Psalms 72 Study Notes: A Prayer for the Righteous King
A royal psalm headed as Solomon's asks God to give the king His justice so that he defends the poor and rules well. It prays for a long, fruitful reign honored by distant kings and blessing all nations, then closes by praising God and noting the end of David's prayers.
General
True or False: Psalm 72 prays that rulers from far-off places such as Tarshish, Sheba, and Seba would bring the king tribute and gifts.
Answer: True
This is true. The psalm asks that the king's rule stretch from one sea to another and from the great river outward across the world, that desert peoples bow low to him, and that rulers from Tarshish, the far coastlands, Sheba, and Seba bring tribute and gifts, until every ruler and people submits to him (72:8-11). In Solomon's day these prayers saw a real measure of fulfillment: his rule reached the Euphrates and surrounding kingdoms paid him tribute (1 Kings 4:21), Sheba's queen arrived with gold and spices (1 Kings 10:1-2), and visitors from everywhere came to hear his wisdom, bringing presents year after year (1 Kings 10:24-25).
- Psalm 72:8-11 (BSB)“May he rule from sea to sea, and from the Euphrates to the ends of the earth. May the nomads bow before him, and his enemies lick the dust. May the kings of Tarshish and distant shores bring tribute; may the kings of Sheba and Seba offer gifts. May all kings bow down to him and all nations serve him.”The psalm prays that the king's rule would reach far and that kings of distant lands would bring him gifts.
- 1 Kings 4:21 (BSB)“And Solomon reigned over all the kingdoms from the Euphrates to the land of the Philistines, as far as the border of Egypt. These kingdoms offered tribute and served Solomon all the days of his life.”Solomon's rule reached to the Euphrates, and the kingdoms around him paid tribute.
- 1 Kings 10:1-2 (BSB)“Now when the queen of Sheba heard about the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the LORD, she came to test him with difficult questions. She arrived in Jerusalem with a very large caravan—with camels bearing spices, gold in great abundance, and precious stones. And she came to Solomon and spoke to him all that was on her mind.”The queen of Sheba came to Solomon with gold, spices, and precious stones.
- 1 Kings 10:24-25 (BSB)“The whole world sought an audience with Solomon to hear the wisdom that God had put in his heart. Year after year, each visitor would bring his tribute: articles of silver and gold, clothing, weapons, spices, horses, and mules.”Visitors from the whole world came to hear Solomon and brought tribute year after year.
Theological
True or False: 72:8-11 asks that rulers from Tarshish, Sheba, and Seba would bring the king tribute and gifts.
Answer: True
This is true. The petitions of 72:8-11 extend the king's dominion from one sea to another and from the great river across the world, with rulers of Tarshish, the coastlands, Sheba, and Seba rendering tribute and every people serving him. The Solomonic narrative records a partial realization: dominion to the Euphrates with tribute from subject kingdoms (1 Kings 4:21), the visit of Sheba's queen with gold and spices (1 Kings 10:1-2), and yearly tribute from visitors drawn by his God-given wisdom (1 Kings 10:24-25).
- Psalm 72:8-11 (BSB)“May he rule from sea to sea, and from the Euphrates to the ends of the earth. May the nomads bow before him, and his enemies lick the dust. May the kings of Tarshish and distant shores bring tribute; may the kings of Sheba and Seba offer gifts. May all kings bow down to him and all nations serve him.”The psalm prays that the king's rule would reach far and that kings of distant lands would bring him gifts.
- 1 Kings 4:21 (BSB)“And Solomon reigned over all the kingdoms from the Euphrates to the land of the Philistines, as far as the border of Egypt. These kingdoms offered tribute and served Solomon all the days of his life.”Solomon's rule reached to the Euphrates, and the kingdoms around him paid tribute.
- 1 Kings 10:1-2 (BSB)“Now when the queen of Sheba heard about the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the LORD, she came to test him with difficult questions. She arrived in Jerusalem with a very large caravan—with camels bearing spices, gold in great abundance, and precious stones. And she came to Solomon and spoke to him all that was on her mind.”The queen of Sheba came to Solomon with gold, spices, and precious stones.
