Verse-by-Verse Bible Commentary
Psalms 72:20

Clarke's Commentary

Verse Psalms 72:20. The prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended. — This was most probably the last Psalm he ever wrote. There may be several in the after part of this book which were written by him; but they were probably composed in a former period of his life, for this was the end of the poetic prayers of David the son of Jesse. Those that were found afterwards have got out of their proper connexion.

ANALYSIS OF THE SEVENTY-SECOND PSALM

David being near his death, makes his prayer for his son Solomon, that he may be a just, peaceable, and great king, and his subjects happy under his government. But this is but the shell of the Psalm: the kernel is Christ and his kingdom, under whom righteousness, peace, and felicity shall flourish, and unto whom all nations shall do homage for ever and ever.

The parts of this Psalm are the following, viz.: -

I. The petition, Psalms 72:1.

II. The general declaration of the qualities of this kingdom, Psalms 72:2-4.

III. The particular unfolding of these in their effects, Psalms 72:4-18.

IV. The doxology, Psalms 72:18-20.

I. David, being taught by experience how hard a matter it is to govern a kingdom well, prays God to assist his son Solomon, to whom, being near death, he was to leave his crown and sceptre.

1. "Give the king thy judgments, O God;" the true knowledge of thy law.

2. "And thy righteousness unto the king's son;" that he may not decline to the right or left hand, but administer by justice, judge for God.

II. For then this will follow: -

1. Justice will flourish in his kingdom: "He shall judge thy people with righteousness, and thy poor with judgment."

2. And peace also, and prosperity: "The mountains," that is, the chief magistrates; "and the little hills," - the lesser officers, shall bring peace to the people: but "by righteousness," for justice upholds the world.

III. And now he proceeds to unfold himself upon the two former generals: first, justice; then, peace.

Of justice he assigns two effects: -

1. The defence of good men: "He shall judge the poor of the people; he shall save the children of the needy."

2. The punishment of the wicked: "He shall break in pieces the oppressor."

The consequences of peace are, -

1. Fear, and reverence, and the service of God: "They shall fear thee as long as the sun and moon endure, throughout all generations."

2. Plenty and abundance: "He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass; as showers that water the earth."

3. Prosperity of good men: "In his days shall the righteous flourish; and abundance of peace so long as the moon endureth."

Now he shows the greatness and amplitude of this kingdom, which will not be so true of Solomon as of Christ and his kingdom.

1. His kingdom will be very large: "He shall have dominion from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth."

2. His subjects shall be many. Some willingly, others against their will, shall obey him: "They that dwell in the wilderness shall bow before him. His enemies shall lick the dust," - crouch at his feet.

3. Homage shall be done to him by Asiatic, European, and Arabian princes. 1. "The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall bring presents, the kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts." 2. "Yea, all kings shall fall down before him; all nations shall serve him."

He sets down many excellent qualities of this king:

1. He should be ready to do good; a gracious lord to the meanest subject: "For he shall deliver the needy when he crieth; the poor also. and him that hath no helper."

2. He should be far from loading his subjects with exactions: "He shall spare the poor and shall save the souls of the needy."

3. Far from all tyranny: "He shall redeem their soul from deceit and violence."

4. Far from shedding innocent blood: "And precious shall their blood be in his sight."

And as he shall be kind and loving to his subjects, so shall his subjects show great love and affection to him.

1. They shall pray for his life: "He shall live."

2. And they shall offer him presents: "And to him shall be given of the gold of Arabia."

3. They shall pray for him: "Prayer also shall be made for him continually."

4. They shall speak well of him: "Daily shall he be praised."

And that which would induce them to it might be, that besides the equity and justice, love and kindness he showed to all, they find that under him they enjoy great plenty and abundance of all things.

1. For the earth brought forth corn, and the mountains afforded them an ample harvest: "There shall be a handful of corn in the earth, upon the top (the highest part) of the mountains; the fruit thereof shall shake (stand so thick that the ears shall brush one against another) as the trees in Lebanon."

