Psalm 72
Psalm 72, The King and the King of Kings
Psalm 72 carries the title, “A Psalm for Solomon.” The wording may also be understood as a psalm of Solomon, and the most natural reading is that Solomon is either the author or the royal figure connected with the psalm. Some have understood the psalm as David’s prayer for Solomon, his son and royal successor, while others see Solomon composing it as a fitting conclusion to the second book of Psalms. The final statement, “The prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended,” appears to mark the close of Book Two of the Psalms, which runs from Psalm 42 through Psalm 72 and contains many psalms connected with David. Book Three then begins with psalms connected with Asaph.
Psalm 72 is fitting as a conclusion to this portion of the Psalter because it does not merely exalt David, nor does it merely celebrate Solomon. It lifts the reader’s eyes beyond both David and Solomon to the Messiah, the true Son of David, the King of Kings. Solomon’s reign was glorious in many ways, but it never reached the full height described in this psalm. The psalm speaks of righteousness, universal dominion, justice for the poor, peace without end, all nations serving the King, and the whole earth filled with the glory of God. These promises find their ultimate fulfillment only in the Lord Jesus Christ.
The New Testament does not directly quote Psalm 72 as a Messianic psalm, yet its language is deeply connected with the prophetic vision of the Messianic kingdom. Isaiah speaks of the righteous Branch from the line of Jesse, who will judge with righteousness and bring peace. Isaiah 11:1, “And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots.” Isaiah 11:2, “And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD.” Isaiah 11:3, “And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD, and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears.” Isaiah 11:4, “But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth, and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.” Isaiah 11:5, “And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins.” That language closely parallels Psalm 72. Therefore, while Solomon may stand in the immediate foreground, Christ stands in the ultimate fulfillment.
Psalm 72 should be read with both layers in view. It is a royal psalm, praying for the king of Israel to rule with wisdom, righteousness, justice, compassion, and peace. Yet it also rises far above Solomon. No merely human king has ever ruled from sea to sea, received the service of all nations, caused righteousness and peace to flourish until the moon is no more, or filled the whole earth with the glory of God. Those things belong to Christ alone, and they will be realized in His kingdom.
A. Prayer for a King
Psalm 72:1 through Psalm 72:4, The King’s Prayer for Wisdom
Psalm 72:1, “Give the king thy judgments, O God, and thy righteousness unto the king’s son.”
Psalm 72:2, “He shall judge thy people with righteousness, and thy poor with judgment.”
Psalm 72:3, “The mountains shall bring peace to the people, and the little hills, by righteousness.”
Psalm 72:4, “He shall judge the poor of the people, he shall save the children of the needy, and shall break in pieces the oppressor.”
Psalm 72 begins with a prayer for the king. The king asks God for “judgments” and “righteousness.” In the ancient world, the king was not merely a political figurehead. He was expected to administer justice, make judgments, defend the weak, punish the wicked, preserve order, and embody righteousness in government. Solomon’s prayer here fits closely with his request in 1 Kings 3, when he asked God for an understanding heart to judge the people rightly.
1 Kings 3:5, “In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night, and God said, Ask what I shall give thee.” 1 Kings 3:6, “And Solomon said, Thou hast shewed unto thy servant David my father great mercy, according as he walked before thee in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with thee, and thou hast kept for him this great kindness, that thou hast given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day.” 1 Kings 3:7, “And now, O LORD my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father, and I am but a little child, I know not how to go out or come in.” 1 Kings 3:8, “And thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude.” 1 Kings 3:9, “Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad, for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?”
This request shows the proper heart of a ruler. Solomon does not first ask for wealth, military success, long life, or personal glory. He asks for the ability to govern God’s people rightly. A ruler who fears God understands that authority is stewardship. He is not free to rule by appetite, pride, favoritism, or personal ambition. He must rule under God’s authority and according to God’s righteousness.
