For Solomon.

Here is “A glowing description of the reign of Messiah as righteous, Ps 72:1-7; universal, Ps 72:8-11; beneficent, Ps 72:12-14; and perpetual, Ps 72:15-17; to which are added a doxology, Ps 72:18-19; and a postscript, Ps 72:20.” (Alexander)

This was one of the psalms which Isaac Watts (1674-1748) “christianised”. The resultant hymn was ‘Jesus shall reign’. Watts is, in fact, regarded as the father of modern hymnody in England. He first used psalms, the ‘made David Christian’ (see also Psa 148 – “I’ll praise my Maker”) and finally wrote hymns independent of the psalms (e.g. “When I survey”).

‘Hail to the Lord’s anointed’, by James Montgomery, is another Christian version of this psalm,  In comparison to Watts’ work it is more this-worldly, and more political in orientation.

‘Psalm 72 is a prayer for a king who would protect the poor, a psalm that looks beyond Solomon to an ideal just king. The Old Testament goes on to predict that the Messiah will execute justice on God’s behalf (Isa 9:7; 11:3-4; 16:4b-5; 28:17). In the New Testament, Jesus already begins to carry out the Father’s justice while on earth (Matt 12:18-21; John 5:28-30), but it is in the future that he will execute God’s will over all (Acts 17:31; Rev 19:11).’ (EDBT)

72:1 O God, grant the king the ability to make just decisions!
Grant the king’s son the ability to make fair decisions!
72:2 Then he will judge your people fairly,
and your oppressed ones equitably.
72:3 The mountains will bring news of peace to the people,
and the hills will announce justice.
72:4 He will defend the oppressed among the people;
he will deliver the children of the poor
and crush the oppressor.
72:5 People will fear you as long as the sun and moon remain in the sky,
for generation after generation.
72:6 He will descend like rain on the mown grass,
like showers that drench the earth.
72:7 During his days the godly will flourish;
peace will prevail as long as the moon remains in the sky.
72:8 May he rule from sea to sea,
and from the Euphrates River to the ends of the earth!
72:9 Before him the coastlands will bow down,
and his enemies will lick the dust.
72:10 The kings of Tarshish and the coastlands will offer gifts;
the kings of Sheba and Seba will bring tribute.

This verse has been used to support the conjecture that the Magi of Mt 2 were kings. Calvin mocks the ignorance of this:

‘Ingenious workmen, truly, who, in order to present those men in a new shape, have begun with turning the world from one side to another: for they have changed the south and west into the east! Beyond all doubt, they have been stupified by a righteous judgment of God, that all might laugh at the gross ignorance of those who have not scrupled to adulterate “and, change the truth of God into a lie,”.’ (Rom 1:25)

72:11 All kings will bow down to him;
all nations will serve him.
72:12 For he will rescue the needy when they cry out for help,
and the oppressed who have no defender.
72:13 He will take pity on the poor and needy;
the lives of the needy he will save.
72:14 From harm and violence he will defend them;
he will value their lives.

vv8-14 – For Grudem (Systematic Theology, 2nd ed.) this passage supports the doctrine of (classical) premillennialism:

‘This passage certainly speaks of a messianic rule far more extensive than that experienced by David or Solomon because this Messiah’s kingdom extends “to the ends of the earth,” and “all nations serve him” (vv. 8, 11; note that the psalm also says: “May they fear you while the sun endures, and as long as the moon, throughout all generations!” v. 5). This will be a reign in righteousness, in justice—but it certainly will not be the eternal state. There are still “the needy” and “the poor and him who has no helper”; there are still people who need to be rescued “from oppression and violence” (vv. 12–14). There will still be enemies who “will lick the dust” under the reign of this righteous King (v. 9). All of this speaks of an age far different from the present age but short of the eternal state in which there is no more sin or suffering.’

72:15 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!

v15 – This prayer for the king ‘spreads as it proceeds’ (NBC): from king to people to creation to the whole world.

72:16 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!
72:17 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!

May his name live forever – The eternity of the Messiah is witnessed in Psa 89:36; 110:4; Isa. 9:7.

All nations will be blessed through him, and they will call him blessed – Note the universalism of this, and its similarity to the promise to Abraham, Gen 12:3..

72:18 The LORD God, the God of Israel, deserves praise!
He alone accomplishes amazing things!
72:19 His glorious name deserves praise forevermore!
May his majestic splendor fill the whole earth!
We agree! We agree!
72:20 This collection of the prayers of David son of Jesse ends here.

Verses 18-20 form a conclusion to the second book of psalms, cf. 41:13.