EXALT THE LORD; HE IS HOLY

Passage: Psalms 99:1-9

Key verse: 99:5

NIV

Psalm 99

1 The Lord reigns,(A)
    let the nations tremble;(B)
he sits enthroned(C) between the cherubim,(D)
    let the earth shake.
2 Great is the Lord(E) in Zion;(F)
    he is exalted(G) over all the nations.
3 Let them praise(H) your great and awesome name(I)—
    he is holy.(J)

4 The King(K) is mighty, he loves justice(L)—
    you have established equity;(M)
in Jacob you have done
    what is just and right.(N)
5 Exalt(O) the Lord our God
    and worship at his footstool;
    he is holy.

6 Moses(P) and Aaron(Q) were among his priests,
    Samuel(R) was among those who called on his name;
they called on the Lord
    and he answered(S) them.
7 He spoke to them from the pillar of cloud;(T)
    they kept his statutes and the decrees he gave them.

8 Lord our God,
    you answered them;
you were to Israel a forgiving God,(U)
    though you punished(V) their misdeeds.[a]
9 Exalt the Lord our God
    and worship at his holy mountain,
    for the Lord our God is holy.

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Footnotes
  1. Psalm 99:8 Or God, / an avenger of the wrongs done to them
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

The Lord Our God Is Holy

99 (A)The Lord reigns; (B)let the peoples tremble!
    He (C)sits enthroned upon the cherubim; (D)let the earth quake!
2 The Lord is (E)great in Zion;
    he is (F)exalted over all the peoples.
3 Let them praise your (G)great and awesome name!
    (H)Holy is he!
4 (I)The King in his might (J)loves justice.[a]
    You have established equity;
you have executed justice
    and righteousness in Jacob.
5 (K)Exalt the Lord our God;
    (L)worship at his (M)footstool!
    (N)Holy is he!

6 (O)Moses and Aaron were among his (P)priests,
    Samuel also was among those who (Q)called upon his name.
    They (R)called to the Lord, and he answered them.
7 In (S)the pillar of the cloud he spoke to them;
    they (T)kept his testimonies
    and the statute that he gave them.

8 O Lord our God, you answered them;
    you were (U)a forgiving God to them,
    but (V)an avenger of their wrongdoings.
9 Exalt the Lord our God,
    and worship at his (W)holy mountain;
    for the Lord our God is holy!

Read full chapter
Footnotes
  1. Psalm 99:4 Or The might of the King loves justice
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

First, Great is the LORD in Zion (1-5). Our Lord reigns, enthroned between the cherubim. He is exalted over all nations - great and awesome! His reign is not corrupt like the thrones of the earth. Rather, he loves justice, establishes equity and does what is just and right. The phrase, 'he is holy' is repeated 3 times in this Psalm. His holiness sets him apart and above all. Let us exalt and worship our Holy Lord, coming before his throne with confidence in his ability to provide mercy and help (Heb 4:16). Second, you were to Israel a forgiving God (6-9). God is holy, but also merciful and gracious. He raised up shepherds who shared his heart, like Moses, Aaron and Samuel. They called on his name and prayed forgiveness for God's people. God, like a good father, disciplines our misdeeds, but has proved himself a forgiving God time and time again. Let us accept his forgiveness and worship him. May he continue to call and raise up shepherds today.

Prayer: Father, thank you for your holy and forgiving love. Help me be a prayer servant for your people.

One Word: Worship the LORD our God