Bible Commentaries
Psalms 72

Verse 1

72:1 [[A Psalm] {a} for Solomon.] Give the king thy {b} judgments, O God, and thy righteousness unto the king’s {c} son.

(a) Composed by David concerning the reign of his son Solomon.

(b) Imbue the king with the Spirit of wisdom and justice, that he reign not as the worldly tyrants do.

(c) That is, to his posterity.

Verse 3

72:3 The {d} mountains shall bring peace to the people, and the little hills, by righteousness.

(d) When justice reigns, even the places most barren will be enriched with your blessings.

Verse 4

72:4 He shall {e} judge the poor of the people, he shall save the children of the needy, and shall break in pieces the oppressor.

(e) He shows why the sword is committed to Kings that is, to defend the innocent, and suppress the wicked.

Verse 5

72:5 They shall {f} fear thee as long as the sun and moon endure, throughout all generations.

(f) The people will embrace your true religion, when you give a king who rules according to your word.

Verse 6

72:6 He shall come {g} down like rain upon the mown grass: as showers [that] water the earth.

(g) As this is true in all godly kings, so it is chiefly verified in Christ, who with his heavenly dew, makes his Church ever to flourish.

Verse 8

72:8 He shall have dominion also from {h} sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth.

(h) That is, from the Red sea to the sea called the Syriacum, and from Euphrates forward, meaning, that Christ’s kingdom would be large and universal.

Verse 10

72:10 The kings of {i} Tarshish and of the isles shall bring presents: the kings {k} of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts.

(i) Of Cilicia, and of all other countries beyond the sea, which he means by the isles.

(k) That is, of Arabia that rich country, of which Sheba was a part bordering on Ethiopia.

Verse 14

72:14 He shall redeem their soul from deceit and violence: and {l} precious shall their blood be in his sight.

(l) Though tyrants pause not to shed blood, yet this godly king will preserve his subjects from all kinds of wrong.

Verse 15

72:15 And he shall live, and to him shall be given of the {m} gold of Sheba: prayer also shall be made for him continually; [and] daily shall he be praised.

(m) God will both prosper his life and make the people willing to obey him.

Verse 16

72:16 There shall be an handful of corn in the earth upon the top of the mountains; the {n} fruit thereof shall shake like Lebanon: and [they] of the city shall flourish like grass of the earth.

(n) Under such a king will be great plenty, both of fruit and also of the increase of mankind.

Verse 17

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 {o} him blessed.

(o) They will pray to God for his continuance and know that God prospers them for his sake.

Verse 18

72:18 Blessed [be] the LORD God, the God of Israel, who only doeth {p} wondrous things.

(p) He confesses that unless God miraculously preserves his people neither the king nor the kingdom can continue.

Verse 20

72:20 The {q} prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended.

(q) Concerning his son Solomon.