- 1 Kings 10:24-25 (BSB)“The whole world sought an audience with Solomon to hear the wisdom that God had put in his heart. Year after year, each visitor would bring his tribute: articles of silver and gold, clothing, weapons, spices, horses, and mules.”Visitors from the whole world came to hear Solomon and brought tribute year after year.
General
After many prayers for the king, whom does the closing blessing in 72:18-19 praise?
Answer: The LORD, Israel's God, the only worker of wonders
The psalm has prayed for the king throughout, but it ends by blessing Israel's God as the only one who works wonders, and by praying that His name be praised forever and His glory cover the whole world (72:18-19). Whatever good the king may do, the glory belongs to God. The double amen closes the section, much as an earlier psalm ends with a similar blessing of Israel's God and a double amen (Psalm 41:13). The hope of God's glory covering the world appears elsewhere as well: God swears by it in Numbers 14:21, and Habakkuk looks forward to a world that knows His glory as fully as water covers the seabed (Habakkuk 2:14).
- Psalm 72:18-19 (BSB)“Blessed be the LORD God, the God of Israel, who alone does marvelous deeds. And blessed be His glorious name forever; may all the earth be filled with His glory. Amen and amen.”The psalm closes by blessing the LORD, the God of Israel, and praying that His glory fill the earth.
- Psalm 41:13 (BSB)“Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Amen and Amen.”An earlier psalm closes with a similar blessing of the LORD, the God of Israel, and a double amen.
- Numbers 14:21 (BSB)““Yet as surely as I live and as surely as the whole earth is filled with the glory of the LORD,”God swears by the whole earth being filled with His glory.
- Habakkuk 2:14 (BSB)“For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.”The prophet looks for the earth to be filled with knowledge of the LORD's glory.
Theological
To whom is the closing doxology of 72:18-19 directed?
Answer: The LORD, Israel's God, the only worker of wonders
The doxology turns from the king to Israel's God as the sole worker of wonders, blessing His name forever and praying that His glory cover the whole world, sealed with a double amen (72:18-19). The king's righteous rule is ultimately a display of God's glory, not the king's. The form resembles the doxology ending Psalm 41 (Psalm 41:13), and the hope of a glory-covered world echoes God's oath in Numbers 14:21 and Habakkuk's vision (Habakkuk 2:14).
- Psalm 72:18-19 (BSB)“Blessed be the LORD God, the God of Israel, who alone does marvelous deeds. And blessed be His glorious name forever; may all the earth be filled with His glory. Amen and amen.”The psalm closes by blessing the LORD, the God of Israel, and praying that His glory fill the earth.
- Psalm 41:13 (BSB)“Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Amen and Amen.”An earlier psalm closes with a similar blessing of the LORD, the God of Israel, and a double amen.
- Numbers 14:21 (BSB)““Yet as surely as I live and as surely as the whole earth is filled with the glory of the LORD,”God swears by the whole earth being filled with His glory.
- Habakkuk 2:14 (BSB)“For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.”The prophet looks for the earth to be filled with knowledge of the LORD's glory.
General
In 72:12-14, what reason is given for the king's worldwide honor described just before it?
Answer: He rescues the poor and oppressed who lack a defender
After praying that every ruler and people would submit to him (72:11), the psalm gives the reason with the word for: the king rescues the needy when they call to him, along with the suffering who have nobody else on their side (72:12). He shows compassion to the weak, saves their lives, and frees them from cruelty, because he values their lives highly (72:13-14). The honor of this king rests on his care for the powerless. God praised a king of Judah for defending the poor, saying that such care showed true knowledge of Him (Jeremiah 22:15-16). Proverbs likewise charges a ruler to speak up for the voiceless (Proverbs 31:8-9), and Isaiah describes the promised King from Jesse's family ruling the lowly with fairness (Isaiah 11:4).
