Scofield Reference Bible Notes
Psalm 72

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

The Psalm as a whole forms a complete vision of Messiah's kingdom so far as the O.T. revelation extended. All David's prayers will find their fruition in the kingdom (Psa 72:20; 2Sa 23:1-4). Psa 72:1 refers to the investiture of the King's Son with the kingdom, of which investiture the formal description is given in Dan 7:13, 14; Rev 5:5-10. Psa 72:2-7, 12-14 give the character of the kingdom. (Cf. Isa. 11:3-9.) The emphatic word is righteousness. The Sermon on the Mount describes the kingdom righteousness. Psa 72:8-11 speak of the universality of the kingdom. Psa 72:16 hints at the means by which universal blessing is to be brought in. Converted Israel will be the "handful of corn" (Amo 9:9) as the King Himself in death and resurrection was the single grain, the "corn of wheat" (John 12:24). "To the Jew first" is the order alike of Church and kingdom (Rom 1:16; Act 13:46; 15:16, 17). It is through restored Israel that the kingdom is to be extended over the earth (Zec 8:13, 20-23). See Psa 89, the next in order of the Messianic Psalms.

Kingdom (O.T.). Psa 71:1-20; Psa 89:3, 4, 21, 28-36. (Gen 1:26; Zec 12:8).

Psa 72:5 They shall fear thee as long as the sun and moon endure, throughout all generations.

fear

Scofield Psalms 19:9, note.

Psa 72:10 The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall bring presents: the kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts.

isles

i.e. coasts.

Psa 72:14 He shall redeem their soul from deceit and violence: and precious shall their blood be in his sight.

redeem

Hebrew goel, Redemption (Kinsman type). Scofield Isaiah 59:20, note.

Psa 72:16 There shall be an 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.

shall flourish like grass

1Ki 4:20.

Psa 72:17 His name shall endure for ever: his name shall be continued as long as the sun: and men shall be blessed in him: all nations shall call him blessed.

His name

Psa 89:36.

shall endure

Heb. shall be.

shall be continued as long as the sun

Heb. shall be as a son to continue his father's name for ever.

Psa 72:19 And blessed be his glorious name for ever: and let the whole earth be filled with his glory; Amen, and Amen.

the whole earth be filled with his glory

Num 14:21; Zec 14:9.

Psa 72:20 The prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended.

ended

Literally to be ended i.e. incomplete answer. 2Sa 23:1-4.