Psalm 99
Israel’s Song of Praise to Jehovah, Who Reigns in Zion
Israel’s Song of Praise to Jehovah, Who Reigns in Zion
Psalm 99. In Psalm 98 we have a call for Israel to praise Jehovah with a new song, and Psalm 99 is Israel’s song in response. This is Israel’s praise in the Millennium! The theme of the Psalm is that Jehovah is reigning in Zion, His power, glory, and holiness are on earth, and He sits between the cherubim.
PSALM 99
1 Jehovah reigneth: let the peoples tremble. He sitteth between the cherubim: let the earth be moved.
2 Jehovah is great in Zion, and he is high above all the peoples.
3 They shall praise thy great and terrible name, — it is holy! —
4 And the strength of the king that loveth justice. “Thou” hast established equity: it is thou that executest judgment and righteousness in Jacob.
vv.1-4 Praise for Jehovah’s Glory. Again, those words are used to introduce the Psalm; “Jehovah reigneth”. It isn’t only that Jehovah has appeared, but His presence is “between the cherubim”, actually in the rebuilt temple in Israel. The result is that all “the peoples” of the earth tremble before Him. Jehovah is “high above all the peoples”, His glory manifested publicly. The peoples of the earth (Jew and Gentile) praise His “great and terrible name”, which is “holy”. The “king” in v.4 is Christ Himself; “the king that loveth justice”. Christ’s kingdom is characterized by equity, judgment, and righteousness in Israel.
5 Exalt Jehovah our God, and worship at his footstool. He is holy!
6 Moses and Aaron among his priests, and Samuel among them that call upon his name: they called unto Jehovah, and “he” answered them.
7 He spoke unto them in the pillar of cloud: they kept his testimonies, and the statute that he gave them.
8 Jehovah, our God, “thou” answeredst them: a forgiving GOD wast thou unto them, though thou tookest vengeance of their doings.
vv.5-8 Praise for Jehovah’s Faithfulness in All Generations. Israel calls on the whole earth to exalt Jehovah their God, and worship Him. They consider His faithfulness to Israel throughout all generations; “Moses and Aaron among his priests, and Samuel among them that call upon his name”. The Lord answered the prayers of His Old Testament saints, and proved Himself forgiving as well as righteous; “a forgiving God wast thou unto them, though thou tookest vengeance of their doings.” Israel will reflect that Jehovah’s character has not really changed from the beginning. He was always faithful!1 These two things will be owned by Israel; Jehovah’s government and His grace.
9 Exalt Jehovah our God, and worship at the hill of his holiness; for holy is Jehovah our God.
v.9 The Earth Called on to Worship Jehovah in Zion. Israel calls on the nations to exalt Jehovah their God, and to come to the “hill of his holiness” (i.e. Zion), to worship Him in the Millennium. The nature of Jehovah will be manifest in that place; “holy is Jehovah our God”.
- But another touching and important principle is then brought out: Israel had utterly failed, cast off Jehovah, rejected Messiah, was judged and cast off. But Jehovah had never given up His faithfulness and grace. Hence the Spirit turns back here to recognise the saints under the old covenant who had, through grace, been faithful. – Darby, J.N. Synopsis of the Books of the Bible.