Psalm 72 (71):8Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

He of whom it is declared: 'Justice and an abundance of peace shall emerge in His days until the moon is exalted.' If the Church is rightly referred to as the 'moon,' He further illustrated the vast reach He envisioned for this Church by saying: 'And He shall be Lord from sea to sea.' The earth is encircled by a mighty expanse known as the Ocean, from which a part flows into the lands, revealing those waters frequented by vessels. Moreover, when He mentions from sea to sea, He signifies His Lordship spanning every corner of the earth, proclaiming His name and power throughout the world to be preached and to flourish greatly.

And holds dominion from one ocean to another. This declaration indicates that all nations have come to believe in Him, signifying His claim over the entire cosmos to its farthest reaches. The edges of the earth are represented by the vast and boundless seas, which some refer to as the Atlantic and the other western and eastern oceans. Thus, the entire universe is aptly depicted as being encompassed by these outer seas, a point that is further illuminated by the subsequent verse.

And shall reign from sea to sea, meaning that it will triumph over all boundaries of the cosmos. Given that the edge of the earth is formed by the vast and uncharted oceans, commonly referred to as the Atlantic, along with the western and eastern seas, it is accurately stated by the Prophet that the sovereignty of creation is encircled by waters. This is further clarified in the subsequent verse. And from the rivers to the ends of the earth. Here, the Prophet refers to the Jordan River, where the Lord, upon His baptism, received the affirmation from the Father, declaring Him as His beloved Son in whom He is well pleased (Matthew 3:17). From this point, the Evangelist notes, He commenced His ministry, proclaiming, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand’ (Matthew 4:17). Thus, the prophecy indicates that it will extend from the river to the ends of the earth. The Prophet then elaborates on this in another manner.

He shall reign, as declared by the Psalmist, from coast to coast. In this context, the sea represents the work from which He claims those who are under His authority. To the sea suggests an infinite understanding in which those who have embraced such wisdom through reflection immerse themselves. Alternatively, the sea can be viewed as baptism; as stated by the prophet, the enemy is cast into the first sea, while his rear is thrown into the last sea. Here, baptism serves as the initial sea, as previously described, and resurrection signifies the final sea, wherein the enemy's rear is eradicated. At this point, our nature is wholly liberated from the law of sin, which was inherited due to the righteousness of our forebears.

And He reigns from coast to coast. David refers to the eastern and western oceans as one and another due to the vastness of water they encompass. These bodies of water mark the boundaries of the cosmos in their expanse. Similarly, the northern and southern oceans delineate the limits of the universe in terms of latitude. As is commonly acknowledged, the ocean envelops the entire earth, depicting it as an island. From the rivers to the farthest reaches of creation, this verse conveys the same meaning as the one preceding it. What was previously referred to as seas is now termed rivers, signifying their connection as portions of the ocean.

When the Lord made His promise to grant His people the land as an inheritance, He set specific boundaries, which is clearly indicated in Genesis 15:18. David therefore expresses that the possession of the promised land during the prosperous period of the kingdom shall remain secure, allowing the faithful to understand that God's blessings will be present with them eternally. He reigns from sea to sea, and from the rivers to the ends of the earth. The measured territory starts from the Red Sea—or from the straits of the Sea of Egypt—and extends to the Sea of Syria; then from the rivers Euphrates and Jordan to the expansive desert that some refer to as Palestine.

A psalm inspired by the Holy Spirit addressed to David, where he petitions God for his son Solomon, the newly anointed king, asking that he be granted the ability to govern with equity, which was bestowed upon his people in his realm. However, this psalm particularly foreshadows Christ the Lord, who is a figure akin to Solomon, often described as peaceful. Yet, Christ embodies our peace (Eph. 2:14), being the King of righteousness and the King of peace, who reconciled us to God through His sacrifice; 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).