Psalm 72 (71):18Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Reflecting on the preceding thoughts, a hymn arises, and praise be to the Lord God of Israel. For the promise made to the childless woman is realized, and He who has redeemed you, O God of Israel, will be recognized by all peoples. Isaiah 54:5 He alone performs wonders, for whoever acts in His name is engaged in His divine work; He solely brings forth miraculous deeds.

Following the account of His works as a builder of a spiritual dwelling for those on earth, a hymn of praise is offered to Him, recognizing Him as the God of Israel, the sole one capable of performing such wonders. What wonders are being referenced here? Are they not those that dismantled the reign of Satan and freed those tormented by demons from their deceptions? It is important to note that none of the statements made in the psalm can be attributed to Solomon, the child of Uriah’s wife—neither the phrase, "before the sun ... His name" (Psalm 71:17), nor "all the Gentiles shall work for Him" (Psalm 71:11), nor the declaration, "before the moon of the generation of generations" (Ps. 71:5). Thus, it becomes clear that this psalm is about our Lord Jesus Christ.

Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, who alone performs wonders; in other words, the same One referenced in the prophecy will also accomplish the miracles mentioned earlier. He is the God of Israel and the Sovereign of all.

In this passage, the Divine David has unveiled what was once concealed. He declares Christ to be both God and the God of Israel, indicating that Christ is indeed the God of Israel who performed wonders for His people in ancient times, the ancestors of the Jewish people. The term “one” is employed not to differentiate the Son from the Spirit, but to set apart the true God from false deities. Athanasius expresses that the miracles performed by Christ include the defeat of Satan’s power and the liberation from the harsh dominion of demons. The reference to “one” pertains to the nature of the Holy Trinity, which is unified and of the same essence, rather than to the individual persons within it.

What greater wonder could there be than the transformation of ravenous tax collectors into apostles, and cruel persecutors becoming the most enduring proclaimers of the Gospel? Remarkably, the very faith that faced persecution was then disseminated even through the martyrdom of these individuals. Such are the works of God, which the Son of God affirms He performs in unity with the Father, declaring, ‘My Father does to this day, and I do’ (John 5:17). The blessed David, inspired in spirit, proclaims of these divine actions, ‘Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel, the only One who works miracles’ (Psalm 71:18). Similarly, the prophet Amos states, ‘He turns the shadow of death into morning, and makes the day as dark as night’ (Am. 5:8). This exemplifies the transformative power of the right hand of the Most High (Ps. 76:11). Regarding this redemptive work of God, the prophet implores the Lord, ‘Establish, O God, what Thou hast done for us!’ (Psalm 67:29).

The prophet, after praying for his son and receiving assurance from the Holy Spirit that his prayers would be answered, expresses exaltation toward God. Had he not perceived through the lens of faith all that we have explored in this psalm, he would not have proclaimed so openly and with such joy, as he now blesses God, exclaiming, "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel." The subsequent phrase, "He that worketh miracles alone," clearly pertains to the current context, emphasizing the need to place the kingdom in God's hands while also reminding his son and future leaders that they would require divine intervention to uphold it. Indeed, the legacy of David's heirs was fraught with turmoil, as his throne was shaken numerous times and ultimately fell.

A psalm inspired by the Holy Spirit for David, in which he petitions God on behalf of his son Solomon, the new monarch, asking that He grant him the wisdom to govern with justice, a gift bestowed upon his people within his realm. However, the prophecy in this psalm is particularly directed toward Christ the Lord, who is foreshadowed in Solomon, for Solomon is known as the peaceful one. Yet Christ is our peace (Eph. 2:14), the Sovereign of righteousness and the Prince of peace, who reconciled us to God through His sacrifice. 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).