Jun 1 (Daily reading: 2 Chronicles 1; Psalm 72, NIV) Commentators are not sure if it was David or Solomon who wrote Psalm 72. Either way, it appears to be messianic in character, compared to other messianic passages. For example, consider this messianic passage in Isaiah: “A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse … with righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth” (Is. 11:1, 4). Compare that to Psalm 72: “May he judge your people in righteousness, your afflicted ones with justice … May he defend the afflicted among the people and save the children of the needy” (vv. 2 and 4).
An even more obvious messianic reference is found in verse 17: “May his name endure forever; may it continue as long as the sun. Then all nations will be blessed through him, and they will call him blessed.” This wording is almost identical to the promise that God made to Abraham (Gen. 18:18). Paul applied this promise to Gentiles (to us): “Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: ‘All nations will be blessed through you’” (Gal. 3:8). The psalmist may not have known the full extent of what he was writing in Psalm 72, but the Holy Spirit revealed the truth to Paul. Abraham, David, and Solomon were all channels through which the blessing would come. The Blessing itself came in the person of Jesus Christ, Son of God and King of kings!
It is no wonder that the author of Psalm 72, inspired by the Holy Spirit, concluded: “Praise be to the LORD God, the God of Israel, who alone does marvelous deeds. Praise be to his glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory. Amen and Amen” (vv. 18-19).
– Al Gary
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