Psalm 72 (71):12Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

In the interim, He clarifies the reasons for the immense honor bestowed upon Him by rulers, and why all nations serve Him. He declares that He has rescued the afflicted from the powerful and the destitute who lack a helper (Psalm 71:12). This destitute and afflicted individual symbolizes a community of believers in Him. Among this community are also kings who honor Him. They do not reject their state of poverty and neediness, which means they humbly acknowledge their transgressions and seek the glory of God (Romans 3:23) and His grace, so that this King, the Son of the King, may rescue them from the strong. This strong one refers to the Accuser, who, as previously mentioned, seeks to overpower humanity and keep them enslaved, not through his own power, but through the sins of man.

He will rescue the afflicted from the powerful. He proclaims that from the farthest reaches of the cosmos, nations and rulers will bow before Him, expressing gratitude for their liberation from the control of the adversary.

Everyone will honor Him, liberated from the harsh oppression of the adversary. The prophet referred to the devil as powerful and humanity as destitute, much as it was in a state without God. Furthermore, He brings low those in positions of power through divine principles, warning them with the perils of hell and compelling them to exhibit compassion toward the vulnerable. Additionally, He included this teaching.

Humble and destitute, David invites the followers of Christ to arise from among the nations, as expressed in Psalm 39:18 when he proclaims, 'I am poor and miserable,' and also in Psalm 9:9. In this context, he depicts the devil as powerful, having committed acts of violence against humanity throughout history. However, David employs these statements to instill fear in the mighty and those who oppress others, urging them towards humility. For the Lord likewise supports the downtrodden and holds their oppressors accountable.

Through these statements, he affirms that the authority of the king of Judah will not be marked by cruelty or inhumanity but rather by gentleness and love toward humanity. This reveals that most rulers, prioritizing their own desires, tend to disregard the common good and thus unjustly oppress their vulnerable subjects. If those in power recognized that mortals draw nearer to God through love and humility, they would be embarrassed for lacking these qualities that elevate their connection to the Divine. Therefore, David declares that to make the divinely chosen king both honorable to God and to people, it is essential for him to uphold justice and righteousness while also embodying profound love and mercy, ensuring even the most marginalized find refuge in him.

This psalm, divinely inspired and addressed to David, expresses his prayer to God for his son Solomon, the new monarch, requesting that he be granted the ability to govern justly in accordance with the divine law for his people. However, the prophetic essence of this psalm particularly refers to Christ the Lord, who is a reflection of Solomon, often described as peaceful. Christ is indeed our peace (Eph. 2:14), embodying both righteousness and tranquility, who reconciled us to the Father through His sacrificial blood. It is written of Him, "God will give Him the throne of David His father, and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end" (Luke 1:32).