Psalm 72

Written by David

likely reformatted by Solomon

Charles Spurgeon describes Psalm 72 as “the Prayer of David, but the Psalm of Solomon

The shadow of another King

Are the images pointing to Christ or are they pointing to the kings which point to Christ and what is the difference? compare to marriage imagery in new testament.

Remember, the Bible is a connected work. The inspiration all fits together into a larger narrative.

Psalm 72:15 “Long may he live; may gold of Sheba be given to him! May prayer be made for him continually, and blessings invoked for him all the day!”

if good kings are willed to live long then the ultimate king would live eternally.

Calvin “David, therefore, prayed that the king might be adorned with righteousness and judgment, that the just might flourish and the people prosper. This prediction receives its highest fulfilment in Christ. It was, indeed, the duty of Solomon to maintain the righteous; but it is the proper office of Christ to make men righteous. He not only gives to every man his own, but also reforms their hearts through the agency of his Spirit. By this means he brings righteousness back, as it were, from exile, which otherwise would be altogether banished from the world. Upon the return of righteousness there succeeds the blessing of God, by which he causes all his children to rejoice in the way of making them to perceive that under their King, Christ, every provision is made for their enjoying all manner of prosperity and felicity.... certainly, to the consummation of a happy life, nothing is more desirable than peace; for amidst the turmoils and contentions of war, men derive almost no good from having an abundance of all things, as it is then wasted and destroyed. Moreover, when David represents the life of the king as prolonged to the end of the world, this shows more clearly that he not only comprehends his successors who occupied an earthly throne, but that he ascends even to Christ, who, by rising from the dead, obtained for himself celestial life and glory, that he might govern his Church for ever.

1 Timothy 2:2 ESV

for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.

Christ brings the ultimate form of peace. Personally. interpersonally. globally.

but this peace is wrought of righteousness. His final kingdom will be the manifestation of righteousness fully realized.

the law is meant for our good (don’t get into human flourishing here yet)

Even tho he fell from righteousness, at the very least Solomon at least recognized the wisdom of wisdom. This leads to next point.

Defending the Defenseless

It has been held as a proverb by all mankind, “That there is nothing in which men approach nearer to God than by their beneficence;” and it would be very inconsistent did not this virtue shine forth in those kings whom God has more nearly linked to himself. Accordingly, David, to render the king beloved who was chosen of God, justly declares, not only that he will be the guardian of justice and equity, but also that he will be so humane and merciful, as to be ready to afford succour to the most despised; qualities too seldom to be found in sovereigns, who, dazzled with their own splendour, withdraw themselves to a distance from the poor and the afflicted, as if it were unworthy of, and far beneath, their royal dignity to make them the objects of their care. David avows that the blood of the common people, which is usually accounted vile and as a thing of nought, will be very precious in the estimation of this heavenly king. Constancy and magnanimity are denoted by the words he will redeem; for it would be far short of the duty of a king merely to hate fraud and extortion, did he not resolutely come forward to punish these crimes and set himself to defend those who are oppressed

It would make no sense for the kings that the Bible portrays as linked to God to not help the poor. It is almost silly to even have to say.

ironically, we do not afford the same assumption to human kings. any human leader we assume becomes more dissociated with the weak as they grow in power.

we know that supreme sovereignty, both in heaven and earth, has been given to Christ, (Matth. 28:18,) that he may defend his people not only from all temporal dangers, but especially from all the harassing annoyances of Satan, until having delivered them at length from all trouble, he gather them into the everlasting rest of his heavenly kingdom.

Christ breaks the normal pattern that kings take of growing more alienated from the weak as they grow in strength

Christ as we learn more of his nature, is found to lean close to the weak.

Even more, he desires the downtrodden to comes to him.

God redeems the broken for his own sake, but this does not reveal a selfish attribute but rather the purest revelation of his benevolent character. It is in his absolute nature outside of any other motive that he would want for his people to be delivered, saved, redeemed. A king that saves the helpless we assume has ulterior motives, but it is in God’s very nature.

pity, mercy, compassion. Pity is most used in Scripture as something that God does NOT exersize.

vs 13: hawas (hebrew): to show compassion

splanchnizomai (greek): to be deeply moved (bowels) (new testament)

hamal (hebrew): to feel sorry. to show leniency. (old testament)

Ramifications of Righteousness

vs3 Let the mountains bear prosperity for the people, and the hills, in righteousness!

vs 6 May he be like rain that falls on the mown grass, like showers that water the earth

vs 16 May there be abundance of grain in the land; on the tops of the mountains may it wave; may its fruit be like Lebanon. and may people blossom in the cities like the grass of the field!

other translations pull a meaning referring to a “handful of grain”

vs 17May people be blessed in him, all nations call him blessed

The peace we talked of earlier is not just to avoid war. to avoid conflict. it leads to flourishing relationships. A marriage is not just maintained, it should grow.

Ultimately, Christ does not only save us from something, but also for something. From death. To Life.

Parable of the sower: multiplying output is the result of what is supposed to happen

Ephesians 4:21-24 “assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.”

Christ doesn’t just show righteousness. He gives it. The Spirit sanctifies the people of Christ’s kingdom.

Creation is made to flourish not just survive. you don’t just water a plant to sustain it, but to grow it. you don’t just feed chickens to keep them alive. they give you eggs and meat.

What more could we ever possibly do even for ourselves than to serve Christ the King?

John 10:10 “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”

vs 20 “David, The son of Jesse”