The phrase “thy judgments” means the king needs God’s standards, not merely human instinct or political calculation. The phrase “thy righteousness” means he needs a reign marked by God’s moral order. Scripture places righteousness at the center of government. Compassion matters, mercy matters, provision matters, but righteousness comes first because compassion without righteousness becomes disorder, and power without righteousness becomes tyranny.
Verse 2 says, “He shall judge thy people with righteousness, and thy poor with judgment.” The king must remember that the people belong to God. They are “thy people.” This means the ruler is accountable to God for how he treats those under his authority. The poor are mentioned specifically because they are often denied justice. Wealthy and powerful men can usually defend themselves. The poor are more easily ignored, exploited, falsely accused, or crushed. A righteous king must not allow justice to be bought, bent, or withheld.
Verse 3 says, “The mountains shall bring peace to the people, and the little hills, by righteousness.” The imagery may refer to the whole land being blessed under righteous rule. Mountains and hills are the fixed features of the land, and when the king rules with righteousness, peace flows across the land. The mountains may also picture national government, while the little hills may suggest local order. Either way, the point is that righteousness produces peace. Peace is not produced by slogans, appeasement, or weakness. Lasting peace comes through righteous rule, ordered justice, and the restraint of evil.
Verse 4 gives three marks of godly government. First, “He shall judge the poor of the people.” The poor are to receive justice. Second, “he shall save the children of the needy.” The most vulnerable are to be protected. Third, “and shall break in pieces the oppressor.” The oppressor must not merely be reasoned with while he continues crushing the weak. He must be stopped. Biblical government is not sentimental toward wickedness. It protects the innocent by restraining and punishing the violent, the corrupt, and the cruel.
This points beyond Solomon to Christ. Solomon asked for wisdom and righteousness, and in many ways he began well. Yet no earthly ruler has ever embodied perfect justice. Christ alone is the King who judges with perfect righteousness, defends the poor without corruption, saves the needy without weakness, and destroys the oppressor without error.
Psalm 72:5 through Psalm 72:7, Blessings Upon Such a Well Governed Kingdom
Psalm 72:5, “They shall fear thee as long as the sun and moon endure, throughout all generations.”
Psalm 72:6, “He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass, as showers that water the earth.”
Psalm 72:7, “In his days shall the righteous flourish, and abundance of peace so long as the moon endureth.”
The result of righteous rule is reverence toward God. Verse 5 says, “They shall fear thee as long as the sun and moon endure, throughout all generations.” The king’s righteousness is not meant to draw ultimate attention to the king himself. It is meant to lead the people to fear the Lord. A righteous ruler points beyond himself. He governs in such a way that God’s order, God’s law, God’s justice, and God’s goodness are made visible in public life.
The language “as long as the sun and moon endure” and “throughout all generations” reaches beyond Solomon’s temporary reign. Solomon reigned for a limited time. His kingdom did not last forever in its glory. Therefore, this language looks forward to the Messiah, whose kingdom endures. The prophet Daniel later speaks this way about the kingdom given to the Son of man.
Daniel 7:13, “I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.” Daniel 7:14, “And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him, his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.”
Verse 6 says, “He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass, as showers that water the earth.” This is one of the most beautiful pictures in the psalm. A righteous king is not merely a hammer against evil. He is also a source of refreshment for the people. Just as rain restores dry and cut grass, the rule of the righteous king restores the land and refreshes the people. A godly ruler does not drain the life from his people. He nourishes justice, order, peace, productivity, worship, and stability.
This imagery also points to Christ and the blessing of His coming. The prophets often use rain and water to describe divine blessing. Isaiah 44:3, “For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground, I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring.” Isaiah 55:10, “For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater.” Hosea 14:5, “I will be as the dew unto Israel, he shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon.” Hebrews 6:7, “For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God.”
Verse 7 says, “In his days shall the righteous flourish, and abundance of peace so long as the moon endureth.” Under the righteous king, the righteous flourish. This is how society should function. Wickedness should not be rewarded while righteousness is punished. Under corrupt rulers, evil men rise, honest men are crushed, and the poor suffer. Under the righteous King, justice is restored, righteousness flourishes, and peace abounds.
