Psalm 72- A prophecy of the influence of the messiahs invisible kingdom on earth in this present age.
The first thing that comes to mind of most folks is this: "Winning? Are you kidding me? Don't you see the evil all around us?" Of course. But number one, this prophecy accounts for that evil. Number two, it is not a prophecy of a supernatural physical kingdom on this earth. Number three, it is a prophecy about this current age in comparison to the ancient world in which it was written where the evil you see today dominated the world. All the good we have today just did not exist back then. Finally, number four- The book of Daniel and Revelation prophesied an age of oppression of believers everywhere starting when Babylon conquered Judea and lasting until the Roman Empire ended in 1453 AD. It is not that the invisible kingdom of God did not have a positive effect on the world until the Roman Empire ended, it did. It was however, the fact that the Bible, for the first time in human history made its way into the hands of the general public after the Roman Empire ended and the powers that existed where not able to stop it, even though they tried. God foreknew this which is why there was so much end time prophecy about the end of the Roman Empire. Now due to the Bible being in the hands of the people, as Isaiah 61:8 prophesied, God could "direct their work in truth." Not just his own people either. But influence whole nations towards truth. Psalm 72 is a prophecy of what would transpire in this era due to this. If you want to understand what is going on in our world and how you can be on the right side of history. Psalm 72 will guide you into that faith.
Psalm 72:1 A Psalm for Solomon. Give the king your judgments, O God, and your righteousness to the king's son.
This is one of the dozens of King David's psalms about himself and his circumstances that were actually prophesies about the messiah.
Psalm 72:2 He will judge your people with righteousness and your afflicted ones with justice. 3 The mountains shall 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.
The first thing I would like you to notice is
that this is not a supernatural utopia with a golden city were Jesus is
sitting on an earthly throne ruling the world by force with no more sin
or suffering. The afflicted, the poor, the needy and oppressors are
present in this prophecy and later it talks about the poor's blood being
spilt. That rules out the fantasticsim many read into the illustrations
the Bible uses in its prophecy. These verses say how this will happen.
The mountains and hills are illustrations of nations, institutions,
peoples and influences. It is they that will\are bringing peace to the
people due to them being influenced by the king, Jesus and the citizens
of his kingdom. This is exactly what we have seen in the last 5+
centuries as a long hard won process. He has been turning the nations
away from the horrendous sins of the ancient world via the gospel,
and towards righteousness. Which leads to the last two verses. How has
he been crushing the oppressors? The answer to that is by the mountains
and hills under his influence. In the ancient world, with rare
exceptions. The oppressors of mankind ruled in perpetuity as kings,
emperors and warlords. But since the Bible started to make its way into
the hands of the public and they founded republics based in the
objective truth in the Bible. The wanna be world dictators and emperors
have been crushed by the nations most influenced by God's heavenly
kingdom. The list is pretty long. The Holy Roman empire, The British
Empire, Napoleon, Germany's Kaisers, the Nazis, Imperial Japan, the
USSR. The fight is still on, but remember. Jesus said his eternal
kingdom is not like the kingdoms of this world and we will see that in the
rest of the Psalm.
Compare these passages to what we just read: Isaiah 2: 2 And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. Daniel 7:14 “And to Him was given dominion, glory and a kingdom, That all the peoples, nations and men of every language might serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion which will not pass away; And His kingdom is one which will not be destroyed. Daniel 7:27 Then the sovereignty, the dominion and the greatness of all the kingdoms under the whole heaven will be given to the people of the saints of the Highest One; His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all the dominions will serve and obey Him. Do you see in these verses what the mountains an hills illustrate? Also notice how Jesus's kingdom is "given" to his saints in Daniel 7:27? Meaning, in practicality, the influence of his kingdom on earth that we are talking about, functions primarily through them.
Psalm 72:6 He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass: as showers that water the earth. 7 In his days shall the righteous flourish; and abundance of peace so long as the moon endures.
Here are the means in which the messiahs kingdom is built. His Spirit in the earth in and with his people bringing revivals and awakenings. Bringing redemption and salvation. Again some might say, "the righteous are not flourishing though." Three things. 1st. Comparing the world that has thus far had a lot of heavens influence to the world in which this was written. The righteous flourishing is an absolutely perfect description. There has never been flourishing like there is in the USA in the history of the world. 2nd. This is a process that in the light of history as barely just begun. 3rd.. There are some area's of the world where the kingdom of God has not touched or just begun to. The pioneers bringing the gospel will always suffer the most because there are powerful interests arrayed against it. But regardless of anyone's doctrines and what they are so sure about. This phenomena is growing in the world even though your local may be backslidden.
