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72
By the hand of Solomon, said in prophecy. * This Psalm is rendered by the Targum, Jewish Commentary on the Psalms compiled before Third Century AD, as relating to the Messianic Kingdom Age. It is adjusted to reflect this particular rendering. † MP: The Targum (Judaism’s commentary on Psalms composed by Third Century AD) treats all of Psalm chapter 72 as Messianic. (Dan 7:27)
Concerning the coming of the Messiah, and the calling of the Gentiles. ‡ Title from the Syriac Version of the Psalms, this complete title was written in by R' Ovadia ben R' Shmuel. Note, some, not all, notes made in Psalm 72 are in reference to John Gill’s Exposition of the Old and New Testament (1746-1763).
Context: David [Beloved] publicly gives Solomon his blessing as his heir. David [Beloved] instructs Solomon in kingly matters. The people rejoice and receive their next king with great joy and with God’s favor. Solomon seeks God’s favor on his kingship. (1 Chr 28-29; 2 Chr 1 (esp 2 Chr 1:7-13))
1 God, give your mishpat ·justice· to the King Messiah [Anointed one];
§ MP: “Your Righteousness” refers to the fullness of the seven fold Spirit of God (Is 11:1-2) and the perfection of graces and virtues without measure, “full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). This qualifies Messiah to be Mediator and Righteous Judge. (Is 11:2; Is 53:11). (John 1:14; Heb 4:15-16, 9:15) and your righteousness to * MP: Messiah’s name: “Son of David the King”. (Matt 1:1) the Son of David [Beloved] the King.
2 † “Right Judgments” refers not to specific Torah Commands already given, but the whole power and authority of his role as King. This explains why the following verses describe how the Messiah rules. (Matt 28:18; John 5:22, 5:30) ‡ MP: Messiah’s Kingdom subjects possess protection, deliverance, and salvation by Him, and all spiritual blessings in His Kingship (Is 32:17-18; Jer 33:15-16). This evidence shows He is the promised seed (Gen 12:7, 22:18; Gal 3:16), in whom all nations should be blessed (Ps 72:17). (John 5:22-24) He will judge your people with righteousness, § Quoted in Rev 19:11
and your poor afflicted ones with right judgments.
3 The mountains shall bring peace and prosperity to the people.
The hills bring the fruit of righteousness.
4 He will judge the poor of the people.
He will save the children of the needy,
and will break the oppressor in pieces.
5 * MP: Messiah’s kingdom endures as long as sun and moon, “throughout all generations.” (Rev 21:22-24) They shall fear you, the King Messiah [Anointed one], while the sun endures;
and as long as the moon, throughout all generations.
6 † MP: Messiah’s authority is like refreshing gentle rains on “cut grass,” that is parched, cracked ground. (Acts 3:19) He will come down like rain on the cut grass of the earth,
as showers that water the earth. ‡ Reference to Hosea 6:3, “Let us acknowledge Yahweh. Let us press on to know Yahweh. As surely as the sun rises, Yahweh will appear. He will come to us like the rain, like the spring rain that waters the earth.”
7 In his days, the upright shall be multiplied,
§ MP: Messiah’s Kingdom is characterized by enduring peace. (Rev 21:4, 21:27, 22:3, 22:14) and abundance of peace, until the moon is no more.
8 * MP: Messiah’s kingdom covers the entire world, both Jewish and Gentile nations (see parallel in Zech 9:10).
Note: This specific detail (Ps 72:8) cannot refer to Solomon, because his kingdom reached to the Philistine land and the border of Egypt (1 Kings 4:21). When applied to Solomon, it could refer to the land God cut out for Israel described in (Ex 23:31), from the Indian Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea, and the Euphrates River to the desert land. (Rev 17:14-15) He shall have dominion also from sea to sea,
from the River to the ends of the earth.
9 † MP: Worshiped by “desert nomads” also called Shepherds, (this rendering is debated by Scholars). Could also be Gentile nations living in the surrounding desert lands. Could be Gentiles in general living in a figurative wilderness born outside God’s covenant then coming into the covenant. (Luke 2:8-15; John 10:16) Those who dwell in the wilderness shall bow before him.
