Psalm 99: The Lord is Holy

Introduction

Scripture

Reformed Systematic Theology, Volume 1: Revelation and God Doxological Fruit of Applied Revelation

The Word of God reveals the glory of God for the worship of God.

Psalm 99 ESV

1 The Lord reigns; let the peoples tremble! He sits enthroned upon the cherubim; let the earth quake! 2 The Lord is great in Zion; he is exalted over all the peoples. 3 Let them praise your great and awesome name! Holy is he! 4 The King in his might loves justice. You have established equity; you have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob. 5 Exalt the Lord our God; worship at his footstool! Holy is he! 6 Moses and Aaron were among his priests, Samuel also was among those who called upon his name. They called to the Lord, and he answered them. 7 In the pillar of the cloud he spoke to them; they kept his testimonies and the statute that he gave them. 8 O Lord our God, you answered them; you were a forgiving God to them, but an avenger of their wrongdoings. 9 Exalt the Lord our God, and worship at his holy mountain; for the Lord our God is holy!

Place in Psalms

Introduction - Psalms 1-2

Book 1 - Psalms 3-41

Book 2 - Psalms 42-72

Book 3 - Psalms 73-89

Book 4 - Psalms 90-106

Psalm 93-100 - Celebrating Yahweh’s Kingship

Book 5 - Psalms 107-145

Grand Doxology - Psalm 146-150

Purpose of Book

Yahweh is the King and He rules over all therefore strive for faithful obedience to His teachings waiting for the Messianic King

Main Point

Our Lord is holy and worthy of worship because He is great, just, and faithful

Outline

Psalm 99:1-3 - Our Lord is Great

Psalm 99:4-5 - Our Lord is Just

Psalm 99:6-9 - Our Lord is Faithful

Psalm 99:1-3 - Our Lord is Great

Psalm 99:1–3 ESV

1 The Lord reigns; let the peoples tremble! He sits enthroned upon the cherubim; let the earth quake! 2 The Lord is great in Zion; he is exalted over all the peoples. 3 Let them praise your great and awesome name! Holy is he!

The Lord reigns; let the peoples tremble!

The Lord reigns

Psalm 8:1 ESV

1 O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens.

Yahweh is the supreme ruler of the entire world

His rulership was not won by any battle with other gods

Genesis 1:1 ESV

1 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.

Let the peoples tremble

The response of humanity to the Lord’s rule/holiness is reverent fear because they know he is the one who is in sovereign control

Revelation 1:17 ESV

17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last,

He sits enthroned upon the cherubim; let the earth quake!

Enthroned upon the cherubim

Mercy Seat

Exodus 25:17–22 ESV

17 “You shall make a mercy seat of pure gold. Two cubits and a half shall be its length, and a cubit and a half its breadth. 18 And you shall make two cherubim of gold; of hammered work shall you make them, on the two ends of the mercy seat. 19 Make one cherub on the one end, and one cherub on the other end. Of one piece with the mercy seat shall you make the cherubim on its two ends. 20 The cherubim shall spread out their wings above, overshadowing the mercy seat with their wings, their faces one to another; toward the mercy seat shall the faces of the cherubim be. 21 And you shall put the mercy seat on the top of the ark, and in the ark you shall put the testimony that I shall give you. 22 There I will meet with you, and from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim that are on the ark of the testimony, I will speak with you about all that I will give you in commandment for the people of Israel.

Sacrifice once a year to atone for the sins of Israel (Leviticus 16) where God’s wrath against sin was appeased

Christ is the mercy seat

John 20:11–13 ESV

11 But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. 12 And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. 13 They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.”

Romans 3:21–26 ESV

21 But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— 22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. 26 It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

Let the earth quake

Awestruck fear that unsettles the ambitious plans of man

The Lord is great in Zion; he is exalted over all the peoples.

The Lord is great in Zion

Old Testament

Jebusite city

Temple Mount

Jerusalem

The people of Israel as a whole

Zion replaces Sinai as the the mountain where the Lord dwells

Jewish thoughts on end times were wrapped up into this plot of land

New Testament

Radically shifts from a geographical location (The temple in Jerusalem) to a theological understanding rooted in the person of Jesus

Represents the eternal heavenly city

Hebrews 12:22 ESV

22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering,

Hebrews 13:14 ESV

14 For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come.

He is exalted over all the peoples

Hope is provided for all peoples, not just the Jews as he reigns over ALL PEOPLES

Let them praise your great and awesome name!

Here is the response of the worshipers in light of God being a great and awesome God - WORSHIP

What is worship?

Worship is the reverent response of God’s saving works and praising the very character of God Himself

Holy is he!

Lexham Survey of Theology God’s Holiness

The holiness of God speaks to God’s existence as completely separate from his creation and, at the same time, to his pure and utterly incorruptible nature.

God is entirely separate from His creation

The tabernacle in Exodus was set up revealing there was a prescribed way to God and He was separate from the sinfulness of the people

The book of Leviticus is not simply about rules, but about how the Israelites were called to live under the lordship of the Holy One! He would only dwell with if there was atonement for sin and they were pure

Revelation 4:6 ESV

6 and before the throne there was as it were a sea of glass, like crystal. And around the throne, on each side of the throne, are four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind:

Psalm 99:4-5 - Our Lord is Just

Psalm 99:4–5 ESV

4 The King in his might loves justice. You have established equity; you have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob. 5 Exalt the Lord our God; worship at his footstool! Holy is he!

The King in his might loves justice.

