Psalms 72
Summary for Ps 72:1-20: Ps 72 a This royal psalm closes Book Two, with 72:18-20 b functioning as an epilogue to all of Book Two. The psalmist reflects on the prospects of David’s royal line and on Zion (see Pss 46 c, 48 d). He prays that Israel’s kings will be good and prosperous, extending the Lord’s blessing on his people throughout the whole earth. The surpassing righteousness and dominion sought in this prayer foreshadow the coming of Jesus, the Son of David.Summary for Ps 72:1-7: 72:1-7 e The blessings of justice create a balance in nature, resulting in harmony, prosperity, and fertility. 72:1 f love of justice ... righteousness: Kings in the ancient Near East were expected to represent justice; the standard for Israel’s kings was much higher because the Lord was their model.
72:3 g The administration of justice transforms the earth into fruitfulness, abundance, harmony, and goodness (see Isa 32:16-17 h).
72:4 i A just ruler will defend the poor against injustice, rescue them from violence, and bring their oppressors to account for their wrongdoing.
72:5 j May they fear you: In Hebrew, this clause seems to be a response to the enforcement of justice. The Greek version reads May they endure, which makes this a prayer for longevity (21:4 k; 72:15 l, 17 m).
Summary for Ps 72:6-7: 72:6-7 n The administration of justice is refreshing like spring rain, enabling the godly to flourish (see Isa 45:8 o) like flowers.
• until the moon is no more: This phrase means forever (see Ps 89:36-37 p).
Summary for Ps 72:8-11: 72:8-11 q The anointed king will rule over the whole world. Even hostile nations will submit to him. In the ancient Near East, bearing gifts to the king acknowledged his success and his reputation (see 1 Kgs 10 r).
Summary for Ps 72:8-9: 72:8-9 s from sea to sea: This phrase represents the whole world.
• Solomon’s kingdom extended from the Euphrates River in the east to the Philistine territory in the west (1 Kgs 4:21 t; see Pss 80:8-11 u; 89:19-25 v), where the Mediterranean Sea appeared to be at the ends of the earth (see 2:8 w). Everyone will bow before this king, including the desert nomads (72:9 x), his enemies, and all the kings of the world (see Mic 7:17 y).
72:10 z The western kings of Tarshish came from a major colony in the western basin of the Mediterranean. The eastern kings of Sheba came from an area in southern Arabia, home of the queen of Sheba (1 Kgs 10 aa).
• Seba was probably located somewhere south of Egypt, perhaps on the western shore of the Red Sea across from Sheba.
• The gifts offered to the king represented a tribute and a token of submission.
72:11 ab All kings and all nations must submit to the messianic king. The hope expressed in 2:10-11 ac will be realized (see 96:1-3 ad; 1 Cor 15:25 ae) when other leaders and peoples bow before and serve this king.
Summary for Ps 72:12-14: 72:12-14 af The anointed king will rescue the needy. He is not only the judge but also a father to the poor (10:14 ag, 17 ah; 68:5 ai). 72:12 aj To rescue the poor means to bring an end to the rule of their oppressors.
72:13 ak Like a father, the king feels pity for those in need (see Mal 3:17 al).
Summary for Ps 72:15-17: 72:15-17 am The just kingdom will be long-lasting and universal. The summary combines the themes of abundance of crops, longevity, tribute of the nations, and the prayer of the nations. 72:15 an The people will bless him, fulfilling God’s promise to Abraham (Gen 12:3 ao; see Ps 133:3 ap).
72:16 aq the trees of Lebanon: Lebanon was renowned for its lumber (see study note on 2 Chr 2:8).
Summary for Ps 72:18-19: 72:18-19 ar This doxology concludes Book Two of the Psalter.
72:20 as This parenthetical note ends Book Two, which consists mostly of prayers of David. Books Three to Five were probably compiled after Book Two; they include additional psalms of David (Pss 86 at, 101 au, 103 av, 108–110 aw, 122 ax, 124 ay, 131 az, 133 ba, 138–145 bb).
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