Psalm 72 is a beautiful and powerful prayer for a king. Many believe it was David’s final prayer for his son Solomon as he prepared to pass the throne to him. The closing verse supports this idea: “This ends the Psalms of David.” In this prayer, David asks God to bless the new king with wisdom, prosperity, honor, and lasting glory. But this is more than a political blessing—it is a spiritual one. David does not merely pray for national success or military strength. He prays for a king whose heart reflects the heart of God.
The Psalm includes prayers not only for the king but also for the people he will rule. David asks that the land flourish and the people prosper under the new king’s leadership. He even prays that surrounding nations would honor this king and bless him. But the central petition of the Psalm stands out clearly in verse 4: “May he defend the cause of the poor of the people, give deliverance to the children of the needy, and crush the oppressor!” Godly leadership is marked not by power but by compassion—by how the most vulnerable are treated. A king who reflects God’s character will care about the weak, protect the helpless, and confront injustice.
For this reason, many see Psalm 72 as a Messianic Psalm—a prophetic picture of the future reign of Jesus Christ. The language of worldwide peace, endless dominion, and eternal blessing goes far beyond Solomon’s reign. It points to the righteous kingdom of Christ. Throughout the Gospels, Jesus is moved again and again by compassion. He heals the sick, touches the outcast, forgives the sinner, and feeds the hungry. He notices the individual no one else sees. He listens to the cry no one else hears. Compassion is not just something Jesus shows—it is who He is. Religion without compassion is empty. Francis Schaeffer put it well: “There is nothing more ugly than an orthodoxy without understanding or without compassion.”
A simple story illustrates this truth. Once upon a time, a man fell into a deep ditch.
The realist said, “That is a ditch.”
The optimist said, “Things will get better.”
The pessimist said, “Things will get worse.”
The Christian Scientist said, “You only think you are in a ditch.”
A newspaper reporter said, “I will pay you for an exclusive story about life in the ditch.”
The city official said, “Did you get a permit for your ditch life?”
The mathematician said, “I will calculate the dimensions of the ditch.”
The preacher said, “I see three lessons about the ditch.”
The tax agent said, “Have you paid taxes on that ditch?”
Jesus said, “Give me your hand.”
That is the King Psalm 72 anticipates—a king who does not ignore suffering but reaches down to lift people out of it. A king of compassion. A king like Jesus.