Tehillim 99

1 9 Hashem reigneth; let the nations tremble; He sitteth between the keruvim; let ha’aretz be shaken.

2 Hashem is great in Tziyon; and He is high above all the nations.

3 Let them praise Thy Shem gadol v’nora; for it is kadosh.

4 The Mighty King also loveth mishpat; Thou dost establish equity, Thou executest mishpat and tzedakah in Ya’akov.

5 Exalt ye Hashem Eloheinu, and worship at His footstool; for He is kadosh.

6 Moshe and Aharon among His kohanim, and Shmuel among them that call upon Shmo; they called upon Hashem, and He answered them.

7 He spoke unto them in the ammud anan (pillar of cloud); they were shomer over His statutes, and the chok (ordinance) that He gave them.

8 Thou answeredst them, Hashem Eloheinu; Thou wast El (G-d) that forgavest them, though Thou tookest vengeance of their misdeeds.

9 Exalt Hashem Eloheinu, and worship at His Har Kodesh; for Hashem Eloheinu is kadosh.

Tehillim 99 Commentary

Chapter 99

The happy government God's people are under. (1-5) Its happy administration. (6-9)

Verses 1-5 God governs the world by his providence, governs the church by his grace, and both by his Son. The inhabitants of the earth have cause to tremble, but the Redeemer still waits to be gracious. Let all who hear, take warning, and seek his mercy. The more we humble ourselves before God, the more we exalt him; and let us be thus reverent, for he is holy.

Verses 6-9 The happiness of Israel is made out by referring to the most useful governors of that people. They in every thing made God's word and law their rule, knowing that they could not else expect that their prayers should be answered. They all wonderfully prevailed with God in prayer; miracles were wrought at their request. They pleaded for the people, and obtained answers of peace. Our Prophet and High Priest, of infinitely greater dignity than Moses, Aaron, or Samuel, has received and declared to us the will of the Father. Let us not only exalt the Lord with our lips, but give him the throne in our heart; and while we worship him upon his mercy-seat, let us never forget that he is holy.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 99

This psalm, with the foregoing from Ps 90:1 is ascribed to Moses by Jarchi and others; but cannot be his, since mention is made of Samuel in it, who lived many years after him. The Septuagint, Vulgate Latin, Syriac, Arabic, and Ethiopic versions, more rightly attribute it to David; the inscription of the Syriac version, after saying it is David's, subjoins,

``concerning the destruction of the Midianites, whom Moses and the people of Israel led captive;''

of which there is not the least mention in it; but it more truly adds,

``and a prophecy concerning the glory of the kingdom of the Messiah;''

as it undoubtedly is.