Psalm 72

V. 11. Fresco Marienkirche Barth , Western Pomerania

The 72nd psalm is a biblical psalm of Solomon . It represents the last psalm in the second book of the psalter. The last three verses actually no longer belong to Psalm 72, but rather represent closing words to the second book of the Psalter, which includes Psalms 42 to 72. Verse 20 was probably originally the conclusion of a collection of David psalms .

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The psalm was originally recited at the coronation of the kings of Judah , possibly also at the annual commemoration festival. The psalm expresses what the people expect from their king, even if this expectation is not always fulfilled. Accordingly, it can also be understood as an indirect request to God to send the actual king, namely the Messiah , so that he leads the judgment fairly. The psalm asks that the king justify the poor and the wicked (e.g. verses 4 and 12 f.). Verse 14 states that the righteous king does not unnecessarily jeopardize the lives of his subjects (“their blood is worthy of him”). In verses 5 to 11 the king is wished for eternal life and dominion over the entire world (verses 8 to 10 describe the entire world known at the time). This expresses an expectation that, according to the Christian understanding , is fulfilled through Jesus Christ . Verses 10 and 11 played a role in the Christian tradition in the interpretation of the wise men from the Orient , of whom the Evangelist Matthew reports in Chapter 2, as kings.

The picture of this king is not formed from dreams, but represents expectations and hopes, which the people of God should exemplify in the world. These are therefore particularly expected from the highest representative of this people.

reception

The Latin phrase “a mari usque ad mare” (English: “from sea to sea” ) - derived from Psalm 72: 8 - is Canada's national motto.

See also : Coat of Arms of Canada

Web links

Commons : Psalm 72  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

• Psalm 72 in the standard translation , the Luther Bible and other translations from bibleserver.com
• Psalm 72 in the Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia (BHS) on bibelwissenschaft.de
• Sheet music in the public domain of settings for Psalm 72 in the Choral Public Domain Library - ChoralWiki (English)

Individual evidence

1. ↑ ^{a b} The Bible with explanations. 3rd edition, Evangelische Haupt-Bibelgesellschaft, Berlin 1993, ISBN 3-7461-0069-0 .
2. ↑ Stuttgart Explanatory Bible. 2nd Edition. German Bible Society , Stuttgart 1992, ISBN 3-438-01121-2 , p. 718 f.