Psalms 99

King James Version

Full text for Psalms Chapter 99

1¶ The LORD reigneth; let the people tremble: he sitteth [between] the cherubims; let the earth be moved.

2The LORD [is] great in Zion; and he [is] high above all the people.

3Let them praise thy great and terrible name; [for] it [is] holy.

4The king's strength also loveth judgment; thou dost establish equity, thou executest judgment and righteousness in Jacob.

5Exalt 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.

7He spake unto them in the cloudy pillar: they kept his testimonies, and the ordinance [that] he gave them.

8Thou answeredst them, O LORD our God: thou wast a God that forgavest them, though thou tookest vengeance of their inventions.

9Exalt the LORD our God, and worship at his holy hill; for the LORD our God [is] holy.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Psalms 99 proclaims the LORD's sovereign reign, emphasizing His greatness and holiness above all people. It calls for all to tremble and worship His terrible name, acknowledging His establishment of judgment and equity. The psalm concludes by reiterating the call to exalt the holy LORD our God.

Medium Summary

This psalm declares the LORD's supreme reign, asserting His power over all nations and His dwelling between the cherubims. It highlights His greatness in Zion and His exalted position above all people, prompting a call to praise His great and holy name. The text emphasizes God's love for justice, His establishment of equity, and His execution of righteousness among Jacob. Historical examples like Moses, Aaron, and Samuel are cited, showