The King We Long for-The Christmas Hope of Psalm 72

Big Idea: To see how Psalm 72 paints a portrait of the ideal King—ultimately fulfilled in Jesus—and to explore what it means for us today.

I. OPENING & BACKGROUND (5 minutes)

Start with a Guiding Thought

“Psalm 72 is a prayer for a king. Not just any king—but the perfect king. It expresses longings that no earthly ruler ever fully fulfilled. Tonight we’ll discover why the early church—and many scholars today—see this as a Messianic Psalm pointing to Jesus.”

Background Notes (Share Briefly)

Author: Likely Solomon (see title), though some say it was written for Solomon by David.

Final poem of Book 2 of the Psalter is a kingship psalm, a prayer for the newly anointed king. King’s inauguration.

Genre: Royal psalm / coronation psalm.

Purpose: A prayer for justice, righteousness, prosperity, and global peace under God’s chosen king.

Key theme: The world is broken, leadership often disappoints, but God has promised a king who won’t.

Promised in Genesis 12:2–3 “2 I will make you a great nation; I will bless you And make your name great; And you shall be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.””

Open-Ended Question

When you think of a “perfect leader,” what qualities come to mind? (Acknowledge answers; transition to how Psalm 72 reflects those desires.)

II. READ PSALM 72 TOGETHER (2–3 minutes)

Assign three readers:

Reader 1

Psalm 72:1–7 NKJV

1 Give the king Your judgments, O God, And Your righteousness to the king’s Son. 2 He will judge Your people with righteousness, And Your poor with justice. 3 The mountains will bring peace to the people, And the little hills, by righteousness. 4 He will bring justice to the poor of the people; He will save the children of the needy, And will break in pieces the oppressor. 5 They shall fear You As long as the sun and moon endure, Throughout all generations. 6 He shall come down like rain upon the grass before mowing, Like showers that water the earth. 7 In His days the righteous shall flourish, And abundance of peace, Until the moon is no more.

Reader 2

Psalm 72:8–14 NKJV

8 He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, And from the River to the ends of the earth. 9 Those who dwell in the wilderness will bow before Him, And His enemies will lick the dust. 10 The kings of Tarshish and of the isles Will bring presents; The kings of Sheba and Seba Will offer gifts. 11 Yes, all kings shall fall down before Him; All nations shall serve Him. 12 For He will deliver the needy when he cries, The poor also, and him who has no helper. 13 He will spare the poor and needy, And will save the souls of the needy. 14 He will redeem their life from oppression and violence; And precious shall be their blood in His sight.

Reader 3

Psalm 72:15–20 NKJV

15 And He shall live; And the gold of Sheba will be given to Him; Prayer also will be made for Him continually, And daily He shall be praised. 16 There will be an abundance of grain in the earth, On the top of the mountains; Its fruit shall wave like Lebanon; And those of the city shall flourish like grass of the earth. 17 His name shall endure forever; His name shall continue as long as the sun. And men shall be blessed in Him; All nations shall call Him blessed. 18 Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel, Who only does wondrous things! 19 And blessed be His glorious name forever! And let the whole earth be filled with His glory. Amen and Amen. 20 The prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended.

Ask afterward: What first impressions do you get about this king?

1. THE CHARACTER OF THE KING (vv. 1–7)

“Righteous Rule and True Shalom”

(10 minutes)

Key Idea

This king rules with justice, righteousness, and compassion—qualities rarely seen perfectly in human rulers.

A. His Rule is Righteous (vv. 1–2)

Psalm 72:1–2 “1 Give the king Your judgments, O God, And Your righteousness to the king’s Son. 2 He will judge Your people with righteousness, And Your poor with justice.”

Cross Reference: Isaiah 11:1–4 – The righteous Branch who judges with equity.

Isaiah 11:1–4 “1 There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, And a Branch shall grow out of his roots. 2 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. 3 His delight is in the fear of the Lord, And He shall not judge by the sight of His eyes, Nor decide by the hearing of His ears; 4 But with righteousness He shall judge the poor, And decide with equity for the meek of the earth; He shall strike the earth with the rod of His mouth, And with the breath of His lips He shall slay the wicked.”

Ask after reading: Why is righteousness essential for real peace?

Facilitator Insight: Righteousness protects the weak, stabilizes society, and reflects the heart of God.