2. The kingdom shall abound in people: "They of the city shall flourish like grass of the earth," which is thick and green. In a word, the king shall be dear to his people; and they shall love his name when living, and honour him when dead, and continue it to all posterities.

1. "His name shall endure for ever: his name shall be continued as long as the sun."

2. "Men shall be blessed in him." God shall bless thee, as he did Solomon.

3. "All nations shall call him blessed." Acknowledge his happiness, and wish a blessing to themselves after Solomon's example.

IV. In the close of the Psalm, as usual, he gives thanks for taking into consideration the happiness that was to accrue to his people under such a king, even when he was laid in the grave. He breaks forth,

I. "Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel, who only doeth wondrous things;" for indeed such a king is a wonder, and it is the grace of God must make him such.

2. And again: "Blessed be his glorious name for ever."

3. And that not in Judea alone, but in all the world: "And let the whole world be filled with his glory. Amen, amen."

"The prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended." Of which some, indeed most, judge this was the last prayer David made. See the notes at the end of the Psalm. Psalms 72:20.

With the seventy-second Psalm the SECOND BOOK of the Psalter ends, according to the division of the Jewish Masoretes. The THIRD BOOK commences with a series, chiefly composed by other inspired writers.

THE following poetical version of some of the principal passages of the foregoing Psalm was made and kindly given me by my much respected friend, James Montgomery, Esq., of Sheffield. I need not tell the intelligent reader that he has seized the spirit, and exhibited some of the principal beauties, of the Hebrew bard; though, to use his own words in his letter to me, his "hand trembled to touch the harp of Zion." I take the liberty here to register a wish, which I have strongly expressed to himself, that he would favour the Church of God with a metrical version of the whole book.

Hail to the Lord's Anointed,

Great David's greater Son!

Hail! In the time appointed,

His reign on earth begun!

He comes to break oppression,

To let the captive free,

To take away transgression,

And reign in equity.

He comes with succour speedy

To those who suffer wrong;

To help the poor and needy,

And bid the weak be strong;

To give them songs for sighing,

Their darkness turn to light,

Whose souls, in misery dying,

Were precious in his sight.

By such shall he be feared

While sun and moon endure,

Beloved, adored, revered,

For he shall judge the poor,

Through changing generations,

With justice, mercy, truth,

While stars maintain their stations,

And moons renew their youth.

He shall come down like showers

Upon the fruitful earth,

And joy, and hope, like flowers,

Spring in his path to birth:

Before him, on the mountains,

Shall Peace, the herald, go,

And righteousness, in fountains,

From hill to valley flow.

Arabia's desert-ranger

To him shall bow the knee;

The AEthiopian stranger

His glory come to see:

With offerings of devotion,

Ships from the isles shall meet

To pour the wealth of ocean

In tribute at his feet.

Kings shall fall down before him,

And gold and incense bring;

All nations shall adore him,

His praise all people sing:

For he shall have dominion

O'er river, sea, and shore,

Far as the eagle's pinion,

Or dove's light wing, can soar.

For him shall prayer unceasing,

And daily vows, ascend;

His kingdom still increasing, -

A kingdom without end;

The mountain-dews shall nourish

A need in weakness sown,

Whose fruit shall spread and flourish

And shake like Lebanon.

O'er every foe victorious,

He on his throne shall rest,

From age to age more glorious, -

All-blessing, and all-blest:

The tide of time shall never

His covenant remove;

His name shall stand for ever,

His name what is it? - LOVE.

Bridgeway Bible Commentary

Psalms 72:0 Israel’s ideal king

Solomon, the writer of this psalm, knew that God’s desire was for the dynasty of David to be established permanently (2 Samuel 7:8-16). He knew also that only as the king himself feared God and ruled by God’s wisdom would Israel enjoy the peace and strength that God intended for it (1 Kings 3:6-9).

