The Psalm we are studying today is widely regarded as a prayer of David for his son, Solomon, as David is preparing to draw his final breathe on this earth and hand the reigns of kingship to Solomon.2

Many commentators, from John Calvin to Charles Spurgeon, and many others in between, take the superscription which says, “Of Solomon” and the final verse which says, “The prayers of David, the son of Jesse, are ended” (v. 20) together, to mean that David likely prayed this prayer over Solomon at the end of his life and then Solomon recorded the prayer which has become known to us as Psalm 72.3

If you have ever had the privilege of having someone pray over you, you probably understand what a blessing it is. But to even have a parent pray over you, is in my estimation, an extra blessing. Many of us have never had that blessing of a parent pray over us. If this is you today, please be assured, that our Good Heavenly Father has not missed this detail of your life, and he has, in Christ, given you a Savior who is constantly praying over you at the throne of God. Jesus is our Great Intercessor – prayer warrior – who is always praying for you.

Does it seem crazy to think that Jesus prays for you? Romans 8:34 says that no one can condemn us, if we are in Christ, because “Christ Jesus who died – more than that, who was raised to life – is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us”. In Christ, we have a crucified, risen, returning, Savior who prays for us constantly!

Furthermore, Hebrews 7:25 says “Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, [that is Jesus] because he always lives to intercede for them [us]”. You could also look to the high priestly prayer of Jesus on behalf of all who belong to him in John 17 and outline all that he prays over you and be deeply encouraged.

All that is happening here in Psalm 72 is simply a foreshadowing of Christ’s heart in prayer for you and I, and then some. The reality is that everything David prays over his son Solomon, will eventually be perfectly lived out in the person and work of Christ. We will come back to that emphasis at the end of our study today.

But for now, let us look at what David prayed for his son Solomon, and let us consider not only how we can pray over others, but also how Christ has been Praying these things over each of us since before the foundations of the earth were laid. The first thing David prays for Solomon, and that I also believe Jesus prays for us, is that our lives would be marked by righteousness.

1Give the king your justice, O God, and your righteousness to the royal son! 2May he judge your people with righteousness, and your poor with justice! 3Let the mountains bear prosperity for the people, and the hills, in righteousness! 4May he defend the cause of the poor of the people, give deliverance to the children of the needy, and crush the oppressor!

5May they fear you while the sun endures, and as long as the moon, throughout all generations! 6May he be like rain that falls on the mown grass, like showers that water the earth! 7In his days may the righteous flourish, and peace abound, till the moon be no more!

8May he have dominion from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth! 9May desert tribes bow down before him, and his enemies lick the dust! 10May the kings of Tarshish and of the coastlands render him tribute; may the kings of Sheba and Seba bring gifts! 11May all kings fall down before him, all nations serve him!

12For he delivers the needy when he calls, the poor and him who has no helper. 13He has pity on the weak and the needy, and saves the lives of the needy. 14From oppression and violence he redeems their life, and precious is their blood in his sight.

15Long may he live; may gold of Sheba be given to him! May prayer be made for him continually, and blessings invoked for him all the day! 16May there be abundance of grain in the land; on the tops of the mountains may it wave; may its fruit be like Lebanon; and may people blossom in the cities like the grass of the field! 17May his name endure forever, his fame continue as long as the sun! May people be blessed in him, all nations call him blessed!

18Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who alone does wondrous things. 19Blessed be his glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory! Amen and Amen! 20The prayers of David, the son of Jesse, are ended.

#1: MARKED BY RIGHTEOUSNESS (VV. 1 – 4)4

To pray that someone’s life would be marked by righteousness is something that is close to the heart of God. God himself is righteous – or perfect – therefore it follows that God would want our lives to be marked by his very own character.

To that end, David prays in verses 1 – 4 that Solomon’s life and reign of leadership would be marked by the righteousness of God. In David’s mind, this means that he wants Solomon to have the ability to treat God’s people rightly – as God would treat them – especially in regards to the poor and the needy around us. He also prays that the poor would be defended and delivered and that any who would oppress God’s people would be crushed. Furthermore, in verse 3, David prays that all of the land – the places where God’s people reside – would bear testimony to the righteous character of his people and those who lead them.

How great it would be if our land – the land we live in, and the city we occupy as a church family – would see in us, the very righteousness of God in how we care for one another, serve the poor, protect the vulnerable, and crush any who would seek to harm or oppress God’s people. How humbling is it to think that this is something that Jesus prays for you and I?

#2: MARKED AS ETERNALLY LIFE – GIVING (VV. 5 – 7)5

The second thing David prays for his son Solomon, in verses 5 – 7 is that his life and leadership would be marked with the evidence of an eternally life-giving character. We know that the forces of darkness attempt to disguise themselves as beacons of light who promise the best life now while underneath it all, they only seek to steal, to kill, and to destroy through temptation, sin, shame, guilt, and flat out lies.

