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Discover the Arts! Each day a different image from the Literary, Performing, or Visual Arts representing a portion of Scripture
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2015 April 14



A Morning Walk (1888)
John Singer Sargent (1856-1925)
American Renaissance Style;
A Painting From the Artist's Impressionist Phase
Private Collection
Image Source: Web Gallery of Art


     Explanation: In Psalm 72 the Psalmist, possibly David, prays for the king and his son (probably Solomon). He predicts glories to come, some of which stretch into the Messianic age. The painting above depicts a tranquil and rich setting in a grassy, well-watered place -- elements which are emphasized in today's Psalm.

          [ THEMATICALLY AND CHRONOLOGICALLY RELATED SCRIPTURES: Genesis 15:18; Exodus 23:31; Psalm 2:8; 1 Kings 4:21-24; 1 Kings 10:23; 1 Kings 10:27; Proverbs 3:16. KINGSHIP AND COVENANT PSALMS: Psalm 2. Psalm 18. Psalm 20. Psalm 21. Psalm 24. Psalm 29. Psalm 45. Psalm 47. Psalm 50. Psalm 72. Psalm 81. Psalm 89. Psalm 93. Psalm 95. Psalm 96. Psalm 97. Psalm 98. Psalm 99. Psalm 100. Psalm 101. Psalm 132. Psalm 144. MESSIANIC PSALMS: Psalm 2. Psalm 8. Psalm 16. Psalm 22. Psalm 34. Psalm 35. Psalm 40. Psalm 41. Psalm 45. Psalm 68. Psalm 69. Psalm 89. Psalm 102. Psalm 109. Psalm 110. Psalm 118. ]

          [ CHRONOLOGY: GENERAL. Patriarchs (Traditional). Judges # 1. Judges # 2. Kings # 1. Kings # 2. Prophets # 1. Prophets # 2. NT # 1. NT # 2. NT # 3. ]

          [ MAPS: Maps # 1. Maps # 2. Maps # 3. Maps # 4. Maps # 5. ]

          [ COMMENTARIES, ETC: GENERAL: Bible Study Tools; Bible Hub: Study Light; Blue Letter Bible // PSALMS: Monergism: Precept Austin: The Treasury of David; John Gill; John Calvin - Volumes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

          [ MUSIC: GENERAL: The Cyber Hymnal // PSALMS: Genevan Psalter (Instrumental). VARIOUS ARTISTS: Psalm 72 - #1. Psalm 72 - #2. Psalm 72 - #3. Psalm 72 - #4. ]

     David asks that his son Solomon will understand judgment and will be righteous, and that he will judge God's people with righteousness, and the poor with judgment (1-2). The result will be that the King will bring peace and deliverance. Oppressors will be broken. The enduring fear of God will come upon the people; and it will refresh them and cause them to flourish and to live in peace (3-7). The king (and the Messiah) will have dominion from sea to sea (the Red Sea to the Mediterranean) and from the river (Euphrates) to the ends of the earth. Foreign kings from far away will bring gifts and will serve him (8-11). The king (and especially the Messiah) will deliver the needy and the poor who have no helpers. He will save them from deceit and violence. They will be precious to him (12-14). And, the Messiah in particular, will live and will have the gold of Sheba. Prayers, blessings, and praise shall be given to him. The land will flourish. His name shall endure forever and be glorious; and nations shall call him blessed (13-17). David closes by blessing the LORD God of Israel who does wondrous things. He blesses his glorious name; and he prophesies that the whole earth will be filled with the glory of the king -- the Messiah (18-19). The last verse closes Book Two (Psalms 42-72) of the Psalms by stating that the prayers (the intercessions or the supplications) of David the son of Jesse are ended (20).


THE PSALTER:

BOOK TWO OF FIVE:

Psalms 42-72.


Psalm 72

1 A Psalm for Solomon. *


Give the king thy judgments, O God,
and thy righteousness unto the king's son.

2 He shall judge thy people with righteousness,
and thy poor with judgment.

3 The mountains shall bring peace to the people,
and the little hills, by righteousness.
4 He shall judge the poor of the people,
he shall save the children of the needy,
and shall break in pieces the oppressor.
5 They shall fear thee as long as the sun and moon endure,
throughout all generations.
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 endureth.

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 Yea, all kings shall fall down before him:
all nations shall serve him.

12 For he shall deliver the needy when he crieth;
the poor also, and him that hath 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.
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.
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.
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 doeth 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.



* NOTE: On Opening and Closing Comments in the Psalms.
[Some commentators take the Psalm in Habakkuk 3 to be a standard model for the Psalms.
Habakkuk's Psalm begins with the name of the composer (Habakkuk) and a musical notation ("upon Shigionoth").
It closes with a dedication or a "send to" notice ("To the chief singer on my stringed instruments").
I have arranged similar material, where it is found in the Psalter, in accord with the model in Habakkuk.]




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