- Psalm 72:12-14 (BSB)“For he will deliver the needy who cry out and the afflicted who have no helper. He will take pity on the poor and needy and save the lives of the oppressed. He will redeem them from oppression and violence, for their blood is precious in his sight.”The reason the nations will bow: the king rescues the poor and oppressed, whose lives he counts precious.
- Jeremiah 22:15-16 (BSB)“Does it make you a king to excel in cedar? Did not your father have food and drink? He administered justice and righteousness, and so it went well with him. He took up the cause of the poor and needy, and so it went well with him. Is this not what it means to know Me?” declares the LORD.”God commends a king who defended the poor and calls this knowing Him.
- Proverbs 31:8-9 (BSB)“Open your mouth for those with no voice, for the cause of all the dispossessed. Open your mouth, judge righteously, and defend the cause of the poor and needy.”A king is told to speak up for those with no voice and defend the poor.
- Isaiah 11:4 (BSB)“but with righteousness He will judge the poor, and with equity He will decide for the lowly of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of His mouth and slay the wicked with the breath of His lips.”The coming ruler from Jesse's line is described judging the poor with righteousness.
Theological
What ground does 72:12-14 give for the universal submission to the king prayed for in 72:11?
Answer: He rescues the poor and oppressed who lack a defender
The for at the start of 72:12 grounds the nations' homage (72:11) in the king's righteous care: he answers when the needy and defenseless cry out, shows compassion to the weak, and rescues them from cruelty, because he values their lives highly (72:12-14). True kingship is measured by justice for the powerless. Jeremiah's commendation of Josiah's defense of the needy as the very knowledge of the LORD (Jeremiah 22:15-16), the royal charge of Proverbs 31:8-9, and Isaiah's portrait of the shoot of Jesse ruling the lowly with equity (Isaiah 11:4) all share this ideal.
- Psalm 72:12-14 (BSB)“For he will deliver the needy who cry out and the afflicted who have no helper. He will take pity on the poor and needy and save the lives of the oppressed. He will redeem them from oppression and violence, for their blood is precious in his sight.”The reason the nations will bow: the king rescues the poor and oppressed, whose lives he counts precious.
- Jeremiah 22:15-16 (BSB)“Does it make you a king to excel in cedar? Did not your father have food and drink? He administered justice and righteousness, and so it went well with him. He took up the cause of the poor and needy, and so it went well with him. Is this not what it means to know Me?” declares the LORD.”God commends a king who defended the poor and calls this knowing Him.
- Proverbs 31:8-9 (BSB)“Open your mouth for those with no voice, for the cause of all the dispossessed. Open your mouth, judge righteously, and defend the cause of the poor and needy.”A king is told to speak up for those with no voice and defend the poor.
- Isaiah 11:4 (BSB)“but with righteousness He will judge the poor, and with equity He will decide for the lowly of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of His mouth and slay the wicked with the breath of His lips.”The coming ruler from Jesse's line is described judging the poor with righteousness.
General
Many readers have heard in 72:17, the prayer that every people find blessing in the king, an echo of which earlier promise?
Answer: God's promise to Abraham to bless every people through his offspring
The psalm asks that the king's name never fade and that every people find blessing in him and call him happy (72:17). Many readers have heard in this line an echo of God's promise to Abraham that through his offspring every people on earth would receive blessing (Genesis 22:18), since both speak of blessing reaching all peoples. Paul says that promise to Abraham was the gospel announced in advance, pointing to God declaring Gentiles righteous through faith (Galatians 3:8), and he identifies the promised offspring as Christ (Galatians 3:16). For this reason many Christians have seen the psalm's hope of worldwide blessing through the king most fully met in Jesus, the Son of David.
- Psalm 72:17 (BSB)“May his name endure forever; may his name continue as long as the sun shines. In him may all nations be blessed; may they call him blessed.”The psalm prays that the king's name would endure and that all nations would be blessed in him.
