PM Aug 11th Psa 99

August 11^th       

 

Psalm 99

God’s faithfulness

1: The LORD reigneth; let the people tremble: he sitteth between the cherubims; let the earth be moved. 2: The LORD is great in Zion; and he is high above all the people. 3: Let them praise thy great and terrible name; for it is holy. 4: The king's strength also loveth judgment; thou dost establish equity, thou executest judgment and righteousness in Jacob. 5: Exalt ye the LORD our God, and worship at his footstool; for he is holy. 6: Moses and Aaron among his priests, and Samuel among them that call upon his name; they called upon the LORD, and he answered them. 7: He spake unto them in the cloudy pillar: they kept his testimonies, and the ordinance that he gave them. 8: Thou answeredst them, O LORD our God: thou wast a God that forgavest them, though thou tookest vengeance of their inventions. 9: Exalt the LORD our God, and worship at his holy hill; for the LORD our God is holy.

 

Psalm 100

 

A Psalm of Praise

A Hymn of Praise

1: Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. 2: Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing. 3: Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. 4: Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. 5: For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

Today we are reading Psalm 99 & 100. Psalm 99 is a new song of praise to the Lord – Christ who is enthroned in his Messianic kingdom. It has two verses both of which follow the same pattern. Each verse begins with a statement that the Lord reigns and examples are given of his rule and then there is a general call to exalt the LORD our God and come and worship him in his Holy hill of Zion because He is holy. This clearly is prophetic. When Christ sits of David’s throne in his kingdom the cry will go up The LORD reigns – let the people tremble. He will sit between the Cherubims. From Isaiah[1] we discover that these angelic beings are real. Christ will sit on a throne surrounded by angelic beings. It is no wonder that men will fear the Lord and that they will be impressed by his holiness.  The Psalmist says that the LORD is great in Zion. Fulfilling the message of the angel to Mary[2]. And he will be elevated as King over all men. There will be no higher court of appeal above him. The people of that day will praise the great and holy name of Christ because his name is holy[3]. Then the Psalmist says that all the strength of the King will be spent on establishing righteous judgment and equality and he will execute justice in Israel. Then the Psalm repeats what he said earlier, that The LORD our God will be exalted and that men are to worship at his feet. Then he says something quite interesting he says that Moses and Aaron will be numbered among his priests and that Samuel will be in the company of those that call on the Lords name. Clearly the Psalmist is describing a situation in which these saints of old are raised from the dead to enter into the kingdom and to worship Christ. They will call on him and Christ will answer their call. Then he reminds us that they in their lifetime called on the Lord who dwelt in the pillar of cloud and they kept his word and the laws he made. He says, you answered them and you forgave them even though you took judgment on their motives. Then the Psalm closes saying exalt the LORD our God and worship at his feet at his holy hill of Zion, because the LORD our God is holy. This Psalm is an incidental reference to the deity of Christ because it refers to him as the LORD - Jehovah. Psalm 100 is a song of praise. Again there are two verses to the song both of which are an encouragement to come and worship Christ exalted on his throne. Then both verses speak of the entrance into his presence and each verse gives three declarations of who the LORD is. While the previous psalm was addressed primarily to Israel, this psalm is addressed to every nation and people. So he begins saying, make a joyful noise to the LORD all you lands. Come and serve the LORD will gladness and come into the presence of the LORD – Christ, with singing. Know for sure that the LORD is God. He is creator and we are all under his shepherd care. So come into the gates of Zion with thankfulness and come into the courts of his temple with praise. Express your thankfulness and bless his name. Because the Lord is good and his mercy is eternal and his truth will endure for all time and all people. This Psalm while it is describing the entrance of people into the presence of Christ in the kingdom, is also a key passage giving believers today guidance on how to come before the Lord in prayer at any time. We are to come into his presence with singing and thankfulness and to bless his name.

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[1] Isaiah 6 1: In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. 2: Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. 3: And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. 4: And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke.

[2] Luke 1 32: He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: 33: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.

[3] Phil 1 10: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11: And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.