Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Reflections on Psalms 99

 Psalms 99(Contemporary English Version)
  1. Our LORD, you are King! You rule from your throne above the winged creatures, as people tremble and the earth shakes.
  2. You are praised in Zion, and you control all nations.
  3. Only you are God! And your power alone, so great and fearsome, is worthy of praise.
  4. You are our mighty King, a lover of fairness, who sees that justice is done everywhere in Israel.
  5. Our LORD and our God, we praise you and kneel down to worship you, the God of holiness!
  6. Moses and Aaron were two of your priests. Samuel was also one of those who prayed in your name, and you, our LORD, answered their prayers.
  7. You spoke to them from a thick cloud, and they obeyed your laws.
  8. Our LORD and our God, you answered their prayers and forgave their sins, but when they did wrong, you punished them.
  9. We praise you, LORD God, and we worship you at your sacred mountain. Only you are God!

This psalm opens with the proclamation, "The Lord reigns!" Our response should be to exalt Him above all else and praise His "awe-inspiring name." Two reasons we are given for exalting Him are that He is holy and He answers the prayers of His people. A third reason is that He administers justice and righteousness.

Three references are made to God answering the prayers of His people. There was Moses and Aaron, and then Samuel. They called on His name and He answered them. These men were no different than any others, for they, too, were sinful men who required God's forgiveness. Though God punished their misdeeds, He forgave them. And He answered their prayer because they were obedient. They "kept His decrees and the statutes He gave them." (99:7)

Having given His reasons for exalting the Lord, the psalmist again calls on the people to "Exalt the Lord our God . . .for the Lord our God is holy." (99:9)

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