- Genesis 22:18 (BSB)“And through your offspring all nations of the earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.””God promised Abraham that all nations would be blessed through his offspring.
- Galatians 3:8 (BSB)“The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and foretold the gospel to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you.””Paul says this promise to Abraham announced the gospel ahead of time: the Gentiles justified by faith.
- Galatians 3:16 (BSB)“The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. The Scripture does not say, “and to seeds,” meaning many, but “and to your seed,” meaning One, who is Christ.”Paul identifies the promised offspring of Abraham as Christ.
Theological
Which earlier covenant promise have many readers heard echoed in the petition of 72:17, that every people find blessing in the king?
Answer: God's promise to Abraham to bless every people through his offspring
72:17 prays that the king's name never fade and that every people find blessing in him. Many interpreters have heard here an echo of the Abrahamic promise of blessing for every people through his offspring (Genesis 22:18), given the shared hope of blessing for all peoples. Paul reads that promise as the gospel preached beforehand, God justifying Gentiles through faith (Galatians 3:8), and identifies the singular seed as Christ (Galatians 3:16). Many Christians have therefore seen the royal hope of the psalm, worldwide blessing through the king, most fully realized in Christ.
- Psalm 72:17 (BSB)“May his name endure forever; may his name continue as long as the sun shines. In him may all nations be blessed; may they call him blessed.”The psalm prays that the king's name would endure and that all nations would be blessed in him.
- Genesis 22:18 (BSB)“And through your offspring all nations of the earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.””God promised Abraham that all nations would be blessed through his offspring.
- Galatians 3:8 (BSB)“The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and foretold the gospel to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you.””Paul says this promise to Abraham announced the gospel ahead of time: the Gentiles justified by faith.
- Galatians 3:16 (BSB)“The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. The Scripture does not say, “and to seeds,” meaning many, but “and to your seed,” meaning One, who is Christ.”Paul identifies the promised offspring of Abraham as Christ.
General
Psalm 72 is headed Of Solomon. What does its opening request ask God to give the king and the king's son?
Answer: God's own justice and righteousness for ruling
The psalm opens by asking God to equip the king, and the king's son, with God's own justice and righteousness (72:1), so that he will govern God's people rightly and treat the poor and suffering fairly (72:2). The first concern of the prayer is not the king's power or riches but that he would rule the way God rules. This matches what Solomon asked for at the start of his reign: a heart able to discern right from wrong as he governed God's people (1 Kings 3:9). When Israel saw how he decided a hard case, they understood that his wisdom came from God (1 Kings 3:28).
- Psalm 72:1-2 (BSB)“Of Solomon. Endow the king with Your justice, O God, and the son of the king with Your righteousness. May he judge Your people with righteousness and Your afflicted with justice.”The psalm, headed Of Solomon, opens by asking God to give the king and the king's son His own justice and righteousness.
- 1 Kings 3:9 (BSB)“Therefore give Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people and to discern between good and evil. For who is able to govern this great people of Yours?””Solomon himself asked God for a discerning heart so that he could govern God's people rightly.
- 1 Kings 3:28 (BSB)“When all Israel heard of the judgment the king had given, they stood in awe of him, for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him to administer justice.”Israel recognized that Solomon's skill in deciding cases came from God.
Theological
What is the first thing Psalm 72 (Of Solomon) asks God to grant the king and the royal son?
Answer: God's own justice and righteousness for ruling
The psalm's opening petition is that God would endow the king and the royal son with His own justice and righteousness (72:1), issuing in right government of God's people and fair treatment of the lowly (72:2). The king's rule is to reflect God's character; good government is a gift from above, not a human achievement. Solomon's own request for a discerning heart to govern God's people (1 Kings 3:9) expresses the same dependence, and Israel's awe at his verdict recognized divine wisdom at work in him (1 Kings 3:28).
- Psalm 72:1-2 (BSB)“Of Solomon. Endow the king with Your justice, O God, and the son of the king with Your righteousness. May he judge Your people with righteousness and Your afflicted with justice.”The psalm, headed Of Solomon, opens by asking God to give the king and the king's son His own justice and righteousness.
