Psalm 72:1-20
The King Who Judges
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1Of Solomon. Endow the king with Your justice, O God, and the son of the king with Your righteousness.
2May he judge Your people with righteousness and Your afflicted with justice.
3May the mountains bring peace to the people, and the hills bring righteousness.
4May he vindicate the afflicted among the people; may he save the children of the needy and crush the oppressor.
5May they fear him as long as the sun shines, as long as the moon remains, through all generations.
6May he be like rain that falls on freshly cut grass, like spring showers that water the earth.
7May the righteous flourish in his days and prosperity abound until the moon is no more.
8May he rule from sea to sea, and from the Euphrates to the ends of the earth.
9May the nomads bow before him, and his enemies lick the dust.
10May the kings of Tarshish and distant shores bring tribute; may the kings of Sheba and Seba offer gifts.
11May all kings bow down to him and all nations serve him.
12For he will deliver the needy who cry out and the afflicted who have no helper.
13He will take pity on the poor and needy and save the lives of the oppressed.
14He will redeem them from oppression and violence, for their blood is precious in his sight.
15Long may he live! May gold from Sheba be given him. May people ever pray for him; may they bless him all day long.
16May there be an abundance of grain in the land; may it sway atop the hills. May its fruit trees flourish like the forests of Lebanon, the people of its cities like the grass of the field.
17May his name endure forever; may his name continue as long as the sun shines. In him may all nations be blessed; may they call him blessed.
18Blessed be the LORD God, the God of Israel, who alone does marvelous deeds.
19And blessed be His glorious name forever; may all the earth be filled with His glory. Amen and amen.
20Thus conclude the prayers of David son of Jesse.
Berean Standard Bible
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The psalm asks God to give the king His judgments and righteousness. The king's task is to judge the people fairly and defend the afflicted, save the children of the needy, and crush the oppressor. Royal glory is measured by protection of the vulnerable, not by palace display.
The righteous flourish under his reign, and peace abounds. He rules from sea to sea, but his dominion is described in terms of compassion: he rescues the needy who cry out, pities the weak, and saves the poor from violence. Their blood is precious in his sight.
The king receives gold and prayer, but the final praise belongs to the LORD, who alone does wondrous deeds. The vision is expansive and hopeful, yet it sets a standard no ordinary ruler fully meets. The prayer reaches toward a reign lasting as long as the sun, with blessing for all nations. Christians read this hope in light of Jesus, to whom God gives David’s throne and a kingdom without end (Luke 1:32–33).
Questions
1 What is the king asked to do?
AnswerHe is asked to judge fairly, defend the afflicted, save the needy, and crush oppression.
2 Who receives the king's compassion?
AnswerThe poor, weak, needy, and those suffering violence receive his attention and protection.
3 What is precious in his sight?
AnswerThe blood and lives of the needy are precious, so violence against them cannot be treated as insignificant.
4 Who receives final praise?
AnswerThe LORD alone receives final praise because He alone does wondrous deeds.
What This Means for Us
The king pays attention to someone who has no helper. That is a useful test of our own influence. Whether we lead a household, a team, or a church, who becomes safer and better heard because we take responsibility?
We can pray for human rulers to practice justice while placing our deepest hope in Jesus’ lasting kingdom. The lives this psalm calls precious are never disposable to Him. Honor the King by caring for people who are easy for others to overlook.
Prayer
LORD, give leaders justice and compassion. Defend the poor and afflicted, make their lives precious in public decisions, and keep our own influence aimed at protection rather than prestige. Amen.