Matthew Henry’s Modern English CommentaryPsalms 72

Prayer for the King and His SonThis verse is a prayer asking God to give wisdom and justice to the king and his son. It shows how important it is for leaders to have God’s guidance and to rule with fairness. The verse can be understood both as a request for Solomon, David’s son, and as a prophecy about Jesus, the promised King who would come to rule with perfect righteousness.v. 1: The psalmist prays, Give the king thy judgments, O God, and thy righteousness unto the king’s son . For Solomon, this was a father’s prayer for his child to be wise and do what is right. David wanted his son to be a good king, and knew that only God could give true wisdom. It is also a prayer for every leader, that God would help them rule with justice. For all believers, it reminds us to pray for our leaders and to seek God’s help for them.This verse also points to Jesus Christ, the true King and Son of God. The church prayed for the coming of the Messiah, asking God to give Him all authority and righteousness. Now, believers rejoice that Jesus has received all power and is our righteous King (Psalm 2:6–7 ).

The Righteous Reign of the Messiah This section describes the just and righteous rule of a king, which is ultimately fulfilled in the Messiah. The psalm is both a prayer and a prophecy, asking God to bless the king with wisdom and justice. David looks forward to a time when the king will rule with fairness, bringing peace and protection to all people. The passage shows that true greatness in a ruler comes from caring for the poor and weak, and from ruling according to God's laws.v. 2: He shall judge thy people with righteousness, and thy poor with judgment (Psalm 72:2 ). The king, empowered by God, will rule the people with fairness and justice. He will not favor the rich or powerful, but will pay special attention to the poor and those who need help most. This justice will not be only for show, but real and practical—he will make sure laws are carried out rightly, and that the weak are protected. This kind of rule is what makes a nation truly blessed. These words look forward to the reign of Christ, who will one day rule the world with perfect righteousness (Isaiah 11:4 ).

Thanksgiving and PrayerThese verses are a fitting end to the great prophecy about the Messiah and His kingdom. The psalmist finishes with deep praise and prayer, showing us how we should always thank God for His promises, even before they come true. We are encouraged to praise God for all He has done and to pray that His glory will fill the whole earth.v. 18: The psalmist says, Blessed be the Lord

v. 19: He continues, And blessed be his glorious name for ever: and let the whole earth be filled with his glory; Amen, and Amen . The psalmist desires that everyone, everywhere, will praise God’s name and that God’s glory will be seen all over the world. He ends with a strong “Amen and Amen,” showing how much he agrees and hopes for this.

v. 20: The psalmist adds, The prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended (Psalm 72:20 ). This was the last psalm David wrote, closing his prayers with a wish for God’s eternal glory and the coming of the Messiah’s kingdom. It is like David’s final blessing and hope for all God’s people—“Let God be glorified!”