvation, Humble, and mounted on a donkey, Even on a colt, the foal of a donkey. I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem; and the bow will be cut off. And He will speak peace to the nations; and His dominion will be from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth. As for you also, because of the blood of My covenant with you, I have set your prisoners free from the waterless pit. Return to the stronghold, O prisoners who have the hope; this very day I am declaring that I will restore double to you. For I will bend Judah as My bow, I will fill the bow with Ephraim. And I will stir up your sons, O Zion, against your sons, O Greece; and I will make you like a warrior’s sword.”

Now, you will see some of those same images for the King pictured in Psalm 72. He is going to be righteous, and yet He is going to be compassionate towards those who are oppressed. He is going to destroy the oppressor, and at the same time He is going to make the land of God’s people bountiful and peaceful. And in Matthew, we are told that Jesus is the fulfillment of this prophecy.

Isaiah 11:1

“Then a shoot will spring from the stem of Jesse, and a branch from his roots will bear fruit. And the Spirit of the Lord will rest on Him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and strength, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. And He will delight in the fear of the Lord, and He will not judge by what His eyes see, nor make a decision by what His ears hear; but with righteousness He will judge the poor, and decide with fairness for the afflicted of the earth; and He will strike the earth with the rod of His mouth, and with the breath of His lips He will slay the wicked. Also righteousness will be the belt about His loins, and faithfulness the belt about His waist.”

What is God’s ideal king like? What are his attributes? What are his qualities? What marks his character? What’s his reign like; if he is reigning, what will his rule look like? That’s what this psalm is about. It’s one thing to be crowned King and another to have the thoughts and desires of a King.

Give this earthy King Your attributes

V1 You give …O God

V2 You help me judge and may righteousness/righteous decisions be a part of who I am.

V3 You shower the mountains, farm lands, valley with all they need to produce for your people. Let them bring forth the fruit that is needed.

V4 You help me to help those who can’t help themselves by prosecuting their oppressors.

Solomon started out right and ended using people for his own good and pleasure.

vv 5-20 The Psalmist talks about the Kingdom to come. When Jesus will reign

5-7 It is a permanent Kingdom. As long as the sun and moon remain in the sky

6-In the Spring, the fields lie barren, they hay has been gathered and then God sends the rain, the roots are waiting for the refreshing rain to bring new life.

7-Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people. Prov 14:34. The godly will flourish during His reign until the time when satan will be loosed before being cast into the lake of fire.

8-11Christ’s reign will be flourish until the END of time

· 8-His dominion will be from sea to sea, from the Euphrates River to the ends of the earth. Dominion will no longer be man’s as it was given to Adam, it is now given to the King of Kings.

· 9-all will be subject to His authority

· 10-As the Queen of Sheba came to Solomon, she left totally amazed. The same will be true in the Millennial reign.

· 11-ALL kings will bow before Him and ALL nations will serve Him

12- The attributes of His Reign

· Fair and honest

· Compassionate

· Invested in His people

· Their protector and warrior

15- The Loyalty of His people

· Devoted

· Honor

· Pray for him

· Seek what is best for Him

16-17 The Hope of the people

· Abundance of crops from the plains to the mountains

· Hope in their King and their life in Him forever, as long as the sun shines.

· Blessings from Him and by Him

· Praises to Him

“Blessed be the LORD God, the God of Israel, Who only does wondrous things! And blessed be His glorious name forever! And let the whole earth be filled with His glory. Amen and Amen.” Psalm 72:18-19

The Doxology, the close of the Second Book of the Psalms..

20-and this ends the prayers of David son of Jesse. What more could he ask? He has climbed the summit of the mount of God; he desires nothing more. Jesus Christ Himself is earth’s greatest blessing.