The desert tribes will bow before him. . . . All kings will bow down to him. (Psalm 72:9,11)This psalm was possibly written for Solomon's coronation and then used in future coronation celebrations. It blesses the king's reign with majesty, longevity, power and justice. Some scholars have asserted that the exaggerated language reflects expectations of a messianic king. [1]
The desert tribes will bow before him. . . . All kings will bow down to him. Even though separated by verse 10, this is almost certainly a case of parallelism, an ancient literary device used in Hebrew poetry, which compares or contrasts two thoughts.
In this case the contrast clarifies a truth. In the first line, the word translated as bow is the Hebrew kara (kaw RAH). In the second line the word is shachach (shaw KAWH). The words carry two different connotations. Shachach implies the kings of the earth bow out of reverence and respect. This is the word used for bowing in worship. Kara is the word one would use to describe a defeated foe bowing with his conqueror's boot on his neck. No reverence, respect or worship there.
God exalted him to the highest place . . . that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow (Philippians 2:9,10).
When you bow, is it prompted by a spirit of worship or defeat?
[1] C. Hassell Bulloch. An Introduction to the Old Testament Poetic Books (Chicago: Moody, 1979), 143.
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