Bible Study - Thoughts on Psalm 72

As I have mentioned already,  Epiphany is a day to remember the coming of the wise men to find the promised “King of the Jews.” It is likely that knowledge of several Old Testament Scriptures caused them to come looking for this King. One of those Scriptures is Psalm 72, a psalm “of Solomon.” This phrase can mean that this was a psalm written by King Solomon or a descriptive prayer on behalf of him as king, possibly by King David. Either way, this psalm goes far beyond what Solomon could ever do, and points to the coming Savior, our Lord Jesus, and His “everlasting kingdom.”

Verse 1 asks God to give “righteousness and justice” to His “royal son.” That is a wish for David and Solomon and all kings to follow in their line, but is ultimately fulfilled perfectly only as God’s own Son, Jesus, came into the world. Verses 2-4 indicate that this promised Son would deal justly with “the poor” and “defend their cause” and “deliver children of the needy” and speak against their “oppressors.” The same concern is expressed in verses 12-14 for the needy and the “weak” and “him who has no helper.”

Think of how Jesus welcomed little children and people with all kinds of needs. Terms are also used of “saving and redeeming their lives” because they are “precious in His sight.” This indicates the care, no matter who people are, for their physical lives, but also for their spiritual lives. Jesus is called the Savior and Redeemer, who shed His own blood so that all in the world could be forgiven and helped. Think of how the Sermon on the Mount begins in Matthew 5:3ff. Blessed are the spiritually poor, who know it and mourn over their sins and are meek before the Lord and hunger for God’s righteousness and mercy for them. Jesus gives such mercy and forgiveness.

This King can provide things that no earthly king can give, too: “rain and showers that water the earth” (Psalm 72, v. 6); “abundance of grain and fruit” and “people blossoming, even in cities,” “like grass in the field,” (v.16). (See again more words from the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5:43-46, calling us to love others, even our enemies, “as we are sons of our Heavenly Father, who makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.” Jesus, as God the Son, helps with all of this, too.

This King, Jesus, is also to be “feared,” honored, and respected “throughout all generations, as long as the sun and moon endure” (Psalm 72:5). His is an everlasting Kingdom, and “Blessed be His glorious Name forever” (v.19). In this world, “All kings should fall down before Him,” and “all nations serve Him” and “bring Him gifts,” including “gold” (v. 10, 11, 15). This is what began to happen when the wise men came to the child Jesus and “fell down and worshiped Him and gave Him gifts” (Matthew 2:11). Think of how many more people are now “blessed in Him” and “call Him blessed,” all over the earth (Psalm 72:17). They trust in Him as Lord and Savior and know that “He alone has done wondrous things” that rescue us eternally (v.18).

Obviously, people in this world can also resist and reject Jesus or totally misunderstand Him and His mission. Did you notice v. 8 of Psalm 72? We hear a version of this today, as some say “From the River to the sea, our people should be free.” And fighting and troubles continue, without peace. Only the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, our Lord Jesus, can settle all this when He returns on the last day. He will have dominion forever, in whatever our new eternal heavenly home will be. (See the promise in Philippians 2:9-11. The name of Jesus “will endure forever” (Psalm 72:17).)