721 Give the king Your judgments , O God , And Your righteousness to the king's son .
2 May he judge Your people with righteousness And Your afflicted with justice . 3 Let the mountains bring peace to the people , And the hills , in righteousness . 4 May he vindicate the afflicted of the people , Save the children of the needy And crush the oppressor . 5 Let them fear You while the sun endures, And as long as the moon , throughout all generations . 6 May he come down like rain upon the mown grass, Like showers that water the earth . 7 In his days may the righteous flourish , And abundance of peace till the moon is no more . 8 May he also rule from sea to sea And from the River to the ends of the earth . 9 Let the nomads of the desert bow before him, And his enemies lick the dust . 10 Let the kings of Tarshish and of the islands bring presents ; The kings of Sheba and Seba offer gifts . 11 And let all kings bow down before him, All nations serve him. 12 For he will deliver the needy when he cries for help , The afflicted also, and him who has no helper . 13 He will have compassion on the poor and needy , And the lives of the needy he will save . 14 He will rescue their life from oppression and violence , And their blood will be precious in his sight ; 15 So may he live , and may the gold of Sheba be given to him; And let them pray for him continually ; Let them bless him all day long. 16 May there be abundance of grain in the earth on top of the mountains ; Its fruit will wave like the cedars of Lebanon ; And may those from the city flourish like vegetation of the earth . 17 May his name endure forever ; May his name increase as long as the sun shines; And let men bless themselves by him; Let all nations call him blessed .
18 Blessed be the Lord God , the God of Israel , Who alone works wonders . 19 And blessed be His glorious name forever ; And may the whole earth be filled with His glory . Amen , and Amen .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Psalm 72:1-19
Commentary on Psalm 72:1
(Read Psalm 72:1)
This psalm belongs to Solomon in part, but to Christ more fully and clearly. Solomon was both the king and the king's son, and his pious father desired that the wisdom of God might be in him, that his reign might be a remembrance of the kingdom of the Messiah. It is the prayer of a father for his child; a dying blessing. The best we can ask of God for our children is, that God would give them wisdom and grace to know and to do their duty.
Commentary on Psalm 72:2-17
(Read Psalm 72:2-17)
This is a prophecy of the kingdom of Christ; many passages in it cannot be applied to the reign of Solomon. There were righteousness and peace at first in the administration of his government; but, before the end of his reign, there were troubles and unrighteousness. The kingdom here spoken of is to last as long as the sun, but Solomon's was soon at an end. Even the Jewish expositors understood it of the kingdom of the Messiah. Observe many great and precious promises here made, which were to have full accomplishment only in the kingdom of Christ. As far as his kingdom is set up, discord and contentions cease, in families, churches, and nations. The law of Christ, written in the heart, disposes men to be honest and just, and to render to all their due; it likewise disposes men to live in love, and so produces abundance of peace. Holiness and love shall be lasting in Christ's kingdom. Through all the changes of the world, and all the changes of life, Christ's kingdom will support itself. And he shall, by the graces and comforts of his Spirit, come down like rain upon the mown grass; not on that cut down, but that which is left growing, that it may spring again. His gospel has been, or shall be, preached to all nations. Though he needs not the services of any, yet he must be served with the best. Those that have the wealth of this world, must serve Christ with it, do good with it. Prayer shall be made through him, or for his sake; whatever we ask of the Father, should be in his name. Praises shall be offered to him: we are under the highest obligations to him. Christ only shall be feared throughout all generations. To the end of time, and to eternity, his name shall be praised. All nations shall call HIM blessed.
Commentary on Psalm 72:18-20
(Read Psalm 72:18-20)
We are taught to bless God in Christ, for all he has done for us by him. David is earnest in prayer for the fulfilment of this prophecy and promise. It is sad to think how empty the earth is of the glory of God, how little service and honour he has from a world to which he is so bountiful. May we, like David, submit to Christ's authority, and partake of his righteousness and peace. May we bless him for the wonders of redeeming love. May we spend our days, and end our lives, praying for the spread of his gospel.