Tehillim 71–72 | The Conclusion of David’s Prayers

The psalms in this section conclude the second book of Tehillim, and at the end of Psalm 72, the verses state explicitly that this is also the conclusion of the psalms written by David himself: “Here end the prayers of David, son of Yishai” (72:20).

Psalm 71 is written with deep emotion, and we can sense how David is summing up his life through language that marks various life stages. He looks back to his youth: “For You are my hope, O Lord God, my trust since my youth. I have relied upon You since conception; from my mother's womb You brought me out” (71:5–6), and declares that even from the womb he was dependent on God. From this place of reflection, he now pleads for God to remain with him in old age: “Do not cast me away in old age; when my strength fails, do not abandon me” (71:9). Dr. Yael Ziegler notes that in the background of David’s request not to be abandoned, one can still hear the echo of his sin — ever since then, David has not been certain that God will continue to accompany and support him.

We have already seen the milestones of David’s life described in relation to God as his savior. Later in the psalm, similar time markers reappear, now related to David’s calling upon God. In his youth: “God, You have taught me since my youth; to this day I tell of Your wonders” (71:17), and he asks that even in old age he be able to continue proclaiming God’s greatness: “Now that I am old and gray, God, do not abandon me until I tell the next generation of Your power” (71:18). Salvation, trust in God, and calling upon His name are central themes in Tehillim, and in that sense, Psalm 71 can be seen as a summary psalm for David’s life.

Dr. Beni Gesundheit points out numerous parallels between Psalm 71 and earlier psalms in the book. He mentions that some have claimed this psalm lacks originality, merely “recycling” earlier prayers. Gesundheit argues that the opposite is true — the psalm does indeed quote from earlier psalms, but does so with great literary skill. As a life-summary psalm, it revisits past experiences and reflects on them from the perspective of old age.

Psalm 72 then brings this arc to a close. David wondered whether God would continue to be with him and grant continuity to his kingship, and Psalm 72 opens with: “Of Shlomo.” David has now merited that his kingship will continue. In Psalm 71 he asked: “Until I tell the next generation of Your power” — and now in Psalm 72, he sees that wish fulfilled: he has indeed established a next generation. We know from Melakhim and Divrei HaYamim that David’s passing of the crown to Shlomo included a detailed charge to observe God’s commandments, thus fulfilling the request to declare God’s strength to the next generation.

Psalm 72 also brings about a powerful full circle. In Psalm 70, and many earlier psalms, David asks for salvation while describing himself as a poor man in distress: “As for me, I am poor and needy – God, rush to me; You are my help and my rescuer” (70:6). But in Psalm 72, the king — now no longer the one pleading for help — is the one who defends the poor: “He will take pity on the poor and needy; and the souls of the needy he will save” (72:13). The circle is completed: David’s successor becomes the one who, having learned from God’s ways, now saves others. This final message becomes a call to all of us — to walk in God’s ways, to open our eyes to those who need help, and to try, even in a small way, to be saviors ourselves.