Seventh-day Adventist Bible CommentaryPsalms 72

Give the king. The psalm opens with a prayer for an ideal king. Solomon’s reign would have been a “reign of righteousness” like the one described in this psalm, if he had followed the divinely inspired counsel of his father (see PK 26; cf. superscription to Ps. 72). Thy judgments. The ideal king will make his decisions according to God’s will (see on Deut. 1:17).

He shall judge. Or, “may he judge.” This verb and the main verbs throughout the psalm may be translated as futures, describing the ideal king, as he shall be; or as optatives, expressing a wish, “may he judge,” etc. (see 1 Kings 3:6–9; Isa. 11:2–5; 32:1). Thy poor. Righteous judgment of the poor, who are often the victims of unjust judgment, implies the impartial administration of justice (see on Deut. 1:17).

Peace. Peace will reign in the land as the effect of righteousness (see Isa. 32:15– 17). Peace brings material blessings to a country, whereas war spreads desolation. Messiah, the King of righteousness, was to be a King of peace (see Isa. 9:5, 6; 11:9; Zech. 9:10; cf. Heb. 7:2).

He shall judge. See on v. 2. Verses 4–8 will have their complete fulfillment in the King of kings (see PP 755).

Like rain. The rule of the ideal king, or King Messiah, is like the gentle showers, which make the mown grass spring up again fresh and beautiful (see 2 Sam. 23:3, 4; cf. Deut. 32:2; Isa. 55:10, 11; SC 72; MB 18).

Flourish. Literally, “sprout,” “bud forth,” carrying on the figure of v. 6 (see Ps. 92:13).

From sea to sea. See Gen. 15:18; see on Ex. 23:31; cf. Num. 34:3, 6; Ps. 89:25; Zech. 9:10; DA 458.

Lick the dust. A figure describing prostration with heads touching the ground, an Oriental symbol of complete submission (see Isa. 49:23). Assyrian bas-reliefs show captives crouching, faces on the ground, groveling at the feet of their conquerors.

Tarshish. See on Ps. 48:7. Sheba. In southeastern Arabia, whence the queen came to visit Solomon (see on 1 Kings 10:1). On the identification of Sheba and Seba see on Gen. 10:7. Gifts. Compare 1 Kings 10:10, 25 for fulfillment in Solomon’s time.

For. The king has merited the submission described in v. 11 because of the justice and mercy of his rule.

Redeem. Heb. ga’al (see on Ruth 2:20), “to act as a kinsman.” Precious. God will not permit the blood of saints to go unavenged (see 1 Sam. 26:21; 2 Kings 1:13; Ps. 116:15). “Never is the tempest-tried soul more dearly loved by his Saviour than when he is suffering reproach for the truth’s sake” (see AA 85, 86).

Corn. Grain (see on Ps. 65:9). Top of the mountains. Many cultivated fields in Palestine were terraced up to the tops of the mountains. Like Lebanon. A picture of the fields of grain on the high elevations, rustling in the breeze like the swaying cedars on Mt. Lebanon (see on Ps. 29:5). They of the city Prosperity will abound everywhere, in the open places of the mountains and in cities. Like grass.. Compare the picture of prosperity in Solomon’s time (1 Kings 4:20).

Shall endure. This verse will reach its final and complete fulfillment in the reign of Christ over the entire earth (see PP 755). Shall be blessed. See Gal. 3:14; Eph. 1:3; cf. Gen. 12:3; 18:18; 22:18; 26:4. Shall call him blessed. See Matt. 21:9; 23:39; Luke 19:38. This verse describes the ultimate glorification of the Messiah (cf. Matt. 25:31).

God of Israel. See on Ps. 41:13. Verses 18, 19 constitute a doxology marking the close of Book Two (see pp. 625, 626). Wondrous things. Compare Ex. 15:11; Job 5:9; Ps. 86:8, 10.

Name. See on Ps. 5:11; 7:17. Amen, and Amen. See on Ps. 41:13; cf. 89:52. In the OT repetition of “Amen” with the conjunction is found only in the doxologies of the psalms.

Prayers of David. This verse is probably an inscription of identification (a colophon), at the close of Book Two, to designate the fact that there are more Davidic psalms in Books One and Two than in Book Three (which carries the name of David in only one superscription). However, it has been observed that the verse may be interpreted as pertaining only to Ps. 72 in the sense that David had nothing more to pray for in that connection at that time.