Psalm 99
I’ve been saving this Psalm. It’s been one I have come back to to reread over the last couple months.
As I’ve mentioned before, I have routinely come to God in praise because of what Has done for me or given to me, but only in the last few years have I learned to Praise God for Who He IS.
God’s Holiness is one of the greatest reasons we have to praise Him
Before we look at some things that have stood out to me about praise from this psalm, please take a few minutes and read Psalm 99.
God’s Name is Holy
“Let them praise thy great and terrible name; For it is holy.” Psalm 99:3
God’s name is a symbol of His greatness. Israel was commanded to not use God’s name in vain (Ex 20:7). God’s greatness and God’s Holiness are tied together.
Even for believers today, how did Jesus teach us to pray? “Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.” (Mt 6:9b) Jesus wanted us to pray that God’s name would be seen as Holy.
We can maintain our view of God’s Holiness by how we treat His name. As Christians we claim the name of Christ, how we live reflects on God’s name.
God is a Holy Judge
“Exalt ye the Lord our God, And worship at his footstool; For he is holy.” Psalm 99:5
The footstool here is referring to the world that God made.
“Thus saith the Lord, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: Where is the house that ye build unto me? And where is the place of my rest? Isaiah 66:1
God is the judge of all that He has created (Ps 99:4). He will judge in equity and in doing so will further illustrate His perfect Holiness.
God’s Grace in His Holiness
God is Holy. Perfectly Holy. But He is just as gracious.
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 99:6–9
This Psalm has acknowledged God’s Holiness and then it goes one to talk about the men who God invited into his presence. Do you remember Moses, Aaron, and Samuel? God talked to these men like He talk to few other humans in all of history.
How perfect were these men to have earned this place? Not perfect at all.
This is God’s grace.
This truth is why I am drawn to this Psalm: God is perfectly Holy, I am a regular human being. Yet just as these men knew God’s Holiness and knew fellowship with Him, you and I can too.
“Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:16
Your Turn
Praise God for His perfect Holiness.
Know God’s grace by enjoying His presence. Come to Him Boldly in prayer and praise.
He has graciously made the way of access to Him and without tarnishing His Holiness God invites believers to fellowship with Him.
This won’t always be a comfortable experience. Just as Isaiah when we saw the throne room of God (Isaiah 6), we will be aware of our impurity in contrast to God’s Holiness. Don’t hide from that light like Adam and Eve hid, seek God’s cleansing, and come boldly before the throne of Grace.
