The Kingdom We Long For (Psalm 72)

David, the king of Israel, is a man after God’s own heart. And Psalm 72 is David’s prayer for his son—the crown prince, Solomon.[1] In his prayer, David lays out five characteristics of godly government to be ultimately fulfilled in the Kingdom of Christ.[2] For in truth, every king, every president, every earthly ruler will point to Christ by either failure or by faithfulness. Any commendable virtues of human government bear God’s image and bring him glory. Yet any vices make us long for God’s Kingdom all the more.

Righteous Judgments (vv. 1-4)

We first desire a king who judges rightly: “Give the king your justice, O God, and your righteousness to the royal son! May he judge your people with righteousness, and your poor with justice!” (Ps 72:1-2). The repeated traits of “justice” and “righteousness” in this human king will reflect the character of heaven’s King. We long for leaders who rule with justice and guard the afflicted. In a just society, we expect laws and governance to protect people and not oppress them. For God himself is our righteous standard as David calls for “your justice, O God, and your righteousness” to help “your people . . . and your poor.” Such virtues belong to God alone, thus only God can share them. David prays for his son to be a just and righteous king who reflects God’s character as he rules God’s people. He prays with hope for Solomon’s future reign: “Let the mountains bear prosperity for the people, and the hills, in righteousness! May he defend the cause of the poor of the people, give deliverance to the children of the needy, and crush the oppressor!” (vv. 3-4). A good king brings blessings for his people until all the earth rejoices. He ministers to the poor and needy because he cares about righteous judgments. He saves his people from wrongful affliction by crushing their oppressors. He ushers in the shalom of perfect peace.[3]

When Solomon does ascend the throne, he too prays for help (1 Kgs 3:6-9). He humbly calls himself God’s “servant” and “a little child.” He requests the wise discernment to be a good king and recalls his father’s loving relationship with God. Yet Solomon will not continue to depend on God (1 Kgs 11-12). As his reign continues, he turns away from Yahweh to follow other gods. He marries pagan women and chases worldly pleasures. He oppressively taxes his own people to finance prideful building projects. His kingdom may have started well, but it crumbles in disaster. For Solomon is just another politician who started out with good intentions, but eventually grows prideful. Compared to Solomon, then, we long for a King who is always righteous in his judgments (Isa 11:1-5)—a King who protects the afflicted and brings us lasting peace. This King is Christ, whose Kingdom can never be corrupted. He won’t take bribes to look the other way, oppress the needy, or withhold justice. The King of kings will never let his people down.

We thank God when earthly rulers, by common grace, do what is right or govern people wisely (Rom 13:1-5). But when they oppress the afflicted, we lament—we pray—we speak for those who have no voice and rejoice whenever goodness triumphs (Prov 31:8). All this longing serves to point our hearts to Christ, who alone is righteous in his judgments. For despite our grumbling and complaining, we are just as guilty as the slimiest of politicians. We don’t always live righteously, nor are we perfect in our wisdom. We just don’t have the power and authority to live out our wicked hearts. If we received true justice, it would mean our condemnation, for all of us fall short before a holy God (Rom 3:23). If we got only what was fair, then the paycheck for our sin is eternal separation from our Creator (Rom 6:23a). We long for righteous judgments when we really need shalom—the peace of God and peace with God. We need our sins forgiven. We need a Savior, Jesus Christ, to sacrifice his life for us that we might be made righteous (2 Cor 5:21). And in this way, Christ is both our Judge who condemns us and our Righteousness who takes our place (Rom 3:26). He is the King we long for during every election and political cycle. For when Jesus looks at us, he sees all our sins and shortcomings all at once. He intimately knows our hearts, then forgives us by his grace. His mercy ushers us into his kingdom—blameless and above reproach (Col 1:21-22). His suffering grants us perfect peace. And this is the good news that we truly long for.

Eternal Endurance (vv. 5-7)

Christ’s kingdom is not just righteous, but also eternal: “May they fear you while the sun endures, and as long as the moon, throughout all generations!” (Ps 72:5). David prays that Israel will fear the Lord through every generation—that they will love God and revere him and delight in his goodness forever. The sun and moon have been around since the beginning of creation—before God created man. So, David prays that his people’s faithfulness will endure forever—even longer than the heavenly bodies (Ps 89:36-37). And as for God’s king, “May he be like rain that falls on the mown grass, like showers that water the earth!” (Ps 72:6). David prays that the king will refresh his people like the morning dew that glistens on blades of grass—like the life-giving rain enriching thirsty farmland after a lengthy drought. Water for crops in ancient Israel is a picture of God’s provision—his abundant blessings. So, a good king is welcomed by his people like a cultivated field welcomes the rain. A good king brings blessings to all like the sun rising on a cloudless morning (2 Sam 23:3-4).

