Psalms 99: The Lord Reigns
The Lord reigneth; let the people tremble: he sitteth between the cherubims; let the earth be moved.
The Lord is great in Zion; and he is high above all the people.
Let them praise thy great and terrible name; for it is holy.
The king’s strength also loveth judgment; thou dost establish equity, thou executest judgment and righteousness in Jacob.
Exalt ye the Lord our God, and worship at his footstool; for he is holy.
Moses and Aaron among his priests, and Samuel among them that call upon his name; they called upon the Lord, and he answered them.
He spake unto them in the cloudy pillar: they kept his testimonies, and the ordinance that he gave them.
Thou answeredst them, O Lord our God: thou wast a God that forgavest them, though thou tookest vengeance of their inventions.
Exalt the Lord our God, and worship at his holy hill; for the Lord our God is holy.
Psalms 95 through 99 are often grouped together as "royal psalms" or "enthronement psalms." These psalms celebrate the Lord's sovereign rule over all the earth, both in the present and looking forward to a future day when His kingdom will be fully established. Psalms 99, in particular, emphasizes God's holiness, justice, and the appropriate response of His people: worship. This psalm calls us to acknowledge God's unquestioned authority and to respond with reverence and awe.
God's Sovereign Rule (Psalms 99:1-3)
The psalm opens with a powerful declaration: "The Lord reigns; let the peoples tremble!" (Psalms 99:1). This isn't just a statement about Israel; it's a declaration of God's universal dominion, even over the Gentile nations. He is the unchallenged master of all creation, the King who reigns (Psalms 99:1). Knowing this about the Lord should instill in us a reverent and respectful fear, the kind of fear that is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 1:7).
The imagery of God "enthroned above the cherubim" (Psalms 99:1) evokes the ark of the covenant, where two cherubim were represented (Exodus 25:18–22). These angelic beings are almost always seen in God's presence, signifying His holiness and majesty. God rules from Zion where he is enthroned between the cherubim above the ark of the covenant (Psalms 99:1-2). He is holy—that is, unique, separate, and awe-inspiring (Psalms 99:3). Though his throne is in his temple in Jerusalem, he is not merely the King over Israel. Rather, he is exalted above all peoples (Psalms 99:2). The psalmist emphasizes God's holiness, declaring, "Holy is his name!" (Psalms 99:3).
Justice and Righteousness (Psalms 99:4-5)
Because the Lord reigns with justice and righteousness, all humanity ought to bow in worship at his footstool, submitting to his kingdom authority (see Isaiah 66:1; Matthew 5:35). The Lord's strength is not just about power; it's power used to establish fairness, justice, and goodness. His love and loyalty to Israel demonstrate this. This posture of humility and acknowledgement of his regal authority should be matched by an inward bowing of the heart. An appropriate response to the love of a holy God is humble worship (Psalms 99:4–5).
Remembering God's Faithfulness (Psalms 99:6-9)
The psalmist recalls God’s deeds among Israel’s forefathers: Moses . . . Aaron, and Samuel, ordinary men with an extraordinary God. They called to the LORD, and he answered their prayers (Psalms 99:6). When God communicated to them, they kept his decrees (Psalms 99:7).
The psalmist recalls key figures in Israel's history: Moses, Aaron, and Samuel (Psalms 99:6). These were ordinary men whom God used in extraordinary ways. Moses (Exodus 33:11), Aaron (Numbers 3:6–9), and Samuel (1 Samuel 3:21) are among the most famous examples of those who heard from God and passed those messages along to Israel. They called upon the Lord, and He answered them. When God communicated to them, they kept his decrees (Psalms 99:7).
Even when God’s people sinned, these men prayed, and God forgave them (Psalms 99:8). Thus, God is to be praised for raising up these men to mediate for his people. And he is to be praised for not giving his people what their sins deserved. Though he is holy and an avenger of sin (Psalms 98:8-9), he shows mercy. God heard their cries and, though He disciplined them for their sins, He also showed them mercy and forgiveness. The nation of Israel did not always obey (Judges 2:16–19). This resulted in consequences such as the Babylonian exile (Jeremiah 25:8–11). Yet Israel was never destroyed or wiped out. This gives God's people good reason to praise and worship Him (Psalms 99:6–9).
For believers today, God has provided the perfect mediator (see 1 Timothy 2:5) and the ultimate means to forgive sins. Through Jesus Christ and his atoning death on the cross, God exalts both his holiness and his mercy. The only appropriate response is to exalt and worship him (Psalms 99:9).
The psalm concludes with a final call to exalt the Lord our God and worship at his holy mountain, for the Lord our God is holy (Psalms 99:9). This psalm reminds us that God's holiness demands our reverence, His justice calls for our submission, and His mercy invites our worship.
