Commentaries and Other Bible Study Helps - Prayer Tents - Prayer Tents

72:5-7 May People Fear You Because of His Reign. The next section prays for a blessed reign while the sun endures and till the moon be no more (i.e., always). This extension of time suggests that this psalm ultimately refers to the Messiah. May they fear you. "They" may be God's people (vv. 1-4), or people in general (vv. 8-11); in either case, the heir of David serves as God's representative to the people, and is to be "feared," i.e., honored and obeyed. Of course this should help David's heirs to love being honorable, the kind of person who is an unmitigated blessing and refreshment to God's people (just like rain and showers were in ancient Israel).