B. His Rule Brings Flourishing (vv. 3–7)

Psalm 72:3–7 “3 The mountains will bring peace to the people, And the little hills, by righteousness. 4 He will bring justice to the poor of the people; He will save the children of the needy, And will break in pieces the oppressor. 5 They shall fear You As long as the sun and moon endure, Throughout all generations. 6 He shall come down like rain upon the grass before mowing, Like showers that water the earth. 7 In His days the righteous shall flourish, And abundance of peace, Until the moon is no more.”

V. 3 can be a little tricky.

In Hebrew poetry, “mountains and hills” often function as a merism—two contrasting parts used to represent the whole.

“From the highest places to the lowest places, throughout the entire kingdom, peace will flourish.”

Isa. 9:6-7 The increase of His government and peace will see no end.

Cross References: Isaiah 9:6–7 “6 For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.”

Government-misrah rule, dominion

Proverbs 8:15–16 “15 By me kings reign, And rulers decree justice. 16 By me princes rule, and nobles, All the judges of the earth.”

Proverbs 16:12–16 “12 It is an abomination for kings to commit wickedness, For a throne is established by righteousness. 13 Righteous lips are the delight of kings, And they love him who speaks what is right. 14 As messengers of death is the king’s wrath, But a wise man will appease it. 15 In the light of the king’s face is life, And his favor is like a cloud of the latter rain. 16 How much better to get wisdom than gold! And to get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.”

Proverbs 29:14 “14 The king who judges the poor with truth, His throne will be established forever.”

King Lemuel’s Mother’s words:

Proverbs 31:1–9 “1 The words of King Lemuel, the utterance which his mother taught him: 2 What, my son? And what, son of my womb? And what, son of my vows? 3 Do not give your strength to women, Nor your ways to that which destroys kings. 4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, It is not for kings to drink wine, Nor for princes intoxicating drink; 5 Lest they drink and forget the law, And pervert the justice of all the afflicted. 6 Give strong drink to him who is perishing, And wine to those who are bitter of heart. 7 Let him drink and forget his poverty, And remember his misery no more. 8 Open your mouth for the speechless, In the cause of all who are appointed to die. 9 Open your mouth, judge righteously, And plead the cause of the poor and needy.” Luke 2:14 – Peace on earth at the birth of Christ.

Luke 2:14 “14 “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!””

Ask: How would you describe the peace (“shalom”) described in these verses?

Help Them See: This isn’t merely absence of conflict—it’s wholeness, abundance, security, blessing, and joy.

Christmas Connection (Short)

Christmas announces the arrival of the King who brings righteousness and peace—shalom made visible in a manger.

2. THE REIGN OF THE KING (vv. 8–14)

“A Global Kingdom of Justice and Compassion”

Psalm 72:8–14 “8 He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, And from the River to the ends of the earth. 9 Those who dwell in the wilderness will bow before Him, And His enemies will lick the dust. 10 The kings of Tarshish and of the isles Will bring presents; The kings of Sheba and Seba Will offer gifts. 11 Yes, all kings shall fall down before Him; All nations shall serve Him. 12 For He will deliver the needy when he cries, The poor also, and him who has no helper. 13 He will spare the poor and needy, And will save the souls of the needy. 14 He will redeem their life from oppression and violence; And precious shall be their blood in His sight.”

A. His Rule is Global (vv. 8–11)

“From sea to sea… to the ends of the earth.”

Cross References: Matthew 2:1–11 – Kings (Magi) bowing to Christ.

Matthew 2:1–11 “1 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, 2 saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.” 3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. 5 So they said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet: 6 ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, Are not the least among the rulers of Judah; For out of you shall come a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel.’ ” 7 Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also.” 9 When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. 11 And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.”

Herod-Herod the Great was the king of Judaea at the time of Jesus’ birth, ruling from 37 BCE to 4 BCE

Philippians 2:9–11 – Every knee bowing to Jesus.

Philippians 2:9–11 “9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

Ask: What does it mean for Christ’s kingdom to be global? Political? Spiritual? Both?

B. His Rule Defends the Needy (vv. 12–14)

Cross References: Luke 4:18–19 – Jesus’ mission to the poor, broken, and bound.

Luke 4:18–19 “18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed; 19 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.”” Matthew 9:36 – He had compassion on the crowds.

