Does King Solomon’s Psalm 72 Apply to King Jesus?

Introduction

I was reading Psalm 72, a psalm attributed to Solomon, in which he prays for his son’s future reign. His blessing is full of hopes for global fame, prosperity, and peace. However, as I reflected on the life of Solomon’s son, Rehoboam, I realized how vastly different his reality turned out to be.

Instead of global fame and peace, Rehoboam’s reign led to civil war and the division of Israel into two kingdoms. The stark contrast between Solomon’s blessing and Rehoboam’s disastrous rule made me wonder: Was Psalm 72 pointing to something—or someone—greater? Could it be that this psalm, though originally for Rehoboam, actually applies to King Jesus and His eternal reign?

TL;DR

Who is involved in Psalm 72?

The psalm is traditionally attributed to King Solomon, who prays for God’s blessing upon the future reign of his son, Rehoboam. However, many theologians interpret it as a messianic psalm pointing toward a greater King—Jesus.

What is Psalm 72 about?

Psalm 72 is a royal psalm in which Solomon prays for his son’s reign to be characterized by justice, prosperity, and global influence. It speaks of a ruler who will judge the poor with righteousness and bring peace to all nations.

Where does this Psalm apply?

The immediate setting of Psalm 72 is Solomon’s reign over Israel, but its themes of a righteous and eternal kingdom have messianic overtones that point toward the global reign of the Messiah in the future.

When was Psalm 72 written?

Psalm 72 was likely written during Solomon’s reign, around the 10th century B.C., but its prophetic reach extends beyond that time to the messianic age.

Why is Psalm 72 significant?

Psalm 72 is significant because it offers a glimpse of the ideal king that Israel longed for. While Rehoboam’s reign fell short, the psalm finds its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus, who embodies the perfect king described in this prayer.

How does Psalm 72 apply to Jesus?

Jesus fulfills the role of the righteous king depicted in Psalm 72. His kingdom is characterized by justice, mercy, and peace, with His fame extending across all nations, as Solomon prayed. The blessings Solomon hoped for in Rehoboam are fully realized in King Jesus.

Narrative Context

Psalm 72 is a royal psalm, traditionally attributed to Solomon, written as a prayer for the future king of Israel—specifically, his son Rehoboam. Solomon petitions for blessings of justice, prosperity, and worldwide influence for the future king. However, in history, Rehoboam’s reign did not fulfill these hopes. Instead of global fame and a united kingdom, his rule saw the division of Israel and Judah.

Many scholars believe that while Psalm 72 initially applied to Solomon’s son, its ultimate fulfillment lies in the messianic hope for a future King who would establish a perfect kingdom of peace and justice. This King is none other than Jesus, whose reign brings to fruition the divine ideals that Rehoboam never accomplished.

Scriptural Foundations

The messianic overtones of Psalm 72 are echoed in several other scriptures:

Luke 1:32-33: “He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever. There will be no end to his Kingdom.”

Jesus is the ultimate fulfillment of the royal psalms, including Psalm 72, as His reign is everlasting.

Psalm 72:8: “He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth.”

This speaks of a global reign that extends beyond any historical king of Israel, pointing toward Jesus, whose kingdom is universal.

Isaiah 9:6-7: “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given… Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, on David’s throne, and on his kingdom, to establish it, and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from that time on, even forever.”

This passage mirrors the themes of Psalm 72, emphasizing an eternal kingdom established on righteousness.

Perspectives from Others

Throughout Christian history, Psalm 72 has been regarded as a messianic psalm by many theologians. Jewish tradition also sees it as part of the broader hope for the Messiah. Christian scholars often point out that while the psalm may have an initial application to Solomon and his son, its deeper layers point to Christ, whose reign embodies the global justice, peace, and prosperity described in the text.

Early Church Fathers, such as Augustine, viewed the psalm as a prophecy of Christ’s eternal reign. Similarly, modern commentators emphasize that the qualities of the king described in the psalm far exceed any earthly ruler, leading naturally to its application to Jesus.

Identifying Misunderstandings

One misunderstanding is that Psalm 72 solely refers to Rehoboam or other earthly kings. While it may have had an immediate historical context, the grandeur and eternal nature of the psalm’s vision suggest that it looks ahead to the coming of the Messiah. Another misconception is the belief that Old Testament royal psalms only applied to earthly kings, when many of them are clearly messianic, pointing toward a future King who will perfectly embody God’s justice and righteousness.

Relevance and Application for you

Understanding Psalm 72 as applying to Jesus offers believers a greater sense of hope. While human rulers, even those as wise as Solomon, ultimately fail to bring lasting peace and justice, Jesus fulfills this prayer completely. His kingdom is eternal, and His reign will extend over all nations. As Christians, we can trust in the ultimate justice and mercy of King Jesus, whose fame will indeed fill the earth, as Solomon prayed.

Encouragement and Conclusion

Psalm 72 gives us a glimpse of God’s perfect plan for His people. While Solomon’s prayer for Rehoboam was never fully realized in his son, it pointed toward a future King—Jesus—who reigns with perfect justice, peace, and mercy. His kingdom knows no end, and His fame will spread across the entire world. In Jesus, the ideal vision of Psalm 72 is fulfilled, and as believers, we can take comfort in knowing that our King rules with love and righteousness. May this psalm encourage us to live with hope, knowing that King Jesus reigns over all.

Did You Know?

Did you know that Psalm 72 is one of the only psalms in the entire Book of Psalms with dual attribution? As the last Psalm of Book 2 it is labeled both a prayer of David, son of Jesse and a Psalm of Solomon? Some scholars believe that this dual attribution highlights Solomon as both the psalmist and the subject of the psalm.