These points are emphasized in the present psalm, which is a prayer designed to be used by the people when praying for their king. But Solomon and the Davidic kings after him fell far short of the ideals that he sets out here. The one Davidic king who fulfils all that the prayer asks for is the Messiah, Jesus.
The king who rules in submission to God will be righteous in his character and just in his actions, defending the oppressed and crushing those who oppress them (1-4). He will be as beneficial to his people as rain is to the earth, and thereby ensure that his kingdom enjoys prosperity, righteousness, peace and long life (5-7). His kingdom will expand by taking into it other countries, and will be enriched by the tribute and resources that these countries provide (8-11). The reason for this expansion is not selfish ambition or ruthless aggression, but the moral quality of the king himself. He helps the poor and the needy, rescues the downtrodden, and considers each person’s life a thing of great worth (12-14).
Riches will come to this king and people will offer prayers for him. His country will flourish agriculturally, his fame will spread and his dynasty will last for ever (15-17). The psalmist urges people everywhere to praise God who alone can do all this (18-19). An editorial note marks the conclusion of this group of psalms (20).

BOOK 3: PSALMS 73-89

Coffman's Commentaries on the Bible

ANOTHER INTERPRETATION OF Psalms 72

"The prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended."

Most of the scholars treat this verse as if it is a notation added to Book II, but Henry understood it as a reference to the last two Psalms only. There is as much authority for one view as there is for the other. Since these words do not fit the whole of Book II, they must therefore be a reference to the last two Psalms.

"The foregoing Psalm (Psalms 71) was penned by David when he was old; and it seems so was this one (Psalms 72) also, since Solomon was now standing fair for the crown. Psalms 71 was David's prayer for himself; and this one (Psalms 72) was a prayer for his son and successor Solomon. And with these two prayers, (Psalms 71-72), "The prayers of David the son of Jesse were ended," just as we are told in Psalms 72:20.

After carefully studying the whole Psalm, we find full agreement with Henry's viewpoint. The inspired David, speaking "in the Spirit of God" is a far more likely author of the remarkable intimations of the Messiahship of Christ than was young Solomon.

We cannot profess any ability to solve the mystery of the Psalm's authorship; but we find it difficult indeed to set aside the words of Matthew Henry.

Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible

The prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended - This is not found in the Syriac. The following is added in that version at the close of the psalm: “The end of the Second Book.” In regard to this twentieth verse, it is quite clear that it is no part of the psalm; and it is every way probable that it was not placed here by the author of the psalm, and also that it has no special and exclusive reference to this psalm, for the psalm could in no special sense be called “a prayer of David.” The words bear all the marks of having been placed at the close of a collection of psalms, or a division of the Book of Psalms, to which might be given as an appropriate designation, the title “The Prayers of David, the son of Jesse;” meaning that that book, or that division of the book, was made up of the compositions of David, and might be thus distinguished from other portions of the general collection. This would not imply that in this part of the collection there were literally no other psalms than those which had been composed by David, or that none of the psalms of David might be found in other parts of the general collection, but that this division was more entirely made up of his psalms, and that the name might therefore be given to this as his collection. It may be fairly inferred from this, that there was such a collection, or that there were, in the Book of Psalms, divisions which were early recognized. See the General Introduction. Dr. Horsley supposes, however, that this declaration, “The prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended,” pertains to this psalm alone, as if David had nothing more to pray for or to wish than what was expressed in these glowing representations of the kingdom of the Messiah, and of the happy times which would be enjoyed under his rule.

Calvin's Commentary on the Bible

20.The prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended. We have before observed that this was not without cause added by Solomon, (if we may suppose him to have put the matter of this psalm into the form of poetical compositions) not only that he might avoid defrauding his father of the praise which was due to him, but also to stir up the Church the more earnestly to pour forth before God the same prayers which David had continued to offer even with his last breath. Let us then remember that it is our bounden duty to pray to God, both with unfeigned earnestness, and with unwearied perseverance, that he would be pleased to maintain and defend the Church under the government of his Son. The name of Jesse, the father of David, seems to be here introduced to bring to remembrance David’s origin, that the grace of God may appear the more illustrious in having raised from the sheepfold a man of mean birth, as well as the youngest and the least esteemed among his brethren, and in having advanced him to so high a degree of honor, as to make him king over the chosen people.