- 1 Kings 3:9 (BSB)“Therefore give Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people and to discern between good and evil. For who is able to govern this great people of Yours?””Solomon himself asked God for a discerning heart so that he could govern God's people rightly.
- 1 Kings 3:28 (BSB)“When all Israel heard of the judgment the king had given, they stood in awe of him, for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him to administer justice.”Israel recognized that Solomon's skill in deciding cases came from God.
General
True or False: Psalm 72 ends with a note saying that David's prayers are concluded at this point.
Answer: True
This is true. After the closing blessing, 72:20 adds a brief note that David's prayers end here, naming him as David, Jesse's son. David is introduced the same way in his last words, where he is also remembered as Israel's beloved singer of psalms (2 Samuel 23:1). The note follows a psalm headed Of Solomon that prays for the king and the king's son, and Solomon was the son who took his father David's throne (1 Kings 2:12).
- Psalm 72:20 (BSB)“Thus conclude the prayers of David son of Jesse.”A closing note marks the end of the prayers of David son of Jesse.
- 2 Samuel 23:1 (BSB)“These are the last words of David: “The oracle of David son of Jesse, the oracle of the man raised on high, the one anointed by the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel:”David son of Jesse is called the sweet psalmist of Israel.
- 1 Kings 2:12 (BSB)“So Solomon sat on the throne of his father David, and his kingdom was firmly established.”Solomon succeeded his father David as king.
Theological
True or False: 72:20 states that David's prayers are concluded at this point.
Answer: True
This is true. Following the doxology, 72:20 states that David's prayers are concluded, identifying him as Jesse's son. The same designation introduces David's last words, where he is honored as Israel's beloved psalm-singer (2 Samuel 23:1). The note stands after a royal prayer headed Of Solomon, the son who succeeded David on his throne (1 Kings 2:12).
- Psalm 72:20 (BSB)“Thus conclude the prayers of David son of Jesse.”A closing note marks the end of the prayers of David son of Jesse.
- 2 Samuel 23:1 (BSB)“These are the last words of David: “The oracle of David son of Jesse, the oracle of the man raised on high, the one anointed by the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel:”David son of Jesse is called the sweet psalmist of Israel.
- 1 Kings 2:12 (BSB)“So Solomon sat on the throne of his father David, and his kingdom was firmly established.”Solomon succeeded his father David as king.
General
In 72:6-7 the king is compared to rain on a mown field. What does the psalm link to this picture?
Answer: Godly people thriving and well-being abounding in his reign
Rain on newly mown grass makes it spring up again, and spring showers water the whole land (72:6). The psalm ties the picture directly to its meaning: may godly people thrive during his reign and well-being overflow for ages to come (72:7). A just king refreshes his people the way rain renews a field. David used a similar picture in his last words, comparing a just and God-fearing ruler to morning sunlight shining on wet, sprouting grass (2 Samuel 23:3-4), and Proverbs says a king's favor resembles a spring rain cloud (Proverbs 16:15).
- Psalm 72:6-7 (BSB)“May he be like rain that falls on freshly cut grass, like spring showers that water the earth. May the righteous flourish in his days and prosperity abound until the moon is no more.”The king's reign is pictured as rain on mown grass, under which the righteous flourish.
- 2 Samuel 23:3-4 (BSB)“The God of Israel spoke; the Rock of Israel said to me, ‘He who rules the people with justice, who rules in the fear of God, is like the light of the morning at sunrise of a cloudless dawn, the glistening after the rain on the sprouting grass of the earth.’”David's last words compare a just ruler to sunlight after rain on sprouting grass.
- Proverbs 16:15 (BSB)“When a king’s face brightens, there is life; his favor is like a rain cloud in spring.”A king's favor is likened to a spring rain cloud that brings life.
Theological
What does 72:7 connect to the image of the king as rain on mown grass in 72:6?
Answer: Godly people thriving and well-being abounding in his reign
The simile of rain on mown grass and showers watering the ground (72:6) is interpreted by the next line: the godly thrive under his rule and well-being overflows for ages (72:7). Just rule is life-giving; it renews the community. The same imagery appears in David's final oracle, where a just, God-fearing ruler is like dawn light on rain-soaked new growth (2 Samuel 23:3-4), and in the proverb comparing a king's favor to a spring rain cloud (Proverbs 16:15).
- Psalm 72:6-7 (BSB)“May he be like rain that falls on freshly cut grass, like spring showers that water the earth. May the righteous flourish in his days and prosperity abound until the moon is no more.”The king's reign is pictured as rain on mown grass, under which the righteous flourish.
- 2 Samuel 23:3-4 (BSB)“The God of Israel spoke; the Rock of Israel said to me, ‘He who rules the people with justice, who rules in the fear of God, is like the light of the morning at sunrise of a cloudless dawn, the glistening after the rain on the sprouting grass of the earth.’”David's last words compare a just ruler to sunlight after rain on sprouting grass.
- Proverbs 16:15 (BSB)“When a king’s face brightens, there is life; his favor is like a rain cloud in spring.”A king's favor is likened to a spring rain cloud that brings life.
General
True or False: Some requests in Psalm 72 reach beyond what any single human king could fulfill, such as honor lasting while sun and moon remain in the sky.
Answer: True
This is true. The psalm is a prayer for the king of David's line, and it is headed Of Solomon. Yet some of its requests stretch past any one reign: that people revere him in every generation while sun and moon remain (72:5), and that his name never fade (72:17). No ordinary king lives that long. For this reason many Christians have seen the psalm's fullest meaning in Jesus Christ, the Son of David. The angel told Mary that God would seat Jesus on David's throne and that His reign would be endless (Luke 1:32-33), and Isaiah foretold an heir on David's throne who would rule in justice and righteousness without end (Isaiah 9:7).
- Psalm 72:5 (BSB)“May they fear him as long as the sun shines, as long as the moon remains, through all generations.”People are to fear the king through every generation, while sun and moon last.
- Psalm 72:17 (BSB)“May his name endure forever; may his name continue as long as the sun shines. In him may all nations be blessed; may they call him blessed.”His name is to endure as long as the sun shines.
- Luke 1:32-33 (BSB)“He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David, and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever. His kingdom will never end!””The angel promises Jesus the throne of David and a kingdom without end.
- Isaiah 9:7 (BSB)“Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish and sustain it with justice and righteousness from that time and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of Hosts will accomplish this.”The promised son of David will reign with justice and righteousness forever.
Theological
True or False: Psalm 72 includes petitions that exceed the span of any one human reign, such as honor lasting while sun and moon endure.
Answer: True
This is true. Though the psalm concerns the Davidic king and bears the heading Of Solomon, petitions such as reverence for the king in every generation while sun and moon endure (72:5) and a name that never fades (72:17) outrun any single reign. Many Christians have therefore seen its fullest meaning in Christ, the Son of David, to whom the angel promised David's throne and an endless kingdom (Luke 1:32-33), in line with Isaiah's promise of an everlasting Davidic reign of justice and righteousness (Isaiah 9:7).
- Psalm 72:5 (BSB)“May they fear him as long as the sun shines, as long as the moon remains, through all generations.”People are to fear the king through every generation, while sun and moon last.
- Psalm 72:17 (BSB)“May his name endure forever; may his name continue as long as the sun shines. In him may all nations be blessed; may they call him blessed.”His name is to endure as long as the sun shines.
- Luke 1:32-33 (BSB)“He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David, and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever. His kingdom will never end!””The angel promises Jesus the throne of David and a kingdom without end.
- Isaiah 9:7 (BSB)“Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish and sustain it with justice and righteousness from that time and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of Hosts will accomplish this.”The promised son of David will reign with justice and righteousness forever.