This was partially seen in Solomon’s reign. Israel experienced prosperity, order, and international honor. Yet Solomon’s kingdom was not the final fulfillment. The peace did not last. After Solomon, the kingdom fractured. Therefore, the full meaning belongs to Christ. Only under His reign will righteousness and peace flourish in their fullness. This also recalls Melchizedek, whose name and title point to righteousness and peace.
Hebrews 7:1, “For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him.” Hebrews 7:2, “To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all, first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace.” Hebrews 7:3, “Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life, but made like unto the Son of God, abideth a priest continually.”
Christ is the true King of righteousness and the true King of peace. His kingdom will not merely manage human disorder. It will establish righteous order.
B. The Greater King
Psalm 72:8 through Psalm 72:11, Looking to a Greater King and a Greater Reign
Psalm 72:8, “He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth.”
Psalm 72:9, “They that dwell in the wilderness shall bow before him, and his enemies shall lick the dust.”
Psalm 72:10, “The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall bring presents, the kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts.”
Psalm 72:11, “Yea, all kings shall fall down before him, all nations shall serve him.”
The psalm now rises clearly beyond Solomon. Verse 8 says, “He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth.” Under David and Solomon, Israel reached its greatest territorial extent, but even that did not fulfill the language of universal dominion. This verse looks to a King whose authority extends across seas, rivers, lands, nations, and the ends of the earth.
This fits the Messianic hope rooted in the Davidic covenant. God promised David a house, a kingdom, and a throne. The immediate fulfillment included Solomon, but the ultimate fulfillment is Christ.
2 Samuel 7:11, “And as since the time that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel, and have caused thee to rest from all thine enemies. Also the LORD telleth thee that he will make thee an house.” 2 Samuel 7:12, “And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom.” 2 Samuel 7:13, “He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever.” 2 Samuel 7:14, “I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men.” 2 Samuel 7:15, “But my mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee.” 2 Samuel 7:16, “And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee, thy throne shall be established for ever.”
Solomon fulfilled part of this promise historically, but he did not establish an everlasting kingdom. Jesus Christ, the greater Son of David, fulfills it completely. His dominion is universal, personal, and everlasting.
Verse 9 says, “They that dwell in the wilderness shall bow before him, and his enemies shall lick the dust.” The wilderness dwellers represent remote peoples and those beyond settled civilization. Even they will bow before the King. No region is outside His authority. His enemies will “lick the dust,” a phrase of total humiliation and defeat. This language connects with Genesis 3, where the serpent is cursed.
Genesis 3:14, “And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field, upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life.” Genesis 3:15, “And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed, it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.”
The enemies of the Messiah will not merely be inconvenienced. They will be defeated. Every tongue that rails against the Redeemer will be silenced. Every rebellion against the King will be brought low. The seed of the woman will crush the serpent, and all enemies of Christ will be placed beneath His feet.
Verse 10 says, “The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall bring presents, the kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts.” Tarshish was associated with distant voyages and faraway coastlands. Sheba was connected with wealth and the south, likely in the Arabian region. Seba was associated with Africa. The point is not merely geography. The point is the nations coming from afar to honor the King. This was foreshadowed in Solomon’s day when kings and rulers came to hear his wisdom and bring gifts.
1 Kings 10:23, “So king Solomon exceeded all the kings of the earth for riches and for wisdom.” 1 Kings 10:24, “And all the earth sought to Solomon, to hear his wisdom, which God had put in his heart.” 1 Kings 10:25, “And they brought every man his present, vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and garments, and armour, and spices, horses, and mules, a rate year by year.”
Yet Solomon’s glory was only a shadow. The nations will one day bring tribute to Christ Himself. Verse 11 says, “Yea, all kings shall fall down before him, all nations shall serve him.” This cannot be finally applied to Solomon. All kings did not fall down before him, and all nations did not serve him. This belongs to Christ. He is not merely the King of Israel. He is King of kings and Lord of lords.
