Psalms 72:20

ANOTHER INTERPRETATION OF PSALM 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.