God’s might is not in any military, economic, or government

His moral superiority and reign is unmatched

God’s justice is perfect and no human can fathom, imagine, or implement his justice

You have established equity; you have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob.

You have established equity

He established this equity through the Law

God’s ability to rule is free of discrimination, partiality, or dishonesty - He is morally pure in justice

You have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob

He is reliable in his executing of justice in Israel

His holiness is clearly seen in how he enforces justice and righteousness in Israel

No evil or sin can go unpunished and no sinner can stand before him

Christ is the perfect reflection of the justice and righteousness of God

He perfectly fulfilled the Law given to Israel

Matthew 5:48 ESV

48 You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Romans 4:23–5:1 ESV

23 But the words “it was counted to him” were not written for his sake alone, 24 but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, 25 who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification. 1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Corinthians 5:21 ESV

21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Exalt the Lord our God; worship at his footstool!

Exalt the Lord our God

Exalt is a command

Honor God for his majesty

Worship at his footstool

The temple mount in Jerusalem where the Israelites gathered for worship

Here is the response of the worshipers in light of God being a just God - WORSHIP

How are we to worship?

Unlike the Old Testament, our worship is not based on a LOCATION, but a person - Jesus Christ

John 4:20–24 ESV

20 Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you say that in Jerusalem is the place where people ought to worship.” 21 Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. 22 You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23 But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. 24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”

God cannot otherwise be properly worshipped, than when we come to him directly through Christ - John Calvin

Romans 5:8–10 ESV

8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.

Holy is he!

Isaiah 6:1–3 ESV

1 In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2 Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. 3 And one called to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!”

Lexham Survey of Theology God’s Glory

The glory of God is the splendor and brilliant beauty that shines through all of the divine attributes but is especially evident in the crucified and risen Christ.

Hebrews 1:3 ESV

3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

2 Corinthians 3:18 ESV

18 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

Psalm 99:6-9 - Our Lord is Faithful

Psalm 99:6–9 ESV

6 Moses and Aaron were among his priests, Samuel also was among those who called upon his name. They called to the Lord, and he answered them. 7 In the pillar of the cloud he spoke to them; they kept his testimonies and the statute that he gave them. 8 O Lord our God, you answered them; you were a forgiving God to them, but an avenger of their wrongdoings. 9 Exalt the Lord our God, and worship at his holy mountain; for the Lord our God is holy!

Moses and Aaron were among his priests, Samuel also was among those who called upon his name.

Moses and Aaron were among his priests

What is a priest?

Served as a mediator between Yahweh and the people of Israel

Moses

Golden Calf

Aaron

The high priest who annually offered atonement sacrifices on the Day of the Lord

Samuel also was among those who called upon his name

1 Samuel 7:8–11 ESV

8 And the people of Israel said to Samuel, “Do not cease to cry out to the Lord our God for us, that he may save us from the hand of the Philistines.” 9 So Samuel took a nursing lamb and offered it as a whole burnt offering to the Lord. And Samuel cried out to the Lord for Israel, and the Lord answered him. 10 As Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to attack Israel. But the Lord thundered with a mighty sound that day against the Philistines and threw them into confusion, and they were defeated before Israel. 11 And the men of Israel went out from Mizpah and pursued the Philistines and struck them, as far as below Beth-car.

Christ is the great High Priest

Hebrews 4:14 ESV

14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.

We are now a priesthood because of the priestly ministry of Jesus

Matthew 27:51 ESV

51 And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split.

1 Peter 2:9–10 ESV

9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

They called to the Lord, and he answered them.

They called to the Lord

He answered them

The Lord was good to Israel in that He answer them when they called out to Him

The Lord showed grace to the Israelites in these moments just as He now shows us grace

Hebrews 4:14–16 ESV

14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

In the pillar of the cloud he spoke to them; they kept his testimonies and the statute that he gave them.

In the pillar of the cloud he spoke to them

They kept his testimonies and the statute that he gave them

O Lord our God, you answered them; you were a forgiving God to them, but an avenger of their wrongdoings.

Exodus 34:6–7 ESV

6 The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, 7 keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children’s children, to the third and the fourth generation.”

O Lord our God, you answered them

You were a forgiving God to them

But an avenger of their wrongdoings

The Lord is faithful to keep the covenant He made which includes avenging Himself against those who broke the covenant

Hebrews 3:16–19 ESV

16 For who were those who heard and yet rebelled? Was it not all those who left Egypt led by Moses? 17 And with whom was he provoked for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? 18 And to whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest, but to those who were disobedient? 19 So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief.

Hebrews 12:7–8 ESV

7 It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? 8 If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.

Exalt the Lord our God, and worship at his holy mountain; for the Lord our God is holy!

Exalt the Lord Our God, and worship at his holy mountain

Exalt - command

Worship - command

For the Lord our God is holy

Holiness and grace/mercy stand together

Ephesians 2:1–9 ESV

1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

New Creation is the Fulfillment of Psalm 99

Revelation 21:22–22:5 ESV

22 And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. 23 And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb. 24 By its light will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it, 25 and its gates will never be shut by day—and there will be no night there. 26 They will bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations. 27 But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life. 1 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2 through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. 3 No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. 4 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. 5 And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.

Main Point

Our Lord is holy and worthy of worship because He is great, just, and faithful

So What?

Marvel at the beauty of God’s revelation of Himself as King—May we be driven to worship as we recognize that the same great, just and faithful King revealed in Psalm 99 3,000 years ago is the same King who rules over every detail of your life today and the same King who rules over the New Heaven and the new Earth when Psalm 99 will be experienced in the fullness of reality