Revelation 19:16, “And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”
Psalm 72 is not speaking of Christ ruling merely through an institution. It presents a personal King. He has dominion. Kings fall before Him. Nations serve Him. He delivers, spares, saves, lives, and is praised. This fits the literal expectation of the Messianic kingdom. Christ Himself reigns.
Psalm 72:12 through Psalm 72:14, The Compassionate Rule of Messiah the King
Psalm 72:12, “For he shall deliver the needy when he crieth, the poor also, and him that hath no helper.”
Psalm 72:13, “He shall spare the poor and needy, and shall save the souls of the needy.”
Psalm 72:14, “He shall redeem their soul from deceit and violence, and precious shall their blood be in his sight.”
The King’s greatness is not shown merely in dominion over nations. It is shown in compassion for the weak. Verse 12 says, “For he shall deliver the needy when he crieth, the poor also, and him that hath no helper.” This is the heart of righteous kingship. The King hears the cry of the needy. He does not ignore the poor. He does not despise the helpless. He does not favor only the rich, strong, noble, or influential. He delivers those who cry because they have no helper.
This is fulfilled perfectly in Christ. During His earthly ministry, He showed compassion to the blind, lame, leprous, demon oppressed, grieving, poor, and despised. Yet His compassion was never mere sentiment. He came to deliver sinners from the deepest poverty, the poverty of sin, guilt, death, and separation from God.
Verse 13 says, “He shall spare the poor and needy, and shall save the souls of the needy.” The King does more than improve external conditions. He saves souls. This is crucial. Biblical compassion does not stop at social relief. Feeding the hungry, defending the weak, and correcting injustice matter, but man’s greatest need is salvation. Christ saves not merely from earthly oppression, but from sin and judgment.
Verse 14 says, “He shall redeem their soul from deceit and violence.” The word “redeem” carries the idea of a kinsman redeemer, one who buys back, rescues, and restores. The needy are often trapped by deceit and violence. Deceit includes fraud, manipulation, corruption, false accusation, and exploitation. Violence includes force, cruelty, oppression, and bloodshed. These are the two old tools of evil, craft and cruelty. The righteous King delivers His people from both.
The verse continues, “and precious shall their blood be in his sight.” In this world, the blood of the poor and weak is often treated cheaply. Powerful men shed innocent blood and move on. Governments have often sacrificed ordinary people for ambition. Criminals prey on the helpless. But the Messiah does not treat their lives as expendable. Their blood is precious in His sight. This is a deeply Christian truth. Human life has value because man is made in the image of God, and the King sees the life of the lowly as precious.
Solomon’s reign did not fully live up to this standard. After his death, the people complained of the heavy burden placed upon them.
1 Kings 12:4, “Thy father made our yoke grievous, now therefore make thou the grievous service of thy father, and his heavy yoke which he put upon us, lighter, and we will serve thee.”
Solomon spoke more wisely than he always acted. Christ alone fulfills this perfectly. He does not oppress His people. He redeems them.
Psalm 72:15 through Psalm 72:17, The Exaltation of the Greater King
Psalm 72:15, “And he shall live, and to him shall be given of the gold of Sheba, prayer also shall be made for him continually, and daily shall he be praised.”
Psalm 72:16, “There shall be an handful of corn in the earth upon the top of the mountains, the fruit thereof shall shake like Lebanon, and they of the city shall flourish like grass of the earth.”
Psalm 72:17, “His name shall endure for ever, his name shall be continued as long as the sun, and men shall be blessed in him, all nations shall call him blessed.”
Verse 15 begins, “And he shall live.” In one sense, this is the language of royal blessing, similar to saying, “O king, live for ever.” That phrase appears in Daniel.
Daniel 2:4, “Then spake the Chaldeans to the king in Syriack, O king, live for ever, tell thy servants the dream, and we will shew the interpretation.”
Yet in the light of Christ, “he shall live” becomes far greater. The King who lays down His life for His people also rises again. The Messiah lives forever. Solomon may not have understood the full prophetic depth of what he wrote, but under the inspiration of the Spirit, the line points beautifully to the risen King. Christ died, was buried, and rose again.