Smith's Bible Commentary

Psalms 72:1-20

Psalms 72:1-20 is entitled, "A Psalm for Solomon." As we read this, we find that it goes far beyond Solomon and actually is a prophecy of that Son that was promised to David, even Jesus Christ, who would sit on the throne of David and rule it and establish it in order, in justice, and in righteousness, from henceforth forever. And so Psalms 72:1-20 transcends beyond just David's prayer for his son Solomon, and it becomes an expression of Jesus Christ in the Kingdom Age upon the throne of David. And so, there is that dual interpretation of Psalms 72:1-20 .

Give the king thy judgments, O God, and thy righteousness unto the king's son ( Psalms 72:1 ).

When Jesus Christ comes again, the first order is that of judging the earth, gathering together the nations for judgment. "Give judgment unto thy king, and thy righteousness to the king's son."

He shall judge thy people with righteousness, and the poor with judgment. The mountains shall bring peace to the people, and the little hills, by righteousness. He shall judge the poor of the people, he shall save the children of the needy, and shall break in pieces the oppressor. They shall fear thee as long as the sun and moon endure, throughout all generations. He shall come down like rain upon mown grass: as showers that water the earth. In his days shall the righteous flourish; and the abundance of peace so long as the moon endures ( Psalms 72:2-7 ).

So you see even by the words of the psalm. "They shall fear Thee as long as the sun and the moon endure, throughout all the generations." So it carries far beyond Solomon to that righteous King that God had promised to sit upon the throne of David, and to establish it from henceforth even forever, as long as the moon endures.

He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river to the ends of the eaRuth ( Psalms 72:8 ).

Again, the kingdom of God covering the entire earth.

They that dwell in the wilderness shall bow before him; and his enemies shall lick the dust. The kings of Tarshish and the isles shall bring presents: the kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts. Yea, all kings shall fall down before him: all nations shall serve him ( Psalms 72:9-11 ).

"Every knee shall bow, every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is the Lord, to the glory of God the Father" ( Philippians 2:10-11 ). And the kings of the earth will gather, bring gifts from all over the world where His kingdom extends, and will bring the praises of the people unto Him in Jerusalem. The glorious Kingdom Age.

Now when you read of the kings of the earth coming and gathering and paying their homage and bringing their gifts, who are those kings of the earth? Revelation, chapter 1, verse Psalms 72:5-6, "Unto Him who loved us and who hath made us unto our God a kingdom of priests, and we shall reign with Him upon the earth." Revelation, chapter 5, the song of the redeemed saints in heaven, "Worthy is the Lamb to take the scroll and loose the seals, for Thou was slain and have redeemed us by Thy blood, out of every nation, tribe, tongue, kindred, and people, and hath made us unto our God, kings and priests. And we shall reign with Thee upon the earth." The church. So this mention of the kings falling down before Him is actually a reference to you, His church, and your place with Him in the Kingdom Age.

For he shall deliver the needy when he crieth; the poor also, and him that hath no helper. He shall spare the poor and needy, and shall save the souls of the needy. He shall redeem their soul from deceit and violence: and precious shall their blood be in his sight. 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. There shall be a handful of corn in the earth upon the top of the mountains; the fruit thereof shall shake like Lebanon: and they of the city shall flourish like grass of the earth. His name shall endure for ever: his name shall be continued as long as the sun: and men shall be blessed in him: and all nations shall call him blessed. Blessed be Jehovah God, the God of Israel, who only doeth wondrous things. And blessed be his glorious name for ever: and let the whole earth be filled with his glory. Amen, and Amen. The prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended ( Psalms 72:12-20 ).

So this brings us to the end of the second book of the psalms. As we mentioned to you, the psalms are actually divided into five books, and each of the books ends with a doxology. And here we find the doxology, "The whole earth be filled with His glory. Amen and Amen." Just sort of, you know, the capstone on the thing, the conclusion. And thus, the prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended.

