What happensPermalink
A prayer for the Davidic king, asking God to grant justice, righteousness, and prosperity. Yet the psalm envisions more than Solomon: an ideal, eternal reign where the king defends the poor, brings peace and flourishing, and rules to the ends of the earth. Under this king, nations bring tribute and worship the true God, fulfilling God’s promises to Abraham and David.
Why it mattersPermalink
This psalm’s vision of global justice and endless peace surpasses any earthly king and anticipates Jesus’s eternal reign. It fulfills God’s covenant with David (2 Samuel 7) and echoes the hope for a righteous king seen in Psalm 2 and Psalm 45. The doxology (v.18–19) closes Book 2 (Psalm 42–72) by praising God’s faithfulness, tying the king’s perfect rule to God’s enduring glory.
Key versePermalink
Give the king your justice, O God, and your righteousness to the royal son!