Verse 1
Give the king
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 (Psalms 72:20); 2 Samuel 23:1-4.
Psalms 72:1 refers to the investiture of the King's Son with the kingdom, of which investiture the formal description is given in Daniel 7:13; Daniel 7:14; Revelation 5:5-10; Psalms 72:2-7; Psalms 72:12-14 give the character of the kingdom. (Cf) Isaiah 11:3-9.
The emphatic word is righteousness. The sermon on the Mount describes the kingdom of righteousness. Psalms 72:8-11 speak of the universality of the kingdom. Psalms 72:16 hints at the means by which universal blessing is to be brought in. Converted Israel will be the "handful of corn" Amos 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.; Romans 1:16; Acts 13:46; Acts 15:16; Acts 15:17. It is through restored Israel that the kingdom is to be extended over the earth. Zechariah 8:13; Zechariah 8:20-23.
See Psalms 89, next in order of the Messianic Psalms.
Verse 5
fear
(See Scofield "Psalms 19:9").
Verse 14
redeem
Heb. "goel," Redemp. (Kinsman type). (See Scofield "Isaiah 59:20").
Verse 20
ended
Lit. to be ended, i.e. in complete answer. 2 Samuel 23:1-4.