Commentary - Psalm 72:8-11

Bird's-eye view

This portion of Psalm 72, a psalm of Solomon, transitions from the righteous character of the Messianic king's reign to its global, universal extent. This is not wishful poetry; it is Spirit-inspired prophecy about the kingdom of Jesus Christ. These verses are a cornerstone for a robust, optimistic, postmillennial eschatology. They describe the successful outworking of the Great Commission in space and time. The kingdom of the Son is prophesied to extend from one end of the earth to the other, encompassing all peoples, rulers, and nations. This dominion is not accomplished through coercion alone, but results in willing submission, heartfelt worship, and the glad offering of tribute. The enemies of Christ will be utterly humbled, and the kings of the earth will bring the glory of their nations into the kingdom of God. This is a picture of the gospel's triumph in history, before the final consummation.

Solomon's own reign, with its international diplomacy, extensive trade routes, and the visit of the Queen of Sheba, serves as a historical type and foreshadowing of this ultimate reality. But where Solomon's kingdom was a shadow, limited and ultimately compromised by sin, the kingdom of his greater Son knows no such bounds. This passage demolishes any notion of a truncated, defeated gospel that only snatches a few brands from the burning. No, the promise is that the knowledge of the Lord will cover the earth as the waters cover the sea, and this psalm tells us what that looks like from a geopolitical standpoint: every king on his throne and every nation on its map will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Outline

Context In Psalms

Psalm 72 concludes the second book of the Psalter. It is one of only two psalms attributed to Solomon (the other being Ps 127). The psalm is structured as a prayer for the king, who is also called the "king's son," pointing both to Solomon as David's son and ultimately to Christ, the great Son of David. The first section (vv. 1-7) describes the righteous nature of this king's rule; it will be a reign of justice, peace, and blessing for the needy. The section under consideration (vv. 8-11) then logically extends this righteous reign to its ultimate geographical and political boundaries, which is to say, there are no boundaries. The remainder of the psalm details the king's compassion (vv. 12-14) and the perpetual, prosperous nature of his kingdom (vv. 15-17), before concluding with a doxology. This psalm is thoroughly messianic and provides a majestic Old Testament portrait of the victorious, reigning Christ, whose kingdom will grow like a mighty cedar until it fills the whole earth.

Key Issues

The Gospel Fills the World

We must be careful not to read a passage like this with the shrunken, pessimistic expectations that have characterized much of modern evangelicalism. This is not a description of the millennial kingdom after a secret rapture and a great tribulation. This is the job description given to the Church in the Great Commission. Jesus said that all authority in heaven and on earth had been given to Him, and on that basis, He commanded us to go and make disciples of all the nations. This psalm is what the successful completion of that assignment looks like. It is a prophecy of the kingdom's advance through the patient, faithful preaching of the gospel, the administration of the sacraments, and teaching the nations to obey all that Christ commanded.

The language is comprehensive and absolute. "From sea to sea," "to the ends of the earth," "all kings," "all nations." There is no room here for a defeated church, hiding in a holy huddle, waiting for an escape helicopter. This is a vision of victory. The gospel is the power of God unto salvation, and that power is not limited to saving individual souls. It is powerful enough to transform cultures, redeem nations, and bring earthly kings to their knees in glad submission to the King of kings.

Verse by Verse Commentary

8 May he also have dominion from sea to sea And from the River to the ends of the earth.

This is the foundational statement of the King's global reign. The language is drawn from what was understood to be the ideal extent of the promised land (Ex. 23:31), but here it is expanded to a global scale. "From sea to sea" likely refers to the Mediterranean in the west and the Persian Gulf or Indian Ocean in the east. "The River" is the Euphrates, the eastern boundary of the land promised to Abraham. But the phrase "to the ends of the earth" blasts through all previous geographical limitations. This is a poetic way of saying the entire globe. The dominion of the Messiah will not be a regional affair. His authority is absolute, and therefore His kingdom's jurisdiction must be universal. This is the charter for the church's missionary mandate. We are sent to claim every square inch of the planet for its rightful owner, King Jesus.

9 Let the desert creatures kneel before him, And his enemies lick the dust.

This verse describes the universal submission to the King in two powerful images. First, even the inhabitants of the most remote and desolate places, the "desert creatures," will bow the knee. This signifies that no one is outside the reach of His authority. Those who live in the wilderness, outside the bounds of established civilization, will be brought into His kingdom. Second, His "enemies" will "lick the dust." This is a graphic Old Testament idiom for complete and utter subjugation and humiliation (cf. Isa. 49:23; Mic. 7:17). It pictures a defeated foe prostrating himself so low that his face is in the dirt. This does not mean that every last individual will be converted, but it does mean that all organized opposition to the reign of Christ will be crushed. Public, defiant rebellion will cease. The enemies of the gospel will either be converted or they will be thoroughly routed and silenced. The public square will belong to Jesus.

10 Let the kings of Tarshish and of the coastlands bring a present; The kings of Sheba and Seba offer tribute.

Here the prophecy becomes more specific, naming representatives from the furthest known corners of the world. Tarshish was a distant port, likely in modern-day Spain, representing the farthest west. The "coastlands" or isles refer to the Mediterranean lands. Sheba and Seba were in southern Arabia and Africa, representing the farthest south and east. These are not just random names; they represent the totality of the world's political and economic power. And what are these kings doing? They are not coming to fight; they are coming to "bring a present" and "offer tribute." This is the language of vassal kings willingly submitting to their great overlord. They are bringing the wealth of their nations and laying it at the feet of the Messiah. This is a picture of the nations being discipled, not just individuals. The political and cultural leaders of the world will recognize Christ's lordship and bring the glory and honor of their nations into His kingdom (cf. Rev. 21:24).

11 And let all kings bow down to him, All nations serve him.

This verse serves as the grand, summarizing climax. The specific examples of verse 10 are now universalized. It will not be just a few far-flung kings, but "all kings." It will not be just a handful of representative nations, but "all nations." The two actions are comprehensive. "Bow down" signifies worship and homage. "Serve him" signifies practical obedience and allegiance in the political and cultural spheres. This is the end goal of history. This is what we are praying for when we say, "Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." The prayer of Solomon in this psalm is a prophecy that God will most certainly answer. Every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, and this psalm teaches us that this confession will happen not just in the sweet by-and-by, but here, on this globe, in the midst of human history.

Application

The application of this text is a direct assault on the timidity and cultural retreat that has plagued the modern church. We have been given a vision of total, global victory, and yet we often act like a defeated remnant. This passage should stiffen our spines and lift our eyes.

First, it should fuel our evangelism and missions. The task is not impossible. God has decreed that the nations will become the inheritance of His Son (Ps. 2:8). We are on the winning side of history, and our efforts, empowered by the Spirit, are the means by which God accomplishes this glorious end. We should not think of missions as a desperate rescue operation, but as the confident advance of a conquering kingdom.

Second, it must inform our understanding of politics and culture. The lordship of Christ is not limited to the private sphere of personal devotion. This psalm declares that "all kings" will bow to Him. This means that Christ's authority extends to city hall, the statehouse, and the halls of Congress. We must therefore work and pray for a public square that acknowledges the crown rights of King Jesus. We should be building robust Christian institutions, Christian schools, Christian businesses, and Christian art, all as part of bringing tribute to the King. We are not trying to escape the world; we are here to take it over for its rightful Lord. The kingdoms of this world must, and will, become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ.