THRU THE BIBLE EXPOSITION

Psalms: God's Nurture Of The Inner Man In The Life Of Faith

LXXII: God's Blessings That Flow From His Righteous Rulers

(Psalm 72:1-20)

I. Introduction

A. Scripture teaches that those who lead God's people must administer their offices rightly to be a blessing.

B. Psalm 72:1-20 pictures God's blessings that flow from His righteous rulers, and we view it for our application:

II. God's Blessings That Flow From His Righteous Rulers, Psalm 72:1-20.

A. The introductory remarks of this psalm are part of the first verse (Kittel, Biblia Hebraica, p. 1037), so we stay with the numbering system of the English Bible.

B. We thus translate Psalm 72:1-20 as follows:

1. "O Elohim, endow the king with Your justice, the royal son with Your righteousness," Psalm 72:1.

2. "He will judge Your people with righteousness, Your afflicted ones with justice," Psalm 72:2.

3. "The mountains will bring prosperity to the people, the hills the fruit of righteousness," Psalm 72:3.

4. "He will defend the afflicted among the people and save the children of the needy; he will crush the oppressor," Psalm 72:4.

5. "He will be feared as long as the sun, as long as the moon, through all generations," Psalm 72:5.

6. "He will be like the rain falling on a mown field, like showers watering the earth," Psalm 72:6.

7. "In his days the righteous will flourish, and prosperity will abound 'til the moon is no more," Psalm 72:7.

8. "He will rule from sea to sea and from the (Euphrates) River to the ends of the earth," Psalm 72:8.

9. "The desert tribes will bow before him and his enemies will lick the dust," Psalm 72:9.

10. "The kings of Tarshish and of distant shores will bring tribute to him; the kings of Sheba and Seba will present him gifts," Psalm 72:10.

11. "All of the kings will bow down to him and all nations will serve him," Psalm 72:11.

12. "Because he will deliver the needy who cry out, the afflicted who have no one to help," Psalm 72:12.

13. "He will take pity on the weak and the needy and save the life principles of the needy," Psalm 72:13.

14. "He will redeem their life principles from oppression and violence, for their blood is precious in his sight," Psalm 72:14.

15. "Long may he live! May gold from Sheba be given him. May people ever pray for him and bless him all day long," Psalm 72:15.

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," Psalm 72:16.

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," Psalm 72:17.

18. "Praise be to Jahweh Elohim, the Elohim of Israel, Who alone performs marvelous deeds," Psalm 72:18.

19. "Praise be to His glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with His glory. Amen and Amen," Psalm 72:19.

20. "This concludes the prayers of David, the son of Jesse," Psalm 72:20.

C. We note significant observations and applications of this psalm (as follows):

1. This psalm for the righteous king who rules describes God's blessings on his rule based on his tendency to value (v. 14) so as to use his power as king to help vulnerable and oppressed subjects (v. 12-14).

2. Such blessings include (a) financial prosperity (v. 3, 7, 10, 15, 16), (b) a long reign (v. 5, 15), (c) sustained political support from subjects (v. 15b), (d) respect from other nations (v. 10, 17), (e) spiritual vibrancy in his subjects (v. 15b), (f) respect from his subjects (v. 5), (g) influence (v. 8), (h) powerlessness of his foes against him (v. 5), (i) being a source of blessing to others (v. 6) and (j) agricultural blessings (v. 16).

3. The Source of this blessing is God who approves of the king's focus on helping the helpless, v. 18-20.

Lesson: Just as God did for Israel's kings, and as He will ultimately do for the coming eternal reign of the Lord Jesus Christ, God comprehensively blesses that king who uses his office as king to help weak, vulnerable subjects.

Application: (1) If God has assigned us a role of oversight, may we view that role as a means of bettering the welfare of vulnerable subordinates versus functioning for our own interests to our subordinates' loss. (2) If we have a part in choosing a party for an oversight position, may we select one who is considerate of needy subjects.