Psalm 72 (71):15Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

It could not be said, "And He shall live," if that life did not point to the existence in which He will no longer experience death, for death will hold no dominion over Him (Rom. 6:9). Thus, He will be revived, looked down upon by death, as another prophet declares, "His life shall be taken away from the earth" (Is. 53:8). What then is to be given to Him from the riches of Arabia? The gold that Solomon of old received is symbolically transferred in this psalm to the true Solomon, the genuine Peacemaker. The former Solomon had no authority that reached from the river to the ends of the earth. This foretelling suggests that even the wise among the nations will come to believe in Christ.

He will have life, and He will receive the gold from Arabia. This was spoken about Herod, who ordered the massacre of the children. Thus, it is proclaimed that He will not be taken away with the children who suffer. The phrase, "And it shall be given to Him of the gold of Arabia," unmistakably points to the offerings presented by the wise men. They will seek His intercession, invoking His name in their prayers, beseeching the Father to bestow blessings through Him.

“He will live, and He will receive the gold of Arabia.” While some versions refer to “Sheba” instead, both symbolize the offerings presented to Him by people of all backgrounds, from kings to commoners. The phrase “shall live” is used rather than “shall abide.” “And they will earnestly pray for Him, blessing Him throughout the day.” They will ceaselessly offer hymns of praise to Him and also to His Father, finding their reason for worship in the Son. The mention of “they shall pray for Him” resonates with the apostolic statement, “I thank my God through Jesus Christ” (Rom. 1:8); and once more, “Through Him we have access to the Father” (Eph. 2:18). Thus, in His honor, all will call upon the Father in prayer, exalting Him for the blessings bestowed by the Son, while also singing hymns to the Son, as these blessings flow from Him.

And he shall live. Some interpret this phrase, shall live, as synonymous with what follows: of whom the kingdom shall have no end (Luke 1:33). Indeed, Christ is destined to exist eternally. It appears to me that David is foretelling the resurrection of Christ, revealing that He will be made alive again after His death. He shall receive gifts, including the gold of Arabia. In ancient times, Arabia was renowned for its abundant fine gold, leading to its name being associated with wealth and beauty. Thus, the mention of Arabia, known for its gold, symbolizes that all nations would offer precious gifts and tributes to the churches of Christ. Moreover, the early Arabians first gained faith in Christ through Paul, as he writes to the Galatians, “But when God was pleased ...

Some interpret the phrase "He shall live" as referring to the impoverished and the destitute, and such an interpretation is reasonable: David proclaims that the king he describes will be granted a long life, a gift that ranks highly among God's blessings. The subsequent phrase, "And it shall be given unto him of the gold of Arabia," suggests an indefinite abundance, as if to imply that the wealth of Arabia will be bestowed upon him. Here, the prophet reiterates his earlier assertion regarding the king's formidable power, also emphasizing his vast riches; if even the distant land of Arabia generates considerable tribute, how much greater will the wealth from adjacent regions be?

He will have life. St. Athanasius notes that when Herod ordered the slaughter of infants, the child Jesus would not perish alongside them but would continue to live; furthermore, it would be given to Him from the gold of Arabia—clearly referencing the gifts presented by the Magi. They will seek His intercession, invoking His name in their prayers and petitioning the Father for the impartation of blessings through Him. St. Athanasius also reflects on the words of Blessed Theodoret, suggesting that the phrase concerning gold refers to the offerings that kings and foreigners will present to the Savior; for His sake, all will beseech the Father, while simultaneously offering praises to the Son, recognizing the benefits they have received from Him. As stated in Hebrews: "and He shall live, and they shall give Him of the gold of Arabia, and they shall pray for Him continually, every day blessing Him."

A psalm inspired by the Holy Spirit for David, in which he petitions God for his son Solomon, the newly appointed king, asking that He may bestow upon him the ability to govern with justice, which is given to the people in his reign. However, the prophecy within this psalm particularly pertains to Christ the Lord, who is foreshadowed in Solomon, noted for his peacefulness. Yet, Christ embodies our peace (Eph. 2:14), being the King of righteousness and the Prince of peace, who reconciled us to God through His blood; concerning Him it is written, ‘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).