His enemies shall lick the dust. ‡ “Lick the Dust” is a reference to Semetic custom of prostrating yourself before the Ruler one is subject to. This custom is referred to in (Is 49:23) also in prophecy of Messiah’s Kingship.
10 § MP: Presented with tribute and gifts from foreign kings. Being interpreted as pertaining to the Magi [Conjurer] (Persian King makers, Astrologers) “from the east” (Matt 2:1). (See also Ps 72:15; Is 60:3, 60:6). (Matt 2:1, 2:11) The kings of Tarshish and of the islands will bring tribute.
The kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts.
11 * MP: All Nations and all kings will serve King Messiah willingly (as see in Is 2:2-3). (Rev 21:24) Yes, all kings shall hawa ·bow low, prostrate· before him.
All nations shall serve him.
12 † MP: Messiah serves the poor and needy who cannot repay in kind. This could reference a literal or spiritual condition or both. (Matt 1:21, 9:2-8; Luke 18:35-43; Eph 1:7) For he will deliver the needy when he cries;
the poor, who has no helper.
13 He will have pity on the poor and needy.
He will save the souls of the needy.
14 ‡ MP: This can be interpreted two ways. 1) Messiah prays for those who he has redeemed as Intercessor and Redeemer, or those redeemed will pray for the prosperity of their Redeemer. 2) Messiah redeems from violence. Spiritually referring to sin separating humans from God. Physically referring to Messiah as military leader and political redemption. Both are reason for humans to “continually bless him”. (Consider also in association with Ps 72:10; Is 60:3, 60:6). (John 14:13-16; Acts 1:6-8; Rom 8:26-27; Eph 5:20; Rev 19:11-16) He will redeem their soul from oppression and violence.
Their blood will be precious in his sight.
15 They shall live, and to him shall be given of the gold of Sheba.
Men shall pray for him continually.
They shall bless him all day long.
16 § MP: Corn referring to the kernel seed that starts small and grows to multiple abundance as the grass, likewise are Messiah and his disciples multiplying (according to R. Obadiah Gaon). Growing outside the city, in the land beyond borders, referencing a mixed group of Jew and non-Jew. By comparing this crop to “Lebanon,” it describes the quality of the produce grown. (John 12:24, 15:16; Heb 13:12) There shall be an abundance of corn throughout the land.
Its fruit sways like Lebanon.
* MP: This field must be outside the city walls, Talmud states the city referred to is Jerusalem because God cares for her specifically. Therefore the disciples growth and multiplication requires being sown outside Jerusalem among the nations (Bab. Talmud: Kethuboth Folio 111B ref. 29). (Luke 24:47; Acts 1:8) Let it flourish, thriving like the grass of the field outside the city.
17 † MP: Messiah’s name endures forever. His name is linked to his actions, the Good News of God’s Redemption (Acts 9:15). Talmud: Nedarim 39B, Pesachim 54A: “Seven things were created before the creation of the world” 1. Torah (Prov 8:22) 2. Repentance (Ps 90:2-3) 3. Garden of Eden Paradise (Gen 2:8) 4. Gehinnom Lake of Fire (Is 30:33) 5. The Throne of Glory (Ps 93:2) 6. The Tabernacle Temple (Jer 17:12) and 7. The Messiah’s name (Ps 72:17). (Acts 9:15; Heb 4:3; 1 Peter 1:20; Rev 13:8) His name endures forever.
His name existed before the creation of the sun.
‡ MP: In the Messiah all nations will be blessed. This adds to defining the prophecy to Abraham in (Gen 22:18). All nations will call King Messiah blessed. (Eph 1:3) Men shall be blessed by him.
All nations will call him blessed.
18 Praise be to Adonai God, the God of Israel [God prevails], § Quoted in Luke 1:68
who alone does marvelous deeds.
19 Blessed be his kavod ·weighty glorious· name forever!
Let the whole earth be filled with his kavod ·weighty glory·!
Amen v'Amen ·So be it and So be it·.
20 This ends the prayers by David [Beloved], the son of Jesse [My husband].