Our God is an eternally life-giving God in Christ Jesus who was crucified for our sins, who rose in victory over death, and is returning to take us into eternal life in Heaven. Therefore, it makes total sense that David would pray in line with the heart of God, that his son would be an eternally life-giving leader for God’s people and that by default, God’s people would be known as an eternally life-giving community.

This is why, in verses 5 – 7, David prays that Solomon would be known as long as the sun and moon are alive (eternity) to be like the “rain that falls on the mown grass, like showers that water the earth” so that God’s people would “flourish” in “peace” for as long as the moon exists.

Can you hear the echoes of eternity in David’s use of the sun and moon? Can you imagine the life-giving nature of rain that falls on dying grass and dry land? This is what David wants for Solomon – to be an eternally life-giving leader of an eternally life-giving community. Sadly, while Solomon does begin as this kind of leader, he fails often, especially in the latter years of his life, as many leaders often do.

But this desire of David’s, for his son to remain true to the Lord and to radiate God’s life-giving character to the ends of the earth, is exactly what Jesus wants for each of us. Commentators are quick to note that this character trait is part of what motivates our missional engagement as we share the gospel with the lost so that they too may have the promise of new life in eternity.

Can you imagine Jesus praying this over you daily at the throne of God in Heaven? Can you feel the weighty responsibility of being eternally focused on being a life-giving source to everyone you come into contact with? The extra tip to the waiter, the gracious and patient attitude with the grocery store clerk, the text to someone you know is struggling with life, the meal delivered to someone in need, all open doors or starting points to be life-giving and to share the gospel. I pray often that this is who our church is becoming as time goes along.

#3: MARKED BY GOD HONORING DOMINION (VV. 8 – 11)6

The third thing David prays for Solomon in verses 8 – 11, is that his life and leadership would be marked by God-honoring dominion. Dominion is not a word that we use very often but it essentially means being responsible for anything that God has given to us to steward or manage.

At the very beginning, God gives Adam “dominion” over the land and every animal in his kingdom, and he tells Adam to be faithful to manage his kingdom (Gen. 1:28 – 31). In the same way, believers are called to have dominion over – to be responsible with or to be faithful to steward or to wisely manage – everything God has given us. This includes our time, talent, and treasure for sure, but it also extends to things like the planet, our relationships, our health, our belongings, etc., etc.

It is with this very understanding of the word dominion, that David prays in verses 8 – 11that Solomon would wisely steward everything under his hand from one end of the earth to the other, that other people from other nations would revere him for his godly stewardship, that his enemies would eat dirt, and that all the leaders of other nations would submit and give gifts to him.

When you think about how this translates into our lives and what Jesus asks for us in prayer, it does not seem to be a stretch to say that Jesus wants us to be marked by God-honoring dominion; for our lives to be an example of faithful stewardship over all that God has given us, even to the extent that our enemies are benched and that other people desire to bless our lives because they know we can be trusted with what has been entrusted to us. 

I have heard it said that the failure of the Christian church to rightly manage her resources – from the homes of the members to the leaders of the church family – is one of the greatest barriers for the lost becoming believers. May we always lean into asking Jesus to help us become more God-honoring in how we exert dominion – stewardship – over what he has given to us, so that we can be a fresh drink of living water for those who are lost, rather than a bitter glass of stale water.

#4: MARKED BY MERCY (VV. 12 – 14)7

The fourth thing that David prays for Solomon in verses 12 – 14, is that his life would be marked by mercy. It is important to mention that David’s language changes a little here, from a petition (asking for something) to a recognition (a proclamation of something) – although we could argue that David is still asking for Solomon to be a merciful leader, he seems to have shifted to proclaiming what God in Christ is like – merciful – and therefore this David’s desire for his son.

However you interpret David’s words in verses 12 – 14, he describes mercy as a character trait that “delivers the needy when he calls”, cares for the “poor… who has no helper”, extends “pity on the weak” and “saves… the lives of the needy”, and protects them “from oppression and violence” as “he redeems their life” because “precious is their blood in his sight”.

Is this not a great description of what mercy is? To see those who are far from Christ and those who are in need as precious in the sight of God, is this not what Jesus has accomplished for us at the cross of Calvary and the empty tomb? In his perfect life, his horrific death, and his victorious resurrection, has not Christ extended perfect mercy to all of us as he provided deliverance, and help, and salvation, and redemption, from our greatest oppressors – Satan who condemns, Sin who tempts, and Death who taunts?

Just as Christ has extended mercy to us, and just as David prays that his son would be marked by mercy, so too, I believe Jesus prays that our lives would be marked by the same merciful compassion and tender care of those around us who are caught up in the effects of Satan, Sin, and Death.

Believers should be known as people who would crawl across hot coals to the very edge of hell to see those trapped by the enemy be set free by the redeeming work of Christ in the message of the gospel.