1 Corinthians 15:3, “For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures.” 1 Corinthians 15:4, “And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.”
The verse continues, “and to him shall be given of the gold of Sheba.” The King receives gifts, honor, tribute, and worship. In Solomon’s day, the queen of Sheba came with great wealth.
1 Kings 10:1, “And when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the LORD, she came to prove him with hard questions.” 1 Kings 10:2, “And she came to Jerusalem with a very great train, with camels that bare spices, and very much gold, and precious stones, and when she was come to Solomon, she communed with him of all that was in her heart.”
But again, Solomon was only a shadow. One day the wealth, honor, and allegiance of the nations will be laid before Christ. The greatest treasures of the earth belong at His feet.
Verse 15 also says, “prayer also shall be made for him continually, and daily shall he be praised.” With an earthly king, subjects would pray for his wisdom, protection, justice, and long reign. With Christ, we do not pray for Him as though He were weak or lacking. Yet there is a sense in which believers pray for the interests of Christ when they pray for His kingdom to come, for His gospel to spread, for His people to be strengthened, and for His name to be glorified. The Lord Himself taught His disciples to pray this way.
Matthew 6:9, “After this manner therefore pray ye, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.” Matthew 6:10, “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.”
The line “daily shall he be praised” belongs fully to Christ. He is worthy of daily praise, not occasional religious acknowledgment. His people should praise Him every day because His grace, rule, mercy, righteousness, and salvation never cease.
Verse 16 says, “There shall be an handful of corn in the earth upon the top of the mountains.” This pictures remarkable abundance. Normally, mountaintops are not the best farmland, but under the blessing of this King, even unlikely places become fruitful. The fruit will “shake like Lebanon,” meaning it will be thick, full, and abundant, like the great forests of Lebanon moving in the wind. The city also flourishes, “like grass of the earth.” Under the King’s reign, land and people prosper.
This connects with the biblical view that moral order and creation order belong together. When righteousness governs a people, life becomes more stable and fruitful. Sin brings disorder, corruption, bloodshed, and barrenness. Righteousness brings peace, productivity, safety, and blessing. The final kingdom of Christ will bring prosperity of every proper kind, spiritual, social, national, agricultural, and earthly.
Verse 17 reaches the height of the psalm. “His name shall endure for ever.” Earthly rulers rise and fall. Kingdoms appear and vanish. Empires that seemed permanent are now ruins. The Caesars, the Ottomans, the Napoleonic empire, and every other human power fade into history. But Christ remains. His name endures forever.
The verse continues, “his name shall be continued as long as the sun.” This again exceeds Solomon. Solomon’s name remains known, but his reign ended. Christ’s name continues not merely as memory, but as living glory. His kingdom is not a relic. It is an everlasting kingdom.
The final words of verse 17 are directly tied to the Abrahamic covenant, “and men shall be blessed in him, all nations shall call him blessed.” God promised Abraham that all families of the earth would be blessed in him.
Genesis 12:1, “Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee.” Genesis 12:2, “And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great, and thou shalt be a blessing.” Genesis 12:3, “And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee, and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.”
That promise finds its fulfillment in Christ. He is the seed of Abraham and the Son of David. Through Him, blessing comes not only to Israel but to the nations. This does not erase Israel’s promises, nor does it turn the kingdom into a vague spiritual symbol. Rather, it shows that the Messiah of Israel is also the Savior and King whose blessing extends to all nations.
Galatians 3:16, “Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many, but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.”
Psalm 72 therefore looks forward to the kingdom of the King of Kings. It is personal, royal, righteous, universal, compassionate, peaceful, and filled with blessing. The King Himself is the center. He delivers. He saves. He redeems. He lives. He receives tribute. He is praised. His name endures forever.
Psalm 72:18 through Psalm 72:19, Closing Doxology of Praise
Psalm 72:18, “Blessed be the LORD God, the God of Israel, who only doeth wondrous things.”
