Psalms 99

Jehovah’s fresh proclamation of His sovereignty is once more the initial watchword, as in Psalms 93, 97 (cp. Psalms 96:10), and doubtless this Psalm belongs to the same period. Its distinctive idea is expressed in the threefold refrain [Psalms 99:3; Psalms 99:5; Psalms 99:9). It is a call to all nations, and especially to His own people, to worship Jehovah as the thrice Holy God. The unceasing adoration which is evoked in heaven by the contemplation of the absolute moral perfection of God (Isaiah 6:3) should find an echo upon earth. The Psalm consists of three stanzas: the refrain in Psalms 99:3; Psalms 99:5; Psalms 99:9 may possibly have been intended to be sung as a liturgical response. The universal sovereignty of Jehovah who has established His throne in Zion (Psalms 99:1-3); the righteous character of His rule in Israel (Psalms 99:4-5); and His faithfulness in His dealings with His people manifested in their history (Psalms 99:6-9), are successively celebrated; and each stanza ends with a call to worship and extol Him as the Holy God; the first (Psalms 99:3) addressed to the nations, the second and third (Psalms 99:5; Psalms 99:9) to Israel.

Psalms 99:1-3

1–3. Jehovah has proclaimed Himself King in Zion: let all the earth worship this Holy God.

Psalms 99:2

2. Jehovah is great in Zion; And he is high above all the peoples. Zion is the seat of His universal sovereignty on earth. Cp. Psalms 48:1; Isaiah 57:15.

Psalms 99:3

3. thy great and terrible name] Cp. Psalms 47:2; Psalms 111:9; Deuteronomy 7:21. for it is holy] A possible rendering; cp. Isaiah 57:15; but the parallels of Psa 99:5; Psalms 99:9 point rather to the rendering of R.V., Holy is he. His highest claim to adoration is His absolute moral perfection. Cp. Psalms 22:3 note.

Psalms 99:4-5

4, 5. The righteous character of Jehovah’s kingdom.

Psalms 99:5

5. his footstool] In 1 Chronicles 28:2 the Ark is called Jehovah’s footstool, and so too probably in Psalms 132:7; but as there was no Ark in the Second Temple, the Temple itself must be meant here, or possibly (cp. Psalms 99:9) Zion. Cp. Lamentations 2:1; Isaiah 60:13; Isaiah 66:1 (of the earth). for he is holy] Holy is he.

Psalms 99:6-9

6–9. The holiness of Jehovah demonstrated by His dealings with Israel. Two interpretations of these verses deserve consideration. (1) They may be understood, as in the A.V., as a historical retrospect, offered for the encouragement and warning of Israel of the restoration. Moses, Aaron, and Samuel, were prevailing intercessors in past time. God revealed Himself to His people, answering their prayers, but punishing while He pardoned, in order to demonstrate His holiness. That history, it is implied, will be repeated. God will still answer prayer, and reveal Himself to Israel; but when Israel sins and forgets that Jehovah is a Holy God, He must needs punish even when He pardons. (2) They may however be taken to refer to the present, thus:

Psalms 99:7

7. He reveals Himself once more as He spoke to His people of old by the mediation of Moses. See Exodus 33:7 ff. The second line virtually expresses the condition of prevailing prayer—obedience to the revealed will of God.

Psalms 99:8

8. A pardoning God &c.] The reference here must be to the whole nation. This is the lesson which its history has taught it concerning God’s character. If He pardons in answer to prayer, He must still vindicate His holiness by chastisement, lest men should imagine that He makes light of sin. See Exodus 34:7; Numbers 14:20 ff.; and the prophet’s touching identification of himself with the guilty people in Micah 7:9 ff.

Psalms 99:9

9. A final call to worship the God of Israel in Zion, in His holy mountain (Psalms 2:6; Isaiah 66:20), for holy is Jehovah our God.