The Ideal King – Psalm 72

Psalm 72 closes the second book of the Psalter. The collection is arranged in 5 parts echoing the Pentateuch (5 books of Moses). Book 1: 1-41, book 2: 42-72, book 3: 73-89, book 4: 90-106, book 5: 107-150. Each book closes doxologically extolling the Lord, blessing Him with worship and praise and calling for the participation of the congregant and bidding his hearty “Amen!”. These notes of emphatic conclusion proclaim and bid the mutual affirmation of the singers to proclaim the glories of the Lordship of the one ultimate and true King of Kings. He is the final subject of the Psalms including ours today. As is often the case, the author utilizes the occasion of the royal calling of the throne of David to extol the virtues of the ideal king. These qualifications are a mandate and prayer for David and His sons to live up to in part, but they are much more. In commemorating the character of the ideal king, the song transcends the capacity of a merely earthly ruler. Psalm 72 points forward to the truly ideal King of Kings, the ultimate Son of David, Son of God: Jesus Christ! This coronation themed ode thus spans promises and proclamation from Gen 12:2-3 where Abraham receives the covenant of blessing to all the families of the earth... to Rev 11:15 where the voices in heaven shout: “The kingdom of the world, has become the kingdom of our Lord, and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever.”