Psalm 72:19, “And blessed be his glorious name for ever, and let the whole earth be filled with his glory, Amen, and Amen.”
The psalm now ends in doxology. After contemplating the righteous King, the universal kingdom, the deliverance of the poor, the defeat of enemies, the blessing of the nations, and the enduring name of the Messiah, Solomon is moved to praise. Verse 18 says, “Blessed be the LORD God, the God of Israel, who only doeth wondrous things.”
This praise is directed to the covenant God of Israel. He alone does wondrous things. Human kings may act, but God alone performs wonders. Solomon’s wisdom, David’s victories, Israel’s covenant promises, and the coming kingdom all come from the LORD. The Messiah Himself comes according to God’s promise, power, and faithfulness.
Verse 19 says, “And blessed be his glorious name for ever.” God’s name represents His revealed character, His reputation, His covenant faithfulness, His holiness, His power, and His glory. The right response is blessing and worship forever. The psalmist then prays, “and let the whole earth be filled with his glory.” This is the proper longing of every believer. The glory of God should not be confined to Israel alone, nor hidden among a small people. The whole earth must be filled with His glory.
This prayer will be answered in the reign of Christ. The prophets speak of the knowledge of the LORD filling the earth.
Habakkuk 2:14, “For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.”
Isaiah says the same concerning the Messianic kingdom.
Isaiah 11:9, “They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.”
The doxology ends, “Amen, and Amen.” This is a double affirmation. It means, so be it, truly, certainly, let it be established. The believer who reads Psalm 72 should join this prayer. Let the King reign. Let righteousness flourish. Let the poor be delivered. Let the nations serve Him. Let His name endure forever. Let the whole earth be filled with His glory.
There is also a sober historical contrast. Solomon’s reign was glorious, but the kingdom declined quickly after him. The glory of Solomon’s gold gave way to Rehoboam’s bronze within a few years.
1 Kings 10:16, “And king Solomon made two hundred targets of beaten gold, six hundred shekels of gold went to one target.” 1 Kings 10:17, “And he made three hundred shields of beaten gold, three pound of gold went to one shield, and the king put them in the house of the forest of Lebanon.”
1 Kings 14:25, “And it came to pass in the fifth year of king Rehoboam, that Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem.” 1 Kings 14:26, “And he took away the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king’s house, he even took away all, and he took away all the shields of gold which Solomon had made.” 1 Kings 14:27, “And king Rehoboam made in their stead brasen shields, and committed them unto the hands of the chief of the guard, which kept the door of the king’s house.” 1 Kings 14:28, “And it was so, when the king went into the house of the LORD, that the guard bare them, and brought them back into the guard chamber.”
This shows the failure of human monarchy and the need for the greater King. Solomon’s kingdom could not preserve its glory. Christ’s kingdom will never lose its glory.
Psalm 72:20, The End of the Second Book of Psalms
Psalm 72:20, “The prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended.”
This final verse functions as a postscript marking the close of Book Two of the Psalms. It does not mean David never prayed again or that no later Davidic psalms appear in the Psalter. It marks the close of this collected section. It is significant that these psalms are called “prayers.” They are songs, but they are also prayers. Biblical worship includes doctrine, praise, lament, confession, petition, hope, and prophecy.
The wording “David the son of Jesse” is also meaningful. David was Israel’s great king, but here he is not called by a royal title. He is called the son of Jesse, the son of a Bethlehem farmer. This is fitting because Psalm 72 has lifted the reader beyond David to David’s greater Son. David gladly takes the lower place before the Messiah. The true glory does not rest in David, Solomon, or any earthly king. The true glory belongs to the King of Kings, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Psalm 72 therefore begins as a prayer for Solomon but ends as a vision of Christ. It teaches what righteous rule should be, but it also reveals that no earthly ruler can fulfill the hope of the world. The nations do not need merely a wiser politician, a better administrator, or a more competent earthly monarch. They need the righteous King, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham, the Redeemer of the needy, the Judge of the oppressor, the One whose name endures forever, and the One under whose reign the whole earth will be filled with the glory of God.