Compare these passages to the verses above. Hosea Let us know; let us press on to know the Lord; his going out is sure as the dawn; he will come to us as the showers, as the spring rains that water the earth. John 7:37 In the last day, that great day the feast, Jesus stood and shouted, saying, If any man thirst, let him come to me, and drink. 38 He that believes on me, as the scripture has said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. 39 But this spoke he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive....Revelation 21:1 And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. 2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. 17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that hears say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
Psalm 72:8 He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth. 9 They that dwell in the wilderness shall bow before him; and his enemies shall lick the dust. 10 The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall bring presents: the kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts. 11 Yes, all kings shall fall down before him: all nations shall serve him.
This verse ties right into the others. Christ's dominion in the earth comes about via influence and portions of populations becoming believers and others accepting that the principles and moral law of the Bible as the best way to run their personal and national affairs. This is an ongoing process and a warning to not rebel or war against it because of covetousness, sexual immorality or other depravities.
Here are some verses to compare: Matthew 5:5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. Isaiah 49:6 .....I will also give you (the messiah) for a light to the Nations, that you may be my salvation to the end of the earth...8...and give you for a covenant of the people, to establish the earth....Isaiah 42:1.... he shall bring forth justice to the Nations...4 He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he has set justice in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law. Isaiah 54:14 In righteousness will be established: you shalt be far from oppression; for you shalt not fear: and from terror; for it shall not come near you. 15 Behold, they shall surely gather together, but not by me: whosoever shall gather together against you shall fall for your sake.
Psalm 72:12 For he shall deliver the needy when he cries; the poor also, and him that has no helper. 13 He shall spare the poor and needy, and shall save the souls of the needy. 14 He shall redeem their soul from deceit and violence: and precious shall their blood be in his sight.
Again, notice the progressive nature of this, that it is a process of the growing influence of the kingdom of God and not a supernatural event where now everything is perfect. The prophecy has nations, the poor, the needy. Deceit and violence is still taking the lives of the poor. You have to contextualize this in history. Thorough out most of history the poor masses, the needy, were finding no deliverance, redemption or any relief whatsoever. This was because hell and death ruled over all the nations. Satan had complete dominion because God was not known to them. But now this is a growing daily occurrence since people are finding out to call on the name of Jesus. And, for those calling on him but not finding deliverance because the gospel is being pioneered were it has powerful enemies. The believers who suffer and are murdered by the wicked will pass the baton to future generations and just like it has happened in the free world.- One day as this passage says, their descendants will be free from oppression. Isaiah 60:14 The descendants also of them that afflicted you shall come bowing to you; and all they that despised you shall bow themselves down at the soles of your feet; and they shall call you, The city of the LORD, The Zion of the Holy One of Israel. Note* The city and the Zion in this passage is the New Jerusalem, Gods people of all nations.
Psalm 72:15 And he shall live, and to him shall be given of the gold of Sheba: prayer also shall be made for him continually; and daily shall he be praised.
Who shall live? The messiah Rev. 1:18 I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore.... Then look how this is being fulfilled. People give billions to him, that is, his cause. In every corner of the globe at every moment prayers in his name for his will to be done go forth. From the darkest continents in jungles and in the deserts. From the hippest urban centers to the poorest shanty towns. From Saudi palaces to the mightiest financial districts, from military installations to rural countryside. Somewhere, his name is praised in song and worship every moment of the day.
Psalm 72:16 There shall be an handful of corn in the earth upon the top of the mountains; the fruit thereof shall shake like Lebanon: and they of the city shall flourish like grass of the earth.
The handful of corn was the word of God brought forth by the apostles and prophets and now taught by believers via the Bible. The city is the New Jerusalem. Believers of all nations growing in number and influence. Founding the free world and influencing its growth. That is flourishing if you compare it to the madness and impoverishment of the masses in the ancient world.
Psalm 72:17 His name shall endure for ever: his name shall be continued 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 for ever: and let the whole earth be filled with his glory; Amen, and Amen. 20 The prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended.
Comparative verses. Numbers 14:21 but indeed, as I live, all the earth will be filled with the glory of the Lord. Habakkuk 2:14 “For the earth will be filled With the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, As the waters cover the sea.
People can fanaticize all the want about supernatural golden cities and end of the world apocalypses. They can declare with absolute certainty that what they believe the Bible teaches will happen. But this is happening. It is God doing this not man. It is Jesus ruling it. It is not something that will come to pass some day. It is something that has and is coming to pass. It is certainly not losing down here. It is certainly not waiting around for the end of the world as we know it. One has to be blind to not see it. If your a Christian and you don't. Maybe it is time to examine yourself and what you have accepted as truth. This is the good news as far as the world is concerned. Heaven in the next life await those who put their trust in Christ.
© Daniel Martinovich 2025
