Psa 99:2 | KingComments | STEP | The LORD reigns, literally: the LORD is King. This is mentioned for the fourth time ( ). He has accepted His royal rule ( ) and sits on His glorious throne ( ). Now Christ is not only seated on His Father’s throne ( ), He is now also seated on His own throne along with the overcomers, the remnant. He is truthfully “the King of kings and Lord of lords” ( ). The intercession of the remnant through Moses, Aaron and Samuel ( ) is answered and is followed by praise from the remnant (cf. ). Now that the kingdom has come, the Name of the LORD is hallowed ( ). The psalm is a song of praise following the description of Christ’s reign on earth ( ). The roles are reversed. Israel enjoys the blessing, the nations must tremble. From the building of the tabernacle and the ark, the LORD “is enthroned [above] the cherubim” who stand on the mercy seat on the ark ( ; ; ). The cherubim are always mentioned in connection with the throne of God, in connection with His government ( ; ; ). The ark with the cherubim stood in the hidden part of the holy of holies. The cherubim, the guardians of His holiness, have remained hidden. Now He rules openly in Zion, which is Jerusalem. It befits the earth to tremble before that King. He “is great” ( ). He is great in Himself. It is not a matter of comparison, which then shows that He is the greatest. There is simply no one to compare to Him. He is great. Israel knows that God is great ( ). Now all nations must also acknowledge that. He is immeasurably, boundlessly great in power, love, justice and in all His features. In that indescribable greatness He dwells “in Zion” which He has chosen as His dwelling place on earth. He is also “exalted above all the peoples”. All nations are subject to Him. He is “great” to His people and “exalted” to the nations. The psalmist addresses the LORD directly in the first line of . He says to Him that it is appropriate that they “praise Your great and awesome name”. His Name is the expression of all that He is. His Name encompasses His Being and all His features. The psalmist concludes by stating: “Holy is He.” He is absolutely set apart from all that He has made. It does not mean that He is not involved in it, but He is not part of anything. He is holy in relation to all that is. The hallowing or profaning of the Name of the LORD has to do with the condition of His people. If the people are not doing well, then the Name of the LORD, His covenant name, will be profaned. People will say: ‘It is the LORD’s people, and yet they had to leave the land.’ Conversely, the Name of the LORD is hallowed when Israel is restored (cf. ).

‏ Psalms 99:2

Introduction

The LORD reigns, literally: the LORD is King. This is mentioned for the fourth time (Psa 93:1 ; Psa 96:10 ; Psa 97:1 ; Psa 99:1). He has accepted His royal rule (Rev 19:6) and sits on His glorious throne (Mt 25:31). Now Christ is not only seated on His Father’s throne (Rev 3:21), He is now also seated on His own throne along with the overcomers, the remnant. He is truthfully “the King of kings and Lord of lords” (1Tim 6:15).

The intercession of the remnant through Moses, Aaron and Samuel (Psa 99:6) is answered and is followed by praise from the remnant (cf. Psa 50:15). Now that the kingdom has come, the Name of the LORD is hallowed (Eze 36:22-23).

The LORD Reigns and Is Holy

The psalm is a song of praise following the description of Christ’s reign on earth (Psa 99:1). The roles are reversed. Israel enjoys the blessing, the nations must tremble. From the building of the tabernacle and the ark, the LORD “is enthroned [above] the cherubim” who stand on the mercy seat on the ark (Exo 25:20; 1Sam 4:4; 2Sam 6:2). The cherubim are always mentioned in connection with the throne of God, in connection with His government (Gen 3:24; Isa 37:16; Eze 10:1-20). The ark with the cherubim stood in the hidden part of the holy of holies. The cherubim, the guardians of His holiness, have remained hidden. Now He rules openly in Zion, which is Jerusalem. It befits the earth to tremble before that King.

He “is great” (Psa 99:2). He is great in Himself. It is not a matter of comparison, which then shows that He is the greatest. There is simply no one to compare to Him. He is great. Israel knows that God is great (Deu 10:17). Now all nations must also acknowledge that.

He is immeasurably, boundlessly great in power, love, justice and in all His features. In that indescribable greatness He dwells “in Zion” which He has chosen as His dwelling place on earth. He is also “exalted above all the peoples”. All nations are subject to Him. He is “great” to His people and “exalted” to the nations.

The psalmist addresses the LORD directly in the first line of Psa 99:3. He says to Him that it is appropriate that they “praise Your great and awesome name”. His Name is the expression of all that He is. His Name encompasses His Being and all His features. The psalmist concludes by stating: “Holy is He.” He is absolutely set apart from all that He has made. It does not mean that He is not involved in it, but He is not part of anything. He is holy in relation to all that is.

The hallowing or profaning of the Name of the LORD has to do with the condition of His people. If the people are not doing well, then the Name of the LORD, His covenant name, will be profaned. People will say: ‘It is the LORD’s people, and yet they had to leave the land.’ Conversely, the Name of the LORD is hallowed when Israel is restored (cf. Eze 36:20-28).