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*^ This Psalm is rendered by the Targum, Jewish Commentary on the Psalms compiled before Third Century AD, as relating to the Messianic Kingdom Age. It is adjusted to reflect this particular rendering.

†^ MP: The Targum (Judaism’s commentary on Psalms composed by Third Century AD) treats all of Psalm chapter 72 as Messianic. (Dan 7:27)

‡^ Title from the Syriac Version of the Psalms, this complete title was written in by R' Ovadia ben R' Shmuel. Note, some, not all, notes made in Psalm 72 are in reference to John Gill’s Exposition of the Old and New Testament (1746-1763).

§72:1 MP: “Your Righteousness” refers to the fullness of the seven fold Spirit of God (Is 11:1-2) and the perfection of graces and virtues without measure, “full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). This qualifies Messiah to be Mediator and Righteous Judge. (Is 11:2; Is 53:11). (John 1:14; Heb 4:15-16, 9:15)

*72:1 MP: Messiah’s name: “Son of David the King”. (Matt 1:1)

†72:2 “Right Judgments” refers not to specific Torah Commands already given, but the whole power and authority of his role as King. This explains why the following verses describe how the Messiah rules. (Matt 28:18; John 5:22, 5:30)

‡72:2 MP: Messiah’s Kingdom subjects possess protection, deliverance, and salvation by Him, and all spiritual blessings in His Kingship (Is 32:17-18; Jer 33:15-16). This evidence shows He is the promised seed (Gen 12:7, 22:18; Gal 3:16), in whom all nations should be blessed (Ps 72:17). (John 5:22-24)

§72:2 Quoted in Rev 19:11

*72:5 MP: Messiah’s kingdom endures as long as sun and moon, “throughout all generations.” (Rev 21:22-24)

†72:6 MP: Messiah’s authority is like refreshing gentle rains on “cut grass,” that is parched, cracked ground. (Acts 3:19)

‡72:6 Reference to Hosea 6:3, “Let us acknowledge Yahweh. Let us press on to know Yahweh. As surely as the sun rises, Yahweh will appear. He will come to us like the rain, like the spring rain that waters the earth.”

§72:7 MP: Messiah’s Kingdom is characterized by enduring peace. (Rev 21:4, 21:27, 22:3, 22:14)

*72:8 MP: Messiah’s kingdom covers the entire world, both Jewish and Gentile nations (see parallel in Zech 9:10). Note: This specific detail (Ps 72:8) cannot refer to Solomon, because his kingdom reached to the Philistine land and the border of Egypt (1 Kings 4:21). When applied to Solomon, it could refer to the land God cut out for Israel described in (Ex 23:31), from the Indian Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea, and the Euphrates River to the desert land. (Rev 17:14-15)

†72:9 MP: Worshiped by “desert nomads” also called Shepherds, (this rendering is debated by Scholars). Could also be Gentile nations living in the surrounding desert lands. Could be Gentiles in general living in a figurative wilderness born outside God’s covenant then coming into the covenant. (Luke 2:8-15; John 10:16)

‡72:9 “Lick the Dust” is a reference to Semetic custom of prostrating yourself before the Ruler one is subject to. This custom is referred to in (Is 49:23) also in prophecy of Messiah’s Kingship.

§72:10 MP: Presented with tribute and gifts from foreign kings. Being interpreted as pertaining to the Magi [Conjurer] (Persian King makers, Astrologers) “from the east” (Matt 2:1). (See also Ps 72:15; Is 60:3, 60:6). (Matt 2:1, 2:11)

*72:11 MP: All Nations and all kings will serve King Messiah willingly (as see in Is 2:2-3). (Rev 21:24)

†72:12 MP: Messiah serves the poor and needy who cannot repay in kind. This could reference a literal or spiritual condition or both. (Matt 1:21, 9:2-8; Luke 18:35-43; Eph 1:7)

‡72:14 MP: This can be interpreted two ways. 1) Messiah prays for those who he has redeemed as Intercessor and Redeemer, or those redeemed will pray for the prosperity of their Redeemer. 2) Messiah redeems from violence. Spiritually referring to sin separating humans from God. Physically referring to Messiah as military leader and political redemption. Both are reason for humans to “continually bless him”. (Consider also in association with Ps 72:10; Is 60:3, 60:6). (John 14:13-16; Acts 1:6-8; Rom 8:26-27; Eph 5:20; Rev 19:11-16)

§72:16 MP: Corn referring to the kernel seed that starts small and grows to multiple abundance as the grass, likewise are Messiah and his disciples multiplying (according to R. Obadiah Gaon). Growing outside the city, in the land beyond borders, referencing a mixed group of Jew and non-Jew. By comparing this crop to “Lebanon,” it describes the quality of the produce grown. (John 12:24, 15:16; Heb 13:12)

*72:16 MP: This field must be outside the city walls, Talmud states the city referred to is Jerusalem because God cares for her specifically. Therefore the disciples growth and multiplication requires being sown outside Jerusalem among the nations (Bab. Talmud: Kethuboth Folio 111B ref. 29). (Luke 24:47; Acts 1:8)

†72:17 MP: Messiah’s name endures forever. His name is linked to his actions, the Good News of God’s Redemption (Acts 9:15). Talmud: Nedarim 39B, Pesachim 54A: “Seven things were created before the creation of the world” 1. Torah (Prov 8:22) 2. Repentance (Ps 90:2-3) 3. Garden of Eden Paradise (Gen 2:8) 4. Gehinnom Lake of Fire (Is 30:33) 5. The Throne of Glory (Ps 93:2) 6. The Tabernacle Temple (Jer 17:12) and 7. The Messiah’s name (Ps 72:17). (Acts 9:15; Heb 4:3; 1 Peter 1:20; Rev 13:8)

‡72:17 MP: In the Messiah all nations will be blessed. This adds to defining the prophecy to Abraham in (Gen 22:18). All nations will call King Messiah blessed. (Eph 1:3)

§72:18 Quoted in Luke 1:68

© 2016 Thomas Robinson