Click here to read PSALM 72 in poetic form.
Background
The Exodus book in Psalms is composed of Psalms 61-72, showing the Messiah’s great atoning work. Psalm 72 brings the great story of God redeeming His people from Egypt with mighty signs and wonders to a close. It concludes with the following benediction and double Amen: “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.”
This concluding Psalm shows God as the Great King Who gives full authority to His Son, the Messiah. Verse 11 says that “all kings shall fall down before him.” Jesus Christ is now at God’s right hand as “King of kings” (I Timothy 6:15; Revelation 17:14; 19:16).
This Psalm has the title “A Psalm for Solomon.” This was written by David for his beloved son, Solomon, who would be the ancestor of the coming Messiah. In fact, both of Jesus Christ’s parents came through David. Mary, who was the Messiah’s physical mother, came through Solomon (Matthew 1:6)—a direct ancestor of Jesus Christ.
Matthew 1:16 in the King James Version says, “And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ,” but the manuscripts say, “And Jacob begat Joseph the father of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, the Messiah.” Thus Mary’s father was named Joseph and was descended through Solomon. Joseph (Joses) was a common name in Bible times.
Another man named Joseph, who was Mary’s husband and Jesus’ legal father, came through David’s son, Nathan (Luke 1:31). Both Mary’s father and husband were named Joseph.
Structure
(Verse 1) God gives the Messiah as king and as His Son
(Verses 2-4) Messiah brings judgment, righteousness, and peace to the humble
(Verses 5-7) Messiah’s enduring work
(Verses 8-11) All kings fall before Messiah; all nations serve Messiah
(Verses 12-14) Messiah delivers, saves, and redeems the humble
(Verses 15-17) Messiah’s enduring work
(Verse 17) All blessed in Messiah; all nations call Messiah blessed
(Verses 18,19) Closing benediction for God Who does wondrous things in His Son, the Messiah
Key Scriptures
Verse 1—“the king’s son.” This was literally David’s son, Solomon. But it prophesies of Jesus Christ, the “Son of David” (see Matthew 1:1; 9:27; 12:23; 15:22; 20:30,31; 21:9,15; 22:42; Mark 10:47,48; 12:35; Luke 18:38,39).
Verse 6—“He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass: as showers that water the earth.” In his final words, David spoke of the Messiah as a leader of men. II Samuel 23:3-5: “He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God. And he shall be as the light of the morning, when the sun riseth, even a morning without clouds; as the tender grass springing out of the earth by clear shining after rain. Although my house be not so with God; yet he hath made with me an everlasting covenant.” Jesus Christ fulfilled God’s everlasting covenant to David, and Jesus Christ “ruled” in the fear (respect) of God—refreshing as rain upon the tender grass.
The Prophet Isaiah spoke of the Messiah as a leader and this everlasting covenant to David. Isaiah 55:3,4: “and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David. Behold, I have given him for a witness to the people, a leader and commander to the people.”
Isaiah also uses an analogy with the blessings of rain and God’s goodness a few verses later. Isaiah 55:10,11: “For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” Jesus Christ was the word made flesh (John 1:14). He carried out the Father’s will and accomplished what God called him to do.
Verse 9—“his enemies shall lick the dust.” The Messiah’s greatest enemy was the Devil. Jesus Christ was the “seed” of the woman who would bruise the serpent’s head (Genesis 3:15). And in that same context in Genesis, God told the serpent that “dust shalt thou eat.” Through his sacrifice and death, Jesus Christ destroyed the death-dealing power of the Devil (Hebrews 2:14).
Verse 14—“He shall redeem their soul from deceit and violence.” Jesus Christ is the great redeemer (Titus 2:14) who bought us back from the deceit and violence of the Devil. The Hebrew word for “redeem” refers to a next of kin in Eastern culture. This person could buy back land, carry on a relative’s family (as Boaz did in Ruth), avenge wrongdoing, and save those under duress. Ruth 4:14: “And the women said unto Naomi, Blessed be the Lord, which hath not left thee this day without a kinsman [Hebrew word for “redeemer”], that his name may be famous in Israel.”
Verse 19—“let the whole earth be filled with his glory; Amen, and Amen.” This double Amen ends the Exodus book of Psalms, as also done in the Genesis book (Psalms 41:13) and Leviticus book (Psalms 89:52) of Psalms.
Verse 20—“The prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended.” The phrase “son of Jesse” is used 20 times in the King James Version. It often is used scornfully by Saul and David’s other enemies (I Samuel 20:27,30,31; 22:7,8,9,13; 25:10; II Samuel 20:1; I Kings 12:16; II Chronicles 10:16). It is used in I Samuel 16:18 to simply identify David, and in II Samuel 23:1 it is used with David’s final words about the Messiah. It is also used when speaking of David as king (I Chronicles 10:14; 12:18; 29:26). It is used in describing Joseph’s lineage (Luke 3:32).
Perhaps its most noteworthy use is in Acts 13:22, where God “raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will.” Jesus Christ, the son of David, always did the Father’s will (John 8:29).
FOR FURTHER STUDY
All 150 of The Psalms in Poetic Form are available from Amazon in a book, either Large Print or a smaller Bedside Reader. Also available for free with a Kindle Unlimited membership. Enjoy!
The entire blog series is now available in the publication The Psalms: Background & Structure with Key Scriptures Explained.
