Day 783: Worship His majesty - Psalm 99

1 The Lord reigns! Let the peoples tremble. He is enthroned between the cherubim. Let the earth quake. 2 The Lord is great in Zion; he is exalted above all the peoples. 3 Let them praise your great and awe-inspiring name. He is holy.

4 The mighty King loves justice. You have established fairness; you have administered justice and righteousness in Jacob. 5 Exalt the Lord our God; bow in worship at his footstool. He is holy.

6-7 Moses and Aaron were among his priests; Samuel also was among those calling on his name. They called to the Lord and he answered them. He spoke to them in a pillar of cloud; they kept his decrees and the statutes he gave them. 8 Lord our God, you answered them. You were a forgiving God to them, but an avenger of their sinful actions. 9 Exalt the Lord our God; bow in worship at his holy mountain, for the Lord our God is holy. Psalm 99 Christian Standard Bible

This Psalm is, once again, a call to the peoples of the world to recognize how almighty God is, and to give Him the praise He is worthy of. The writer says that even God's name should inspire our awe. What is one of the main characteristics about God and His name that should fill us with awe? (vs 3)

It's the fact that He is holy! The three parts of the Psalm all end by repeating that. (vs 3,5, & 9)

Holiness implies perfection. There's not a shadow or hint of anything unclean about God. That's why He is seated between the cherubim. This is likely a reference to the sanctuary God told Moses to make for Israel as a symbol of His presence among them. Central to the sanctuary was a box, known as the Ark of the Covenant, and upon which was a 'Mercy Seat. These were situated between two golden images of heavenly beings called cherubim. In fact, the cherubim were joined to the Mercy Seat. It pictured God's exalted glory.

What was the other thing about God that made righteous people love Him, and why the nations should seek Him too? (vs 4)

He is someone who loves justice! His reign brings about fairness. Israel got a taste of that when God gave Moses His holy laws, and Aaron was priest. And the man named Samuel was a prophet who judged Israel with justice and fairness before they got their first king. Justice and fairness are things that will benefit any nation greatly. And the greatest justice and fairness there can be is to follow and keep God's decrees and statutes. In other words, to live by His rules (vs 6-7).

Sadly, people don't follow and keep God's laws. That's why nations crumble. In fact, even in the case of people who were running well, what happens when they forget God's laws and do things that hide the holiness of God? (vs 8)

God exercises His justice by disciplining them. Moses was not allowed to lead Israel into the land God had promised because of a failure to keep God's name holy. Samuel neglected to bring his sons up to realize how holy God is and so they were not fit to follow in his footsteps. Can you see then why the writer makes the strong appeal he does in vs 9.

God is always to be lifted up in our thoughts and in our praise. We need to remember that He is on a throne, and we are only at His footstool. So when Jesus taught His disciples to pray He began with the words “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:9-10) A paraphrased Bible puts it as “May your name be kept holy.” This should be the longing desire of our hearts. God has given us a wonderful King who reigns in justice, even our Lord Jesus Christ. May His will be done in our lives, even as it is done in heaven by the angels and cherubim.