Psalm 72 - Messianic?

Debby in Philly · Nov 24, 2004

Our Sunday School materials deal with Psalm 72 next week, and treat it as prophecy. It is attributed to Solomon, and reads very much to me as a prayer for either his father David or himself as king. Is this usually considered prophecy as well?

Psalm 72

Of Solomon.

1 Endow the king with your justice, O God,
the royal son with your righteousness.
2 He will judge your people in righteousness,
your afflicted ones with justice.
3 The mountains will bring prosperity to the people,
the hills the fruit of righteousness.
4 He will defend the afflicted among the people
and save the children of the needy;
he will crush the oppressor.

5 He will endure as long as the sun,
as long as the moon, through all generations.
6 He will be like rain falling on a mown field,
like showers watering the earth.
7 In his days the righteous will flourish;
prosperity will abound till the moon is no more.

8 He will rule from sea to sea
and from the River to the ends of the earth.
9 The desert tribes will bow before him
and his enemies will lick the dust.
10 The kings of Tarshish and of distant shores
will bring tribute to him;
the kings of Sheba and Seba
will present him gifts.
11 All kings will bow down to him
and all nations will serve him.

12 For he will deliver the needy who cry out,
the afflicted who have no one to help.
13 He will take pity on the weak and the needy
and save the needy from death.
14 He will rescue them from oppression and violence,
for precious is their blood in his sight.

15 Long may he live!
May gold from Sheba be given him.
May people ever pray for him
and bless him all day long.
16 Let grain abound throughout the land;
on the tops of the hills may it sway.
Let its fruit flourish like Lebanon;
let it thrive like the grass of the field.
17 May his name endure forever;
may it continue as long as the sun.

All nations will be blessed through him,
and they will call him blessed.

18 Praise be to the LORD God, the God of Israel,
who alone does marvelous deeds.
19 Praise be to his glorious name forever;
may the whole earth be filled with his glory.
Amen and Amen.

20 This concludes the prayers of David son of Jesse.

NIV
Click to expand...

richard n koustas · Nov 24, 2004

I happen to be reading a book on Messianic Psalms (by T. Ernist Wilson). this psalm is in the book. if I get a chance later, i'll pass along some thots.

redeemed-in-full,

richard n koustas

Dr. Bob · Nov 24, 2004

Yes. While it fits generally (and hyperbolic) to Shlomo and is David's prayer for him, the language is also prophetic of the Messianic Kingdom.

Thus it is with much OT prophecy. It was written to real people at a real time, but with overtones perhaps not even recognized by the writer to a greater event.

v 1-4 could be literal of Shlomo (Solomon)
v 5-8 are hyperbole for Shlomo but REAL for Jesus!
and so on

Beautiful rendition in the NIV

Charles Meadows · Nov 24, 2004

Definitely stong aspects of messianic hope here!

I've always disliked the idea of classifying passages as "messianic" or "non messianic".

Each passage in the OT has some contextual relevance for its current situation - but the whole OT reflects the hope of God's eventual deliverance.

If you can find it the BEST book on this bar none is "The Lord's Annointed" by Phillip Satterthwaite.

richard n koustas · Nov 24, 2004

Summarizing the chapter in the book:

Although not specifically quoted in the NT, the psalm is a picture, or type of the millennial reign of the Messiah (amillennialists, of course, would have a different interpretation )! Jesus was from the line of David (i.e., 'the King's son'). The psalm starts out in judgment, Solomon had to judge righteously we he became king, Jesus will administer justice in the final battle at the end of the tribulation period. Solomon had a peaceful reign for 40 years, Jesus's millennial reign will be peaceful.

vs. 8-11 spells out the extent of Solomon's influence (the whole known world). Jesus's influence (or dominion) will extend to the entire planet.

vv. 12-15 Like Solomon, Jesus will judge impartially during His reign.

vv. 17-19 seems to point to the fulfillment of the promises God made to Abraham in Genesis 12. This obviously had not happenned yet, but will during Jesus's reign.

Hope this helps.

Redeemed-in-full,

richard n koustas

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