“And he shall live, and to him shall be given of the gold of Sheba: prayer also shall be made for him continually; and daily shall he be praised.”
My Notes
What Does Psalms 72:15 Mean?
The psalmist envisions the ideal king's reign: "he shall live, and to him shall be given of the gold of Sheba: prayer also shall be made for him continually; and daily shall he be praised." The king receives three things: material tribute (gold), intercessory prayer (continually), and verbal praise (daily). The triple provision sustains the king from without: wealth, prayer, and honor.
The gold of Sheba (zahav Sheva) connects to the Queen of Sheba's gift to Solomon (1 Kings 10:10) — the paradigmatic expression of international recognition and tribute. The ideal king attracts the wealth of nations not through conquest but through the quality of his reign. The gold comes voluntarily because the king's governance deserves it.
The continual prayer made "for him" (ba'ado — on his behalf, for his benefit) means the king is the subject of his people's ongoing intercession. The community prays for the king — not just occasionally but continually. The king's effectiveness depends on the community's prayer. The intercession sustains the governance.
Reflection Questions
- 1.How do gold (material support), prayer (intercession), and praise (verbal honor) together sustain leadership?
- 2.What does the continual prayer 'for him' teach about the community's role in leadership effectiveness?
- 3.How does the gold of Sheba (voluntary tribute from impressed outsiders) differ from taxation or conquest?
- 4.How does Jesus fulfill this psalm's vision of the ideal king receiving gold, prayer, and praise?
Devotional
Gold. Prayer. Praise. The ideal king receives all three — and all three come from the people and nations he serves. The gold comes from Sheba (international recognition). The prayer comes from his people (continual intercession). The praise comes daily (ongoing verbal honor). The king is sustained by what flows toward him from every direction.
The gold of Sheba echoes Solomon's most glorious moment: the queen who traveled from the ends of the earth to witness wisdom and left her treasury behind. The ideal king attracts this kind of tribute — not through intimidation but through the quality of his reign. Nations bring gold because the governance deserves their investment.
The continual prayer is the detail the church should notice: the people pray for the king. Not occasionally. Continually. The intercession is as constant as the governance it supports. The king's effectiveness is connected to the community's prayer life. The leader who is prayed for continually leads differently than the leader who isn't.
The daily praise completes the triple provision: every day, the king hears verbal honor from his people. The praise isn't reserved for special occasions. It's daily — as regular as meals, as routine as sunrise. The king lives in an atmosphere of spoken honor.
The messianic dimension is inescapable: Jesus is the king who receives the gold of Sheba (the magi's gifts, Matthew 2:11), the continual prayer of his people (the church's intercession), and the daily praise of those he governs (worship in every generation). The ideal king of Psalm 72 finds his fulfillment in the king who reigns forever.
How are you providing the three things the king needs: tribute (material support), prayer (continual intercession), and praise (daily verbal honor)?
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
And he shall live,.... Either the poor and needy man, saved and redeemed by Christ; he, though dead in trespasses and…
And he shall live - So far as the lanquage here is concerned, this may either refer to the king - the Messiah - or to…
A concluding triplet of prayers, for the welfare of the king (Psa 72:72), for the prosperity of his people (Psa 72:72),…
Cross References
Related passages throughout Scripture