The Lord reigneth; let the people tremble: he sitteth between the cherubims; let the earth be moved.
The Lord is great in Zion; and he is high above all the people.
Let them praise thy great and terrible name; for it is holy.
The king’s strength also loveth judgment; thou dost establish equity, thou executest judgment and righteousness in Jacob.
Exalt ye the Lord our God, and worship at his footstool; for he is holy.
Moses and Aaron among his priests, and Samuel among them that call upon his name; they called upon the Lord, and he answered them.
He spake unto them in the cloudy pillar: they kept his testimonies, and the ordinance that he gave them.
Thou answeredst them, O Lord our God: thou wast a God that forgavest them, though thou tookest vengeance of their inventions.
Exalt the Lord our God, and worship at his holy hill; for the Lord our God is holy.
Psalms 95 through 99 are often grouped together as "royal psalms" or "enthronement psalms." These psalms celebrate the Lord's sovereign rule over all the earth, both in the present and looking forward to a future day when His kingdom will be fully established. Psalms 99, in particular, emphasizes God's holiness, justice, and the appropriate response of His people: worship. This psalm calls us to acknowledge God's unquestioned authority and to respond with reverence and awe.
God's Sovereign Rule (Psalms 99:1-3)
The psalm opens with a powerful declaration: "The Lord reigns; let the peoples tremble!" (Psalms 99:1). This isn't just a statement about Israel; it's a declaration of God's universal dominion, even over the Gentile nations. He is the unchallenged master of all creation, the King who reigns (Psalms 99:1). Knowing this about the Lord should instill in us a reverent and respectful fear, the kind of fear that is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 1:7).
The imagery of God "enthroned above the cherubim" (Psalms 99:1) evokes the ark of the covenant, where two cherubim were represented (Exodus 25:18–22). These angelic beings are almost always seen in God's presence, signifying His holiness and majesty. God rules from Zion where he is enthroned between the cherubim above the ark of the covenant (Psalms 99:1-2). He is holy—that is, unique, separate, and awe-inspiring (Psalms 99:3). Though his throne is in his temple in Jerusalem, he is not merely the King over Israel. Rather, he is exalted above all peoples (Psalms 99:2). The psalmist emphasizes God's holiness, declaring, "Holy is his name!" (Psalms 99:3).
Justice and Righteousness (Psalms 99:4-5)
Because the Lord reigns with justice and righteousness, all humanity ought to bow in worship at his footstool, submitting to his kingdom authority (see Isaiah 66:1; Matthew 5:35). The Lord's strength is not just about power; it's power used to establish fairness, justice, and goodness. His love and loyalty to Israel demonstrate this. This posture of humility and acknowledgement of his regal authority should be matched by an inward bowing of the heart. An appropriate response to the love of a holy God is humble worship (Psalms 99:4–5).
Remembering God's Faithfulness (Psalms 99:6-9)
The psalmist recalls God’s deeds among Israel’s forefathers: Moses . . . Aaron, and Samuel, ordinary men with an extraordinary God. They called to the LORD, and he answered their prayers (Psalms 99:6). When God communicated to them, they kept his decrees (Psalms 99:7).
The psalmist recalls key figures in Israel's history: Moses, Aaron, and Samuel (Psalms 99:6). These were ordinary men whom God used in extraordinary ways. Moses (Exodus 33:11), Aaron (Numbers 3:6–9), and Samuel (1 Samuel 3:21) are among the most famous examples of those who heard from God and passed those messages along to Israel. They called upon the Lord, and He answered them. When God communicated to them, they kept his decrees (Psalms 99:7).
Even when God’s people sinned, these men prayed, and God forgave them (Psalms 99:8). Thus, God is to be praised for raising up these men to mediate for his people. And he is to be praised for not giving his people what their sins deserved. Though he is holy and an avenger of sin (Psalms 98:8-9), he shows mercy. God heard their cries and, though He disciplined them for their sins, He also showed them mercy and forgiveness. The nation of Israel did not always obey (Judges 2:16–19). This resulted in consequences such as the Babylonian exile (Jeremiah 25:8–11). Yet Israel was never destroyed or wiped out. This gives God's people good reason to praise and worship Him (Psalms 99:6–9).
For believers today, God has provided the perfect mediator (see 1 Timothy 2:5) and the ultimate means to forgive sins. Through Jesus Christ and his atoning death on the cross, God exalts both his holiness and his mercy. The only appropriate response is to exalt and worship him (Psalms 99:9).
The psalm concludes with a final call to exalt the Lord our God and worship at his holy mountain, for the Lord our God is holy (Psalms 99:9). This psalm reminds us that God's holiness demands our reverence, His justice calls for our submission, and His mercy invites our worship.