Adult Bible Study

Psalms – Rhythms of Thinking and Feeling

Fall Session 10

Each Sunday at 9:45 a.m., our Bible study classes meet on campus and via Zoom. Reach out to our office to learn how you can join us.

Download this week's devotional

---

Psalm 72

Messianic – God’s Righteousness and Our Blessing

Psalm 72 is categorized as one of the “royal psalms”—those psalms whose content is focused on the life and success of the kings of Israel and Judah. They are a series of entreaties that request God’s blessing to establish and extend the righteous rule of the king so that all nations will submit to his reign and experience the blessings of God’s kingdom through Him. It is one of only two psalms that are attributed to Solomon, the son of David, who succeeded him on the throne; although there is some level of disagreement by various commentators regarding the heading, as to whether this psalm was written for Solomon by David, or written by Solomon himself. In either case, the clear intent is to associate Solomon in some fashion with the vision of enduring kingship articulated therein, for we immediately see (in vs. 1) a reference to the king (the assumption being David) and his son (Solomon).

This psalm has been given a special place within the English-speaking realm of Christianity, due to having a significant influence on two hymns: “Jesus Shall Reign” by Isaac Watts and “Hail to the Lord’s Anointed” by James Montgomery. In both cases, the hymn writers translate the terms of the earthly Israelite empire into those of Christ’s kingdom.

There are no direct references in the New Testament that proclaim this psalm to contain messianic overtones; however, the images represented within follow so closely on the heels of multiple passages from Isaiah (11:1-5 and Isaiah 60-62) that most commentators proclaim the obvious connection.