“In his days may the righteous flourish, and peace abound, till the moon be no more!” (Ps 72:7). David had been a man of war, but he prays for Solomon (whose name means “peace”) to usher in righteousness and shalom. Again, he prays for his son’s reign to endure longer than the moon. Yet a glance into the night sky reveals that the moon has long outlasted Solomon. The sun still rises and sets over Solomon’s grave. Thus, David’s prayer awaits a different King—an eternal King who would establish his Kingdom here on earth long after sun and moon have been destroyed (Rev 6:12). This can only speak of Christ the King—the Greater Son of David, whose kingdom will surely last forever. Then, and only then, shall the righteous truly flourish and shalom abound. The only King to reign for all eternity will be Jesus Christ our Lord, the promised Seed of David (2 Sam 7:12-13; Phil 2:9-11). He is that King we long for—a King greater than Solomon who emerges from the shadows of Psalm 72. He is the King who overcomes all other kingdoms, as is foretold, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever” (Rev 11:15b).

Global Expanse (vv. 8-11)

David also prays that his son’s kingdom will be global in its expanse: “May he have dominion from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth!” (Ps 72:8). David’s son would receive God’s covenant land promises for Israel. And Solomon’s kingdom, at its peak, would expand to reach these borders (1 Kgs 4:20-21; 10:1-29; 2 Chr 9:26)—from the Red Sea to the Mediterranean (Exod 23:31)—from the Euphrates River to the ends of the earth (2 Sam 7:14). Solomon would conquer all his enemies (“lick the dust”) and receive their tribute (“bow down before him”). They would honor him from the east (“desert tribes”), the west (“the kings of Tarshish and of the coastlands”), the north, and the south (“the kings of Sheba and Seba”). All the nations would serve him when God grants his king “dominion” (Ps 72:9-11; see Gen 1:26, 28).

Yet not even Solomon, in all his glory, could maintain the borders of his kingdom. Just like the kings before and after, he would falter in the end. Thus, Israel would await a future King who “shall speak peace to the nations; his rule shall be from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth” (Zech 9:10b-c). This Ruler can only be King Jesus as foretold by Zechariah: “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey” (9:9; see Matt 21:5). When Jesus enters Jerusalem, riding on a donkey, he comes as the King we long for and the fulfillment of David’s prayer. His people greatly rejoice and shout aloud, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” (v. 9). Thus, Psalm 72 reminds us that many will flock to Christ from every culture, nation, and people—east, west, north, and south. His kingdom is a global kingdom and his good news for all the world. So we anticipate, in Christ’s eternal kingdom, “a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, ‘Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!’” (Rev 7:9-10). For if God’s mission is to establish a global kingdom, then we must be global Christians.

Powerful Compassion (vv. 12-14)

This King we long for will be both strong in power and compassionate of heart: “For he delivers the needy when he calls, the poor and him who has no helper. He has pity on the weak and the needy, and saves the lives of the needy” (Ps 72:12-13). A good king cares about his people, but also has the power to save them: “From oppression and violence he redeems their life, and precious is their blood in his sight” (v. 14). Some rulers might be compassionate, while unable to help. Many are powerful, though not very kind. But a good king is both merciful and mighty. And such is the nature of King Jesus who was filled with compassion for his people “because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd” (Matt 9:36). Christ defends the helpless and delivers the afflicted, for he alone has the power to save lost people (Acts 4:12). Only Christ is both sovereign over nations and also tender toward the weak (Titus 2:11). So, what draws people to follow Christ isn’t just his miracles or his teaching, but his powerful compassion. Jesus takes pity on the poor and rescues the undeserving sinner. So, as we share good news, we also listen to people’s hurts and enter with them into suffering. We pray with them and care for their souls as we express the love of Christ. For Jesus not only loves them, but is able also to help them. Evangelism is simply telling people what Christ has done for us and what he can also do for them.

