Devotional: Psalms 72

A Psalm for Solomon. Give the king thy judgments, O God, and thy righteousness unto the king's son.

He shall judge thy people with righteousness, and thy poor with judgment. The mountains shall bring peace to the people, and the little hills, by righteousness. He shall judge the poor of the people, he shall save the children of the needy, and shall break in pieces the oppressor. They shall fear thee as long as the sun and moon endure, throughout all generations. He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass: as showers that water the earth. In his days shall the righteous flourish; and abundance of peace so long as the moon endureth. He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth. They that dwell in the wilderness shall bow before him; and his enemies shall lick the dust. The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall bring presents: the kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts. Yea, all kings shall fall down before him: all nations shall serve him. For he shall deliver the needy when he crieth the poor also, and him that hath no helper. He shall spare the poor and needy, and shall save the souls of the needy. He shall redeem their soul from deceit and violence: and precious shall their blood be in his sight. 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. 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. 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.

Blessed be the LORD God, the God of Israel, who only doeth wondrous things. And blessed be his glorious name for ever: and let the whole earth be filled with his glory; Amen, and Amen.
The prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended.
Psalms 72:1-20

This Psalm was written by King David for his son King Solomon. It begins with a petition to God that Solomon would be a righteous and worthy King. King David specifically asks that his son receive God's righteousness and God's judgments to equip Solomon to reign as a godly king. If you are familiar with Psalms 119, you have some idea of the amazing request David asks for his son. Oh, that each of us would consider and petition God so wisely on behalf of our children, both when they are young and as adults, as Solomon is already a king when this is written. The bulk of the Psalm describes the result of God's granting King David's request. King Solomon will be a very successful and righteous king, acting as God's authority in the land and therefore the nation would be blessed as well.

This is also prophetic. Solomon is often viewed as a type of Jesus. He is the King of Righteousness who will one day be the Judge of the whole earth. The result of His Righteous Judgment is peace--shalom. Not just a world without conflict and war, but the full meaning of the word shalom--wholeness, completeness, soundness, tranquillity, health, prosperity. Jesus reigns as Sar Shalom, Prince of Peace. The name Solomon means peace, it comes from the word shalom. So this Psalm and prayer of David's was fulfilled during the reign of King Solomon, and looks forward to the reign of Jesus.

It ends with absolute praise and wonder of the Lord. David recognizes that it isn't by any work of man; not his son's training, nor genetic superiority that will equip him as the King to reign in righteousness with the authority of Almighty God--it is God Himself that blesses with favor, and gives the ability for Solomon to walk in God's righteousness and judgments, instead of man's. David also recognizes that the only way the whole earth can be filled with the glory of God, is when each of us walk, as a kingdom of God's servants, according to the Righteousness of God in Judgment, Justice and Truth. As he concludes this Psalm, let us also look forward to that day when the earth will be filled with the glory of the Lord. If Jesus reigns in our hearts and lives, we can experience God's glory in our lives, and others will see it too. Lord, let it begin in us today!