Psalms99
New American Standard
1 The Lord reigns, the peoples tremble! He sits enthroned above the cherubim, the earth quakes!
2 The Lord is great in Zion, And He is exalted above all the peoples.
3 May they praise Your great and awesome name; Holy is He.
4 The strength of the King loves justice; You have established order; You have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob.
5 Exalt the Lord our God And worship at His footstool; Holy is He.
6 Moses and Aaron were among His priests, And Samuel was among those who called on His name; They called upon the Lord and He answered them.
7 He spoke to them in the pillar of cloud; They kept His testimonies And the statute that He gave them.
8 Lord our God, You answered them; You were a forgiving God to them, And yet an avenger of their evil deeds.
9 Exalt the Lord our God And worship at His holy hill, For the Lord our God is holy.
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Psalms 99Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Psalms 99. The full AI study guide (summary, themes, context) has its own page.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: The happy government God's people are under. (1–5). Its happy administration. (6–9).
vv1-5
God governs the world by his providence, governs the church by his grace, and both by his Son. The inhabitants of the earth have cause to tremble, but the Redeemer still waits to be gracious. Let all who hear, take warning, and seek his mercy. The more we humble ourselves before God, the more we exalt him; and let us be thus reverent, for he is holy.
vv6-9
The happiness of Israel is made out by referring to the most useful governors of that people. They in every thing made God's word and law their rule, knowing that they could not else expect that their prayers should be answered. They all wonderfully prevailed with God in prayer; miracles were wrought at their request. They pleaded for the people, and obtained answers of peace. Our Prophet and High Priest, of infinitely greater dignity than Moses, Aaron, or Samuel, has received and declared to us the will of the Father. Let us not only exalt the Lord with our lips, but give him the throne in our heart; and while we worship him upon his mercy-seat, let us never forget that he is holy.
Key Words
מָלַךְ: to reign; inceptively, to ascend the throne; causatively, to induct into royalty; hence (by implication) to take counsel
עַם: a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock
רָגַז: to quiver (with any violent emotion, especially anger or fear)
יָשַׁב: properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to remain; causatively, to settle, to marry
כְּרוּב: a cherub or imaginary figure
אֶרֶץ: the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
נוּט: to quake
גָּדוֹל: great (in any sense); hence, older; also insolent
צִיּוֹן: Tsijon (as a permanent capital), a mountain of Jerusalem
רוּם: to be high actively, to rise or raise (in various applications, literally or figuratively)
Cross References
Psalms 99Textual parallel of God ruling, dwelling, and sitting between the cherubim.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Historical foundation of the Lord of hosts dwelling between the cherubim on the ark.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Exhortation to worship at His footstool, identifying the footstool with the ark or sanctuary.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Explicitly names Moses and Samuel together as preeminent intercessors before God.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The historical manifestation of God speaking to Moses in the cloudy pillar.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
God coming down in the pillar of cloud to speak with Aaron and Miriam.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Vengeance on inventions; Moses and Aaron chastised and excluded from Canaan despite being forgiven.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The threefold proclamation of God's holiness matching the structural refrain of this Psalm.
Supported by JFB
David's desire to build a house for the covenant ark, called God's footstool.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Samuel calling upon the Lord on behalf of Israel, and the Lord answering him.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Verbal parallel celebrating the Lord as high and exalted above all the earth.
Supported by JFB
Moses interceding for Israel's sin, illustrating his role among those who call on God.
Supported by Matthew Poole
God pardoning the people according to Moses' word, though chastisements followed.
Supported by JFB