Universal Blessing (vv. 15-17)

The final characteristic of godly government is universal blessing. As David petitions for his son, “Long may he live; may gold of Sheba be given to him! May prayer be made for him continually, and blessings invoked for him all the day!” (Ps 72:15; see 1 Kgs 10:1-13). Many wish their rulers long life and continuous favor (e.g., 1 Kgs 1:34). But in truth, no human king is guaranteed longevity and every earthly kingdom will one day end. Not even all the gold of Sheba can preserve a kingdom, for earthly treasures last for but a moment. David prays for abundant blessings in both the fields and cities (Ps 72:16). He prays for Solomon’s name to “endure forever” and his fame to “continue as long as the sun” (v. 17). He prays for all the people to be blessed in him and for all the nations to call him blessed (Gen 12:2-3). Yet these hopes cannot simply speak of Solomon. For although Israel anticipated their promised king, Solomon could not deliver on that promise. Though his name might mean shalom, he was not the Prince of Peace (Isa 9:6; see Eph 2:14). Though his father called him, “beloved of the Lord,” he was not God’s true beloved Son (2 Sam 12:24-25; see Matt 3:17). For Solomon gave his heart to pagan women who turned his heart to pagan gods. Then, God raised up adversaries against the king and divided the kingdom under Solomon’s son (1 Kgs 11-12). In this way, kings and kingdoms come and go, for all the kings in all their glory cannot compare to Christ. Only Christ can bless his people with “every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places” (Eph 1:3). Only Christ fulfills our deepest longings as the King of kings. So, we place our trust in Jesus and pray with lasting hope: “Come, Lord Jesus, come!” (Rev 22:20).

Doxological Conclusion (vv. 18-19)[4]

We then praise the Lord as we anticipate his glorious soon return: “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who alone does wondrous things. Blessed be his glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory! Amen and Amen!” (Ps 72:18-19). David blesses Yahweh, the covenant God of Israel. For he alone can do such wondrous works. His name is forever blessed as his glory fills the earth. For Solomon, and even David, fell short of universal glory and their kingdoms did not last forever. Yet the Kingdom of Christ will accomplish everything that earthly kingdoms can’t. And a double Amen to that!

Life Application Study:

1. Read Psalm 72 as David’s prayer for his son, Solomon, then see how it points to Christ.

2. Read about Solomon’s folly and its deadly consequences (1 Kgs 11-12). How does the failure of earthly rulers still point us to Christ? How does it compel you to pray for those in authority over you (1 Tim 2:1-2)?

3. Is your heart filled with Christ-like compassion for the poor and needy (Matt 9:36)? What is one tangible way you can serve the helpless or defend the needy from oppression?
4. Do you glory in Christ as both powerful and compassionate to save you (Titus 2:11)? Share the good news of Christ’s sovereign love with someone in your life today (Phil 2:9-11).
5. Imagine the global expanse and universal blessing of Christ’s future Kingdom (Rev 7:9-20; 11:15). Rejoice as you anticipate the glories of eternal life with Christ (Ps 72:18-19)!
6. Pray Psalm 72 back to God as you express your longing for his Kingdom:
   1. God, establish your righteousness and justice on the earth (vv. 1-4).
   2. May your glory and your blessings endure forever (vv. 5-7, 15-17).
   3. May your name go forth to the ends of the earth (vv. 8-11).
   4. May all the peoples rejoice in your compassionate mercy (vv. 12-14).
   5. Blessed be the Lord, who alone does wondrous things (vv. 18-20).

[1] The superscription, “Of Solomon,” could either mean the psalm was written by Solomon or for Solomon. Either way, it is about Solomon, who is both the future “king” and David’s “royal son” (v. 1). Books I and II of the psalter are primarily “the prayers of David” (72:20) and Psalm 71 has just spoken of Adonijah’s attempted coup which led to David anointing Solomon (1 Kgs 1).

[2] In this chapter, I capitalize “King” and “Kingdom” to set apart Christ from any earthly rulers.

[3] David repeatedly prays for shalom (“prosperity” [v. 3], “peace” [v. 7]), which is a variation of Solomon’s name.

[4] Verse 20 serves as a conclusion to both Books I and II of the psalter, which were mostly written by “David, the son of Jesse.” Throughout Psalms 1-72, David points forward to the King we long for. Thus, Jesus is that “blessed” man “who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night” (Ps 1:1-3). Jesus is that Anointed King against whom “the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain” (Ps 2:1). For God has set his Son in Zion as the King of kings and “blessed are all who take refuge in him” (vv. 6, 12c).