Big Idea: Prayer for the blessing of the nations is also a prayer for the poor and needy of the world.

Understanding the Text

Psalm 72 is generally classified as a royal psalm. This means its focus is on the king and his kingdom. Some commentators view it as a coronation psalm, which is a little difficult to see because it does not have the same references to the establishment of the kingship as does Psalm 2:7. However, it could have been used in some capacity when Israelite kings were crowned.

It is one of only two psalms associated with Solomon (the other is Ps. 127), and it certainly resonates with Solomon’s prayer for a “discerning heart” to govern Israel in 1 Kings 3:6–14. The content of the psalm, however, leaves the matter indecisive as to whether the psalm was written by Solom…