Psalms 72:1-2
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!
English Standard Version (ESV)
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This isn't just a wish for Solomon to be a good ruler; it's a petition that God impart His own judicial principles and character to the king. It's a profound request for divine equipping, suggesting that true, just leadership isn't merely learned but is a gift from God Himself.
This Psalm begins with a prayer for Solomon, the newly appointed king and son of David, asking that God would grant him wisdom and justice in his rule. The prayer anticipates a glorious reign of peace and prosperity, which, while applicable to Solomon, is understood by many as a foreshadowing of the ultimate reign of King Jesus. The focus here is on the divine enablement required for just leadership and the profound impact such rule has on God's people.
Imagine asking God for the very essence of His character to empower a leader. This Psalm begins with just that – a profound prayer for divine qualities in the king.
This verse isn't just a casual wish; it's a weighty prayer. David, the author, is asking God to bestow His own 'judgments' and 'righteousness' upon the king (Solomon, and ultimately, the Messiah).
What are 'Judgments' and 'Righteousness'?
The prayer is for the king to possess these divine attributes, not just to know about them. It's a request for God to shape the ruler's heart and mind according to His own perfect standard.
The phrase 'king's son' carries a double meaning here, pointing not only to Solomon's lineage but also to a greater King to come.
This Psalm begins by addressing the 'king' and the 'king's son.' While clearly referring to Solomon, who was newly appointed king with his father David still alive, the commentators highlight a deeper layer.
Beyond Solomon:
Understand the original words
mishpat · Hebrew Noun
In a biblical context, justice refers to the standard of moral equity and right-doing established by God. It involves both the administration of law and the restoration of what is right in relationships and society.
tsedaqah · Hebrew Noun
Righteousness is the quality or character of being right or just, in conformity with God's nature and law. It encompasses both personal integrity and the act of doing what is morally upright before God and men.
ben-melek · Hebrew Noun Phrase
Refers to the king or ruler anointed by God to lead His people. Biblically, it often points toward the Messianic King, whose authority is derived from God to govern according to divine standards.
din · Hebrew Verb
This Psalm is deeply rooted in the transition of power from David to Solomon. It's both a prayer for a specific king and a prophetic foreshadowing of the ultimate righteous reign of the Messiah, whose kingdom perfectly embodies the justice and righteousness David prayed for.
c. 970 BC— this verse
Solomon Anointed King
David, nearing the end of his life, has his son Solomon anointed as king. This sets the stage for David's final instructions and prayers for Solomon's reign.
c. 970 BC
David's Prayer for Solomon
Psalms 72 is understood as a prayer offered by David for his son Solomon as he takes the throne. It invokes God's guidance for Solomon's rule.
c. 970 BC
Solomon's Dream at Gibeon
Shortly after his anointing, Solomon prays for wisdom and understanding to govern God's people justly. This prayer is seen as a powerful commentary on the themes in Psalm 72.
c. 961-931 BC
Reign of Solomon
Solomon's reign is characterized by wisdom, prosperity, and the building of the Temple. However, later years saw significant apostasy, leading interpreters to see the Psalm's full meaning in the Messiah.
This passage directly parallels the prayer in Psalm 72:1, as it describes God appearing to Solomon in a dream and asking him what he desires, to which Solomon famously asks for a discerning heart to govern God's people.
Isaiah 11:2This prophecy speaks of the Spirit of the Lord resting on a future ruler, granting him wisdom, understanding, counsel, might, knowledge, and the fear of the Lord – qualities essential for the 'judgments' and 'righteousness' requested in Psalm 72:1.
Matthew 28:18Jesus declares that 'all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me,' which echoes the idea of divine authority and 'judgments' being granted to the kingly figure in Psalm 72, pointing to Christ as the ultimate King.
John 5:22Jesus states that the Father has given all judgment to the Son, directly connecting the concept of divine 'judgments' given to a kingly figure with the role of the Messiah.
poolePsalms 72:1: "A Psalm for Solomon. Give the king thy judgments, O God, and thy righteousness unto the king's son."
THE ARGUMENT That this Psalm was made by David is evident from Psalm 72:20 , and that it was made with respect to Solomon is no less certain from the very title of it: and that David, or at least the Holy Ghost, which dictated this Psalm, did took beyond Solomon, and unto the Messiah, of whom Solomon was an illustrious and unquestionable type, seems as manifest from divers passages…
bensonPsalms 72:1: "A Psalm for Solomon. Give the king thy judgments, O God, and thy righteousness unto the king's son."
Psalm 72:1 . Give the king — Namely, Solomon, who was now anointed king, although his father was yet living, 1 Kings 1:39 ; thy judgments — Either, 1st, Thy statutes and precepts, often called God’s judgments; as thou hast already given them to him in thy book, so give them to him in another and better way, by writing them upon his heart, or by giving him a perfect knowledge of the…
This isn't just a wish for Solomon to be a good ruler; it's a petition that God impart His own judicial principles and character to the king. It's a profound request for divine equipping, suggesting that true, just leadership isn't merely learned but is a gift from God Himself.
This Psalm begins with a prayer for Solomon, the newly appointed king and son of David, asking that God would grant him wisdom and justice in his rule. The prayer anticipates a glorious reign of peace and prosperity, which, while applicable to Solomon, is understood by many as a foreshadowing of the ultimate reign of King Jesus. The focus here is on the divine enablement required for just leadership and the profound impact such rule has on God's people.
This Psalm begins with a prayer for Solomon, the newly appointed king and son of David, asking that God would grant him wisdom and justice in his rule. The prayer anticipates a glorious reign of peace and prosperity, which, while applicable to Solomon, is understood by many as a foreshadowing of the ultimate reign of King Jesus. The focus here is on the divine enablement required for just leadership and the profound impact such rule has on God's people.
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To judge is to exercise authority in making decisions, discerning truth, and administering justice. In the Bible, it is the act of evaluating conduct against divine truth and rendering a verdict.
ani · Hebrew Adjective/Noun
In this context, it refers to those who are afflicted, powerless, or socially marginalized. God repeatedly commands His leaders to protect and care for this group, as He is their defender.
c. 931 BC
Division of the Kingdom
Following Solomon's death, the united kingdom splits into Israel (North) and Judah (South), marking a decline from the ideal of righteous, unified rule envisioned in the Psalm.
"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!" — This isn't just a wish for Solomon to be a good ruler; it's a petition that God impart His own judicial principles and character to the king. It's a profound request for divine equipping, suggestin…