Modern Day rulers will discuss collateral damage.

Psalm 72 presents a perfect king—one whose rule brings justice to the needy, deliverance to the oppressed, and peace to the ends of the earth. But no earthly ruler today can govern without confronting difficult decisions, especially those involving military action. Modern leaders must weigh the unavoidable reality of collateral damage—harm to civilians or unintended consequences—even when engaging in actions meant to protect people.

This contrast helps you highlight the Gospel truth:

Psalm 72 describes what only Christ fulfills. Even the best human rulers face moral limits and imperfect outcome

Example: The 2011 Raid on Osama bin Laden (U.S. Military)

When U.S. leadership approved the raid on Osama bin Laden’s compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan, the goal was clear: Eliminate a global terrorist leader responsible for mass civilian deaths.

But several collateral damage questions had to be weighed:

Intelligence Uncertainty: They were only 60–80% sure bin Laden was actually in the compound. A military strike could kill innocent people while missing the true target.

Civilian Presence: The compound included multiple families—women and children who were not combatants. Any military action risked harming them.

Sovereignty and Diplomatic Fallout: Entering Pakistani airspace without permission risked a political crisis or military conflict between two nations.

Operational Risk to Soldiers: Sending in Navy SEALs meant real human lives were on the line.

Despite careful planning, there was no way to carry out the operation without some risk of unintended harm — the very definition of collateral damage.

In Psalm 72, however:

The King helps the weak without harming others. He delivers without unintended consequences. His justice is perfect; His ethics are unblemished.

Matthew 9:36 “36 But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.”

Ask: Why does a perfect king care so deeply for the needy?

Facilitator Insight: A king reflects the heart of God when he lifts the vulnerable, protects the helpless, and rescues from oppression.

Illustration (Simple & Visual)

“Most leaders want something from their people. This King gives something to His people—justice, compassion, and deliverance.”

3. THE BLESSINGS OF THE KING (vv. 15–20)

Psalm 72:15–20 “15 And He shall live; And the gold of Sheba will be given to Him; Prayer also will be made for Him continually, And daily He shall be praised. 16 There will be an abundance of grain in the earth, On the top of the mountains; Its fruit shall wave like Lebanon; And those of the city shall flourish like grass of the earth. 17 His name shall endure forever; His name shall continue as long as the sun. And men shall be blessed in Him; All nations shall call Him blessed. 18 Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel, Who only does wondrous things! 19 And blessed be His glorious name forever! And let the whole earth be filled with His glory. Amen and Amen. 20 The prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended.”

“A Kingdom of Abundance, Worship, and Enduring Praise”

A. His Kingdom Produces Overflow (v. 15–17)

Silver, gold, prayer, blessing, abundance.

Cross References: John 10:10 – Life more abundantly.

John 10:10 “10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” Revelation 7:9–12 – All nations praising the Lamb.

Revelation 7:9–12 “9 After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 10 and crying out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” 11 All the angels stood around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying: “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom, Thanksgiving and honor and power and might, Be to our God forever and ever. Amen.””

Ask: How does Christ still bring abundance today—not just materially, but spiritually?

Lead Them Gently:

Joy

Purpose

Salvation

Hope

The presence of God

B. His Kingdom Will Never End (vv. 18–20)

This doxology concludes Book II of the Psalms and points to the eternal King.

Cross Reference: Luke 1:32–33 – “Of His kingdom there will be no end.”

Luke 1:32–33 “32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. 33 And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.””

Ask: What comfort do you find in knowing Christ’s kingdom cannot be overthrown?

4. CHRISTMAS CONNECTION

Tie it all together:

“Psalm 72 paints a picture of a perfect king—one Solomon could never be. Only Jesus fits this description: righteous, global, compassionate, eternal. Christmas isn’t just a birth announcement… it’s the coronation of the King we’ve always longed for.”

Ask the group: Which aspect of this King means the most to you tonight?

Let a few share.

PERSONAL APPLICATION

Where do you need Christ’s peace?

Where do you need the King’s justice in your life?

How can we reflect His compassion this week?

Ask: How does this Psalm help you worship Christ more fully this Christmas?

CLOSING PRAYER

“Lord Jesus, our perfect King, rule in our hearts, bring peace to our homes, and use us to show Your compassion to a broken world. Amen.”