Sharper Iron — Spring into the Psalms – Psalm 72: God Save the King

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Psalm 72 prays to the LORD concerning the king to whom He gives justice and righteousness and through whom He brings justice and righteousness to His people and to the world. Although our earthly kings—even David and Solomon—fall short of the ideal God gives in His Word, the Lord Jesus does not. He is the King who perfectly cares for the poor and the needy. He is the King over all kings. He is the King who does wondrous things, whose name is blessed forever.

Rev. John Bussman, pastor at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church and School in Cullman, AL, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Psalm 72.

To learn more about St. Paul’s in Cullman, visit stpaulscullman.com.

Join Sharper Iron this spring to study selected Psalms. In the Psalter, God speaks His Word to us and teaches us how to speak back to Him in prayer. Even in the great variety of the Psalms, each one points us to our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Sharper Iron, hosted by Rev. Timothy Appel, looks at the text of Holy Scripture both in its broad context and its narrow detail, all for the sake of proclaiming Christ crucified and risen for sinners. Two pastors engage with God’s Word to sharpen not only their own faith and knowledge, but the faith and knowledge of all who listen. Submit comments or questions to: listener@kfuo.org

Sharper Iron is underwritten by Lutheran Church Extension Fund. Together in faith, LCEF helps to start, sustain and strengthen LCMS ministries through financial and strategic partnerships. Visit lcef.org.

Psalm 72

Give the King Your Justice

Of Solomon.

[1] Give the king your justice, O God,

and your righteousness to the royal son!

[2] May he judge your people with righteousness,

and your poor with justice!

[3] Let the mountains bear prosperity for the people,

and the hills, in righteousness!

[4] May he defend the cause of the poor of the people,

give deliverance to the children of the needy,

and crush the oppressor!

[5] May they fear you while the sun endures,

and as long as the moon, throughout all generations!

[6] May he be like rain that falls on the mown grass,

like showers that water the earth!

[7] In his days may the righteous flourish,

and peace abound, till the moon be no more!

[8] May he have dominion from sea to sea,

and from the River to the ends of the earth!

[9] May desert tribes bow down before him,

and his enemies lick the dust!

[10] May the kings of Tarshish and of the coastlands

render him tribute;

may the kings of Sheba and Seba

bring gifts!

[11] May all kings fall down before him,

all nations serve him!

[12] For he delivers the needy when he calls,

the poor and him who has no helper.

[13] He has pity on the weak and the needy,

and saves the lives of the needy.

[14] From oppression and violence he redeems their life,

and precious is their blood in his sight.

[15] Long 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!

[16] May 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!

[17] May his name endure forever,

his fame continue as long as the sun!

May people be blessed in him,

all nations call him blessed!

[18] Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel,

who alone does wondrous things.

[19] Blessed be his glorious name forever;

may the whole earth be filled with his glory!

Amen and Amen!

[20] The prayers of David, the son of Jesse, are ended.

Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025. The ESV text may not be quoted in any publication made available to the public by a Creative Commons license. The ESV may not be translated in whole or in part into any other language. Used by permission. All rights reserved.