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Weds 24th June - Psalm 99

Psalm 99

The Lord reigns, let the nations tremble;
he sits enthroned between the cherubim,
let the earth shake.
2 Great is the Lord in Zion;
he is exalted over all the nations.
3 Let them praise your great and awesome name –
he is holy.

4 The King is mighty, he loves justice –
you have established equity;
in Jacob you have done what is just and right.
5 Exalt the Lord our God and worship at his footstool;
he is holy.

6 Moses and Aaron were among his priests,
Samuel was among those who called on his name;
they called on the Lord and he answered them.
7 He spoke to them from the pillar of cloud;
they kept his statutes and the decrees he gave them.

8 Lord our God, you answered them;
you were to Israel a forgiving God,
though you punished their misdeeds.
9 Exalt the Lord our God
and worship at his holy mountain,
for the Lord our God is holy.

- - -

Here is the third Psalm that starts with ‘The LORD reigns.’ (See Psalm 93 and 97)

Psalm 93 speaks of His majesty, His strength and His eternal reign.

Psalm 97 speaks of His righteousness, His justice, His glory and encourages us to ‘rejoice in the LORD and praise His holy name.’

Psalm 99 speaks of His global rule and encourages us to ‘exalt the LORD our God’ and ‘to worship Him.’

He is seated on His throne. The phrase ‘between the cherubim’ refers back to Exodus 25:17-20. ‘It is a symbolic place in the OT where the cherubim were symbolic attendants that marked the place of the LORD’s enthronement in His earthly kingdom.’ (NIV note)

The Psalm also speaks about His character – who He is.

His Name is great.   Verses 1-3

The LORD is on His throne and in these opening verses we praise Him for who He is:

  • He is great
  • He is exalted
  • His Name is great and awesome
  • He is holy

Three times in this Psalm we are reminded that ‘He is holy.’

Spurgeon comments … ‘holiness is the harmony of all the virtues. The LORD has not one glorious attribute alone, or in excess, but all the glories are in Him as a whole; this is the crown of His honour and the honour of His crown. His power is not His choicest jewel, nor His sovereignty but His holiness.’

His deeds are great.   Verses 4-5

Just look at the list…

  • He loves justice
  • He has established fairness
  • To His people Israel, He has acted with justice and righteousness – in spite of their sins
  • His holiness shines through His deeds.

Therefore, we praise Him and we worship Him, as the chorus says …

Ascribe greatness to our God, the Rock,
His work is perfect and all His ways are just
A God of faithfulness, without injustice,
Good and upright is He.’

He hears and answers.   Verses 6-8 

We are taken back to Moses, Aaron and Samuel – all priests in the service of God.

  • they ‘called on His Name’ -this ‘great and awesome Name’
  • they obeyed Him

And God responded.

  • He answered them
  • He spoke to them
  • He forgave them – as He did with His people Israel, although He punished them for their sins. Why? Because ‘He is holy.’

 

Back to where we started.   Verse 9

  • Exalt the LORD our God
  • Worship Him
  • He is holy

For us today, we remind ourselves that this holy God has made Himself known to us in His Son Jesus.

He invites us into a relationship with Him as His son / daughter.

We respond by serving Him, by obeying Him, by calling on Him, by exalting Him and worshipping Him.

He responds by speaking to us, by forgiving us because Jesus has taken the punishment for our sins that we deserve.

‘LORD, we praise your great and glorious Name.’

(Roger Purdom)

Daily Readings

Thursday 25 June - Psalm 100

Friday 26 June - Psalm 101

Saturday 27 June- Psalm 102

Sunday 28 June - Psalm 103

Monday 29 June - Psalm 104

Tuesday 30 June - Psalm 105

 

New International Version - UK (NIVUK)
Holy Bible, New International Version® Anglicized, NIV® Copyright © 1979, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
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