Who Wrote Psalm 72?

[Bob]

Some commentators say that King Solomon wrote this Psalm; others say King David.
If it is Solomon, why is it written in 3rd person (or.is this a translational artifact)?
Note the requests to be true to God’s Commandments (sounds like David), but also for more territory and wealth (sounds like Solomon).

Is It also a Messianic prayer?

Would our resident scholars weigh in?

A Psalm of Solomon.​

72 Give the king Your judgments, O God,
And Your righteousness to the king’s Son.
2 He will judge Your people with righteousness,
And Your poor with justice.
3 The mountains will bring peace to the people,
And the little hills, by righteousness.
4 He will bring justice to the poor of the people;
He will save the children of the needy,
And will break in pieces the oppressor.
5 They shall fear You
As long as the sun and moon endure,
Throughout all generations.
6 He shall come down like rain upon the grass before mowing,
Like showers that water the earth.
7 In His days the righteous shall flourish,
And abundance of peace,
Until the moon is no more.
8 He shall have dominion also from sea to sea,
And from the River to the ends of the earth.
9 Those who dwell in the wilderness will bow before Him,
And His enemies will lick the dust.
10 The kings of Tarshish and of the isles
Will bring presents;
The kings of Sheba and Seba
Will offer gifts.
11 Yes, all kings shall fall down before Him;
All nations shall serve Him.
12 For He will deliver the needy when he cries,
The poor also, and him who has no helper.
13 He will spare the poor and needy,
And will save the souls of the needy.
14 He will redeem their life from oppression and violence;
And precious shall be their blood in His sight.
15 And He shall live;
And the gold of Sheba will be given to Him;
Prayer also will be made for Him continually,
And daily He shall be praised.
16 There will be an abundance of grain in the earth,
On the top of the mountains;
Its fruit shall wave like Lebanon;
And those of the city shall flourish like grass of the earth.
17 His name shall endure forever;
His name shall continue as long as the sun.
And men shall be blessed in Him;
All nations shall call Him blessed.
18 Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel,
Who only does wondrous things!
19 And blessed be His glorious name forever!
And let the whole earth be filled with His glory.
Amen and Amen.
20 The prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended.


Blessings.

 

[TrevorHL]

Greetings Bob,

20 The prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended.

I have always considered that Psalm 72 were the thoughts of David as he handed over the Kingdom to Solomon, and I consider that verse 20 confirms this, even though my RV prints this verse in smaller letters. I suggest that although it speaks of Solomon and his reign it has in mind the greater Son of David, our Lord Jesus Christ and his Millennial Reign, as some of the terms will only be fulfilled in him. Consider also the Last Words of David in 2 Samuel 23:1-7 which seems to include a contrast between the inadequacies of his own and Solomon's reigns and the future Messianic Kingdom. The promises to David in 2 Samuel 7:12-16 also seem to have a dual fulfilment, with Solomon and especially with the Messiah.

Kind regards
Trevor

 

[Brakelite]

Some commentators say that King Solomon wrote this Psalm; others say King David.
If it is Solomon, why is it written in 3rd person (or.is this a translational artifact)?
Note the requests to be true to God’s Commandments (sounds like David), but also for more territory and wealth (sounds like Solomon).

Is It also a Messianic prayer?

Would our resident scholars weigh in?

A Psalm of Solomon.​

72 Give the king Your judgments, O God,
And Your righteousness to the king’s Son.
2 He will judge Your people with righteousness,
And Your poor with justice.
3 The mountains will bring peace to the people,
And the little hills, by righteousness.
4 He will bring justice to the poor of the people;
He will save the children of the needy,
And will break in pieces the oppressor.
5 They shall fear You
As long as the sun and moon endure,
Throughout all generations.
6 He shall come down like rain upon the grass before mowing,
Like showers that water the earth.
7 In His days the righteous shall flourish,
And abundance of peace,
Until the moon is no more.
8 He shall have dominion also from sea to sea,
And from the River to the ends of the earth.
9 Those who dwell in the wilderness will bow before Him,
And His enemies will lick the dust.
10 The kings of Tarshish and of the isles
Will bring presents;
The kings of Sheba and Seba
Will offer gifts.
11 Yes, all kings shall fall down before Him;
All nations shall serve Him.
12 For He will deliver the needy when he cries,
The poor also, and him who has no helper.
13 He will spare the poor and needy,
And will save the souls of the needy.
14 He will redeem their life from oppression and violence;
And precious shall be their blood in His sight.
15 And He shall live;
And the gold of Sheba will be given to Him;
Prayer also will be made for Him continually,
And daily He shall be praised.
16 There will be an abundance of grain in the earth,
On the top of the mountains;
Its fruit shall wave like Lebanon;
And those of the city shall flourish like grass of the earth.
17 His name shall endure forever;
His name shall continue as long as the sun.
And men shall be blessed in Him;
All nations shall call Him blessed.
18 Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel,
Who only does wondrous things!
19 And blessed be His glorious name forever!
And let the whole earth be filled with His glory.
Amen and Amen.
20 The prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended.


Blessings.

It's a messianic prophecy, speaking of the glory of the coming time when the meek shall inherit the earth and the earth is ruled from the New Jerusalem where the thrones of the Father and Son will reside. This will take place 1000 years after the second coming of Christ to take His bride to their interim home in heaven.

 

[Scott Downey]

Heading​

Lutheran theologian John Brug writes "The heading of Psalm 72 is 'Of Solomon'. This may also be translated 'to or for Solomon'. For this reason some commentators regard this as a Psalm written by David to express his hope for Solomon."[12] Joseph Benson calls it "a psalm for Solomon" and associates it with the anointing of Solomon as king while David was still living, as recorded in 1 Kings 1:39–43.[13]

which makes sense due to v20
20 The prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended.

 

[Mark51]

Greetings Bob,

I have always considered that Psalm 72 were the thoughts of David as he handed over the Kingdom to Solomon, and I consider that verse 20 confirms this, even though my RV prints this verse in smaller letters. I suggest that although it speaks of Solomon and his reign it has in mind the greater Son of David, our Lord Jesus Christ and his Millennial Reign, as some of the terms will only be fulfilled in him. Consider also the Last Words of David in 2 Samuel 23:1-7 which seems to include a contrast between the inadequacies of his own and Solomon's reigns and the future Messianic Kingdom. The promises to David in 2 Samuel 7:12-16 also seem to have a dual fulfilment, with Solomon and especially with the Messiah.

Kind regards
Trevor

I believe or it seems to me that King David was the writer of Psalms 72