# Psalm 72 đź“–: The Reign of the Righteous King
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[[-Psalm Overview]] | [[Psalm 71]] | [[Psalm 73]]
> [!info] Table of Contents
> [[#đź“ś Scripture Text (NET)]]
> [[#đź“– Verse-by-Verse Commentary]]
> [[#🤔 Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights]]
> [[#🧠Chapter Summary]]
> [[#✝️ Christ in This Chapter]]
> [[#🔎 Key Principles / 🛟 Life Application]]
> [[#đź’¬ Discussion Questions]]
> [[#✍️ Key Verses to Remember]]
> [[#đź”— Related Passages/Cross Reference]]
> [[#🙏 Devotional Reflection]]
> [[#đź“‚ Internal Notes]]
## đź“ś Scripture Text (NET)
(The NET Bible: New English Translation. Biblical Studies Press, 2005)
#### For Solomon.
[[#Verse 01.]]Â O God, grant the king the ability to make just decisions.
Grant the king’s son the ability to make fair decisions.
[[#Verse 02.]] Then he will judge your people fairly,
and your oppressed ones equitably.
[[#Verse 03.]]Â The mountains will bring news of peace to the people,
and the hills will announce justice.
[[#Verse 04.]] He will defend the oppressed among the people;
he will deliver the children of the poor
and crush the oppressor.
[[#Verse 05.]] People will fear you as long as the sun and moon remain in the sky,
for generation after generation.
[[#Verse 06.]] He will descend like rain on the mown grass,
like showers that drench the earth.
[[#Verse 07.]]Â During his days the godly will flourish;
peace will prevail as long as the moon remains in the sky.
[[#Verse 08.]] May he rule from sea to sea,
and from the Euphrates River to the ends of the earth.
[[#Verse 09.]] Before him the coastlands will bow down,
and his enemies will lick the dust.
[[#Verse 10.]] The kings of Tarshish and the coastlands will offer gifts;
the kings of Sheba and Seba will bring tribute.
[[#Verse 11.]]Â All kings will bow down to him;
all nations will serve him.
[[#Verse 12.]] For he will rescue the needy when they cry out for help,
and the oppressed who have no defender.
[[#Verse 13.]] He will take pity on the poor and needy;
the lives of the needy he will save.
[[#Verse 14.]]Â From harm and violence he will defend them;
he will value their lives.
[[#Verse 15.]] May he live! May they offer him gold from Sheba.
May they continually pray for him.
May they pronounce blessings on him all day long.
[[#Verse 16.]] May there be an abundance of grain in the earth;
on the tops of the mountains may it sway.
May its fruit trees flourish like the forests of Lebanon.
May its crops be as abundant as the grass of the earth.
[[#Verse 17.]]Â May his fame endure.
May his dynasty last as long as the sun remains in the sky.
May they use his name when they formulate their blessings.
May all nations consider him to be favored by God.
[[#Verse 18.]] The Lord God, the God of Israel, deserves praise.
He alone accomplishes amazing things.
[[#Verse 19.]] His glorious name deserves praise forevermore.
May his majestic splendor fill the whole earth.
We agree! We agree!
[[#Verse 20.]]Â This collection of the prayers of David son of Jesse ends here.
## đź“– Verse-by-Verse Commentary
###### Overall.
###### Verse 01.
###### Verse 02.
###### Verse 03.
###### Verse 04.
###### Verse 05.
###### Verse 06.
###### Verse 07.
###### Verse 08.
###### Verse 09.
###### Verse 10.
###### Verse 11.
###### Verse 12.
###### Verse 13.
###### Verse 14.
###### Verse 15.
###### Verse 16.
###### Verse 17.
###### Verse 18.
###### Verse 19.
###### Verse 20.
## 🤔 Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights
1. The heading attributes Psalm 72 to Solomon, the son of David.
2. It closes Book II of the Psalms with a doxology (72:18-19).
3. Psalm 72:20 says, "This collection of the prayers of David son of Jesse ends," marking the end of a collection, even though later psalms are also attributed to David.
4. The phrase "from sea to sea" (72:8) is quoted in Zechariah 9:10 about the coming King.
5. Tarshish was far to the west, while Sheba and Seba were in the south, likely southern Arabia and Africa (72:10).
6. The Queen of Sheba brought gifts to Solomon (1 Kings 10:1-10).
7. Many Christians see the gifts of the Magi to Jesus (Matthew 2:11) as an echo of this psalm.
8. Isaac Watts based his hymn "Jesus Shall Reign Where'er the Sun" on Psalm 72.
9. The promise that all nations will be blessed through the king (72:17) echoes God's promise to Abraham (Genesis 12:3).
10. Grain growing on the tops of the mountains (72:16) pictures unexpected abundance.
## 🧠Chapter Summary
> [!note] 🌱 Still growing. This section is on its way.
## ✝️ Christ in This Chapter
Christ is the righteous King who rules from sea to sea and defends the poor (72:8, 12). Kings brought gifts to the newborn Jesus (Matthew 2:11), and all nations will be blessed through Him (72:17; Galatians 3:8).
## 🔎 Key Principles / 🛟 Life Application
> [!note] 🌱 Still growing. This section is on its way.
## đź’¬ Discussion Questions
1. The king is to defend the poor and needy (72:4, 12-14). How does Jesus show this kind of care, and how can we reflect it?
2. The king's rule is compared to rain on newly cut grass (72:6). How does Christ's reign bring refreshment to people's lives?
3. The psalm ends with praise that God's glory would fill the whole earth (72:19). How can you take part in spreading His glory?
## ✍️ Key Verses to Remember
- đź“– verse 1: O God, grant the king the ability to make just decisions.
- đź“– verse 8: May he rule from sea to sea, from the Euphrates River to the ends of the earth.
- đź“– verse 17: May all nations be blessed through him and call him happy.
## đź”— Related Passages/Cross Reference
- đź”— [[Isaiah 11#Verse 01.|Isaiah 11:1-5]] - The righteous branch from Jesse.
- đź”— [[Matthew 02#Verse 01.|Matthew 2:1-11]] - The Magi bring gifts to Jesus.
- đź”— [[Zechariah 09#Verse 09.|Zechariah 9:9-10]] - The King rules from sea to sea.
- đź”— [[1 Kings 10#Verse 01.|1 Kings 10:1-10]] - The Queen of Sheba visits Solomon.
- đź”— [[Revelation 11#Verse 15.|Revelation 11:15]] - He will reign forever.
## 🙏 Devotional Reflection
đź“ť SOAP: [[Psalm 72 - SOAP|Have the Right Compass for Justice]]
## đź“‚ Internal Notes