What is the meaning of Psalm 72:6? May he be like rain that falls “May he be like rain that falls…” (Psalm 72:6) • The psalm’s “he” points first to Solomon, yet prophetically to the Messiah whose reign embodies God’s perfect justice and mercy (2 Samuel 7:12-14; Luke 1:32-33). • Rain is life-giving, never haphazard. In Deuteronomy 32:2 Moses prays, “May my teaching fall like rain,” linking divine instruction with refreshment and growth. • Rulers often tax and drain their people; the ideal king refreshes them. Isaiah 55:10-11 likens God’s word to rain that “will accomplish what I please,” underscoring that Christ’s rule produces what it intends—spiritual vitality, not oppression. • When Peter later preaches “times of refreshing” from the Lord (Acts 3:19), he echoes this same promise of messianic rainfall. on freshly cut grass “…on freshly cut grass…” (Psalm 72:6) • Grass just mown lies exposed, thirsty, and vulnerable—an image of people humbled and needy. • Isaiah 40:6-8 reminds us that “all flesh is grass,” fleeting unless God sustains it. The king’s gentle rain preserves what would otherwise wither. • Freshly cut growth also speaks of readiness. Like the “new creation” in 2 Corinthians 5:17, believers have been shorn of old ways and stand open to receive Christ’s nurture. • This is not a deluge that flattens but a mist that restores—reflecting Jesus’ bruised-reed kindness (Matthew 12:20). like spring showers “…like spring showers…” (Psalm 72:6) • Spring showers arrive right when seed needs moisture. Hosea 6:3 anticipates the Lord coming to us “like the rain, like the spring showers watering the earth.” • Ezekiel 34:26 promises “showers of blessing” under the Shepherd-King. James 5:7 urges believers to wait for “early and late rains,” tying Christ’s return to the certainty of seasonal patterns. • Such showers are rhythmic and faithful, mirroring Christ’s continual intercession (Hebrews 7:25) and the Spirit’s ongoing outpouring (Acts 2:17-18). • They also signal new beginnings—resurrection life following winter’s barrenness (Romans 6:4). that water the earth “…that water the earth.” (Psalm 72:6) • The scope extends from Israel to “the ends of the earth” (Psalm 72:8). What starts as local refreshment becomes global saturation, much like the gospel’s spread in Acts 1:8. • Psalm 65:9-10 depicts God drenching the furrows, crowning the year with bounty—imagery fulfilled when Christ “fills all things” (Ephesians 4:10). • Revelation 22:1-2 culminates the picture: the river of life flows from God’s throne, healing the nations. Psalm 72 anticipates that consummation. • Every drop fulfills the Creator’s purpose, echoing the promise that “the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD as the waters cover the sea” (Habakkuk 2:14). summary Psalm 72:6 portrays the ideal King—ultimately Jesus—whose reign refreshes like gentle rain on vulnerable, expectant lives. His righteous rule arrives right on time, repeatedly, and reaches everywhere, bringing growth, blessing, and life to the whole earth. |
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