#5: MARKED BY BLESSING (VV. 15 – 17)8

The fifth thing David prays for Solomon in verses 15 – 17, is that he would simply be blessed. Who does not want to be blessed? The problem is that we often equate blessing with financial prosperity and personal gain, and while there is blessing in financial prosperity, you can still be blessed by daily provision when times are financially tight.

Notice how David’s prayer for blessings goes beyond financial abundance in verses 15 – 17when he prays that Solomon’s life would be long, that gold would be given to him, that people would pray for him, that an abundance of daily provision of grain would be available, that the people under his leadership would multiply, and that his name would “endure forever” to the ends of the earth as people are blessed by him. The essence of David’s prayer for blessing in his son’s life is that others would be blessed by him as he is blessed by God.

Would this not sum up the heart of Christ for us? Does not Jesus desire that we would see our blessings as the green light to be a blessing to others so that his name would be famous throughout the earth? I find that even in my seasons of financial hardship, that God not only gives me just enough to survive but he also gives me plenty of opportunities to testify to his provision in my life so that I can bless others with the hope of God coming through when we need him to. I am certain that Jesus prays this kind of blessing over us daily!

#6: MARKED BY THE GLORY OF GOD (VV. 18 – 19)9

Lastly, in verses 18 – 19, David prays that Solomon’s life would be marked by the glory of God as an extension of God’s blessing upon his life. God’s glory has often been described as the weight of his presence. Therefore, it follows that as David wraps up his prayer here, that he prays that God’s weighty presence would be on Solomon’ life in such a way as to ultimately bring glory to God himself.

This is why David says “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who alone does wondrous things. Blessed be his glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory!”David recognizes what the Reformers would later say, in that the chief end of man is to enjoy God and glorify him throughout the earth.

This is why we were all created, to bring attention – glory – to God. This is something that characterizes the life of a believer, we glorify God because we have tasted of his rich blessings in Christ Jesus, we enjoy the weightiness of his constant presence, therefore we cannot help but to glorify him who loves us and has redeemed us from the pit of Satan, Sin, and Death! Amen!

KEY TAKE AWAYS…

That is David’s prayer for Solomon! As I said earlier, can you imagine how it would feel to have your father pray these things over you? To even have someone pray that your life would be marked by righteousness, and an eternally life-giving nature, and God-honoring dominion, and mercy, and blessed, and the glory of God’s weighty presence? To think that Jesus offers this prayer for you often?

To know these things and to ask Jesus to help our lives be marked by these things is the appropriate response. We should ask the Lord to make us more righteous. To make us more focused on eternity and to make us into a life-giving drink of water to those around us. To help us be faithful stewards of all that he has given us. To give us the ability to extend mercy, to be a blessing to others, and to bring glory to God in all that we think, say, and do!

CONCLUSION…

In conclusion, I say “yes and amen” to those key take aways. But I also recognize that we can create great little Pharisees and do-gooders who attempt to earn God’s love by attempting to live out the principles of this passage in our own strength. We should never attempt to do that!

The best protection against works-based-salvation is to remember that everything David prayed over Solomon, and by default, everything Jesus prays over us, is actually embodied perfectly in Christ Jesus himself. Jesus is the King of perfect righteousness. Jesus is the eternally, life-giving King! Jesus is the limitless King who has dominion over every created thing! Jesus is the merciful King! Jesus is the blessed King! Jesus is the King of glory!

This Jesus – the perfect manifestation of every principle of David’s prayer – gave his life at the cross of Calvary for our sins (and for David’s and Solomon’s sins too) so that by his gracious sacrifice and through our faith, we can receive the Holy Spirit, who enables us to become more and more like Christ.

When Jesus intercedes – prays this prayer over us – he prays knowing that his Father is happy to give good gifts to his redeemed children and that he will help us to pursue growing into all that he intended for us. Likewise, when you and I pray for other people, we can come boldly before the throne of God’s grace and pray like David, pray like his future son, Jesus, with confidence, that God is in the business of not only redeeming us from the pit, but he is also in the business of answering our prayers to become more like him.

Let us always look to Christ – our Great high priest and Eternal King – who prays for us always, and let us rely upon him to make us into people who embody the character of a crucified, risen, and returning King of glory! – Amen!!!

1 Unless otherwise specified, all Bible references are to the English Standard Version Bible, The New Classic Reference Edition (ESV) (Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers, 2001).

2 Richard, Philips, Psalms 42 – 72, Reformed Expository Commentary, (Phillipsburg, New Jersey: P&R Publishing, 2019), 332 – 333.

3 Ibid.

4 Ibid., 333 – 335.

5 Ibid., 335 – 337.

6 Ibid., 337 – 339.

7 Ibid., 339 – 340.

8 Ibid., 340 – 341.

9 Ibid., 342 – 343.