So as we enter into Book Three of the Psalms, we now get into a series of psalms that are ascribed to Asaph. Now Asaph was the chief musician. He was appointed by David as head over the musicians. Whether it is the name of an actual person or the title for the chief musician is not known. It is quite possible that Asaph is just the title for the chief musician, and thus, the psalms of Asaph would be the psalms of the chief musician, and not necessarily of the same person. Some of these psalms ascribed here to Asaph are psalms that definitely go beyond the Davidic period of reign, even into the areas of the desolation. Psalms that were written after the nation of Israel was devastated by their enemies, which, of course, goes then beyond Solomon's reign. "

Dr. Constable's Expository Notes

Psalms 72

This royal psalm is one of two psalms that attribute authorship to Solomon in the superscription (cf. Psalms 127). It describes his reign but anticipates the rule of his successor, Jesus Christ, on earth in the future. [Note: Chisholm, "A Theology . . .," p. 270.] The psalmist prayed for the prosperity of the Lord’s anointed, ultimately Israel’s Messiah. Isaac Watts wrote the hymn "Jesus Shall Reign" after meditating on this psalm. [Note: Kidner, p. 253.]

"The psalm is quoted nowhere in the New Testament as referring to Jesus, but certainly it describes the elements that will make up the promised kingdom when Jesus returns." [Note: Wiersbe, The . . . Wisdom . . ., p. 219.]

Solomon wrote of the blessings that God bestows through His anointed ruler. Because the Lord had appointed the king and because he ruled righteously, Solomon expected his reign to be far-reaching. He asked God to bless his reign with peace and prosperity because he protects the oppressed.

"The psalm begins with a prayer for the messianic kingship of David’s dynasty (Psalms 72:1-2) and ends on an ascription of praise to the universal kingship of the Lord (Psalms 72:18-19). The petition alternates between a prayer for the king, a prayer for the prosperity and justice associated with the rule, and a prayer for the extent of the rule." [Note: VanGemeren, p. 469.]

Dr. Constable's Expository Notes

3. The consequences of a wide reign of justice 72:15-20

Dr. Constable's Expository Notes

This verse was probably an editorial addition, rather than a part of Psalms 72, in view of what it says. At least 18 psalms that follow this one were David’s (Psalms 86; Psalms 101; Psalms 103; Psalms 108-110; Psalms 122; Psalms 124; Psalms 131; Psalms 133; Psalms , 138-145). Consequently this verse may have ended an earlier edition of the Psalms rather than the present one. However, this verse also separates the preceding psalms associated with David from those of Asaph that follow immediately (Psalms 73-83). Some scholars believe this verse refers to all the Davidic psalms in the first two Books, [Note: E.g., Delitzsch, 1:22.] but others believe it refers only to his psalms in Book Two. [Note: E.g., Michael D. Goulder, The Prayers of David (Psalms 51-72), p. 24] Interestingly, the word "prayers" is a synonym for "psalms" as used here. Prayers and praises are the two most characteristic marks of the Psalter.

The theme of Psalms 72 is God’s just and righteous rule over the earth. Solomon prayed that God might work through him and his administration to bring such a rule to pass. God answered Solomon’s petitions for the most part. However, because Solomon proved unfaithful to God, his reign was not as great a blessing as it might have been. When Solomon’s successor, Jesus Christ, returns to earth and establishes His reign, the conditions Solomon requested will find perfect fulfillment. [Note: See Walter Kaiser, "Psalms 72 : An Historical and Messianic Current Example of Antiochene Hermemeutical Theoria," Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 52:2 (June 2009):257-70.] For us, Solomon’s petitions constitute a model of what the godly should desire-and pray for-regarding God’s just rule on the earth (cf. Matthew 6:10).

Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

The prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended. The Septuagint version renders it, the hymns. This psalm is thought by some to be the last that was written by David, though put in this place; and it is certain that the psalms are not always placed in the order of time in which they were written: this being, as is supposed, made by him in his old age, when Solomon his son was appointed and set upon his throne by his order; on account of which he composed it, with a view to the Messiah, the antitype of Solomon. Or, as others, this is the last of the psalms, which were put together and digested in order by David himself; the rest that follow being collected by Hezekiah or the Levites. Aben Ezra mentions it as the sense of some of their interpreters,

"then shall be fulfilled the prayers of the son of Jesse;''

that is, as R. Joseph Kimchi explains it, when those consolations are completed, then the prayers of David the son of Jesse shall be fulfilled. The sense is, when all the things spoken of in this psalm, concerning the Messiah and his kingdom, should be accomplished, then the prayers of David, and so of every good man, his hearty wishes and desires, will then be answered, and have their full effect, and not till then. This verse seems to be written not by David, for the psalm itself ends with "Amen and Amen"; but by some collector of the Psalms: it is not in the Arabic version, in the room of which is "Hallelujah"; and in the Syriac version it is, "the end of the second book". The first book of Psalms ends with the forty first Psalm. The whole is divided into five parts by the Jews; observed by Origen x and Hilarius y, and others.

x Apud Montfaucon. Praelim. ad Hexapla Origen. p. 78, 79. y Prolog. in Psalm. p. 33.

Henry's Complete Commentary on the Bible

      18 Blessed be the LORD God, the God of Israel, who only doeth wondrous things.   19 And blessed be his glorious name for ever: and let the whole earth be filled with his glory; Amen, and Amen.   20 The prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended.

      Such an illustrious prophecy as is in the foregoing verses of the Messiah and his kingdom may fitly be concluded, as it is here, with hearty prayers and praises.

      I. The psalmist is here enlarged in thanksgivings for the prophecy and promise, Psalms 72:18; Psalms 72:19. So sure is every word of God, and with so much satisfaction may we rely upon it, that we have reason enough to give thanks for what he has said, though it be not yet done. We must own that for all the great things he has done for the world, for the church, for the children of men, for his own children, in the kingdom of providence, in the kingdom of grace, for all the power and trust lodged in the hands of the Redeemer, God is worthy to be praised; we must stir up ourselves and all that is within us to praise him after the best manner, and desire that all others may do it. Blessed be the Lord, that is, blessed be his glorious name; for it is only in his name that we can contribute any thing to his glory and blessedness, and yet that is also exalted above all blessing and praise. Let it be blessed for ever, it shall be blessed for ever, it deserves to be blessed for ever, and we hope to be forever blessing it. We are here taught to bless the name of Christ, and to bless God in Christ, for all that which he has done for us by him. We must bless him, 1. As the Lord God, as a self-existent self-sufficient Being, and our sovereign Lord. 2. As the God of Israel, in covenant with that people and worshipped by them, and who does this in performance of the truth unto Jacob and the mercy to Abraham, 3. As the God who only does wondrous things, in creation and providence, and especially this work of redemption, which excels them all. Men's works are little, common, trifling things, and even these they could not do without him. But God does all by his own power, and they are wondrous things which he does, and such as will be the eternal admiration of saints and angels.

      II. He is earnest in prayer for the accomplishment of this prophecy and promise: Let the whole earth be filled with his glory, as it will be when the kings of Tarshish, and the isles, shall bring presents to him. It is sad to think how empty the earth is of the glory of God, how little service and honour he has from a world to which he is such a bountiful benefactor. All those, therefore, that wish well to the honour of God and the welfare of mankind, cannot but desire that the earth may be filled with the discoveries of his glory, suitably returned in thankful acknowledgments of his glory. Let every heart, and every mouth, and every assembly, be filled with the high praises of God. We shall see how earnest David is in this prayer, and how much his heart is in it, if we observe, 1. How he shuts up the prayer with a double seal: "Amen and amen; again and again I say, I say it and let all others say the same, so be it. Amen to my prayer; Amen to the prayers of all the saints to this purport--Hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come." 2. How he ever shuts up his life with this prayer, Psalms 72:20; Psalms 72:20. This was the last psalm that ever he penned, though not placed last in this collection; he penned it when he lay on his death-bed, and with this he breathes his last: "Let God be glorified, let the kingdom of the Messiah be set up, and kept up, in the world, and I have enough, I desire no more. With this let the prayers of David the son of Jesse be ended. Even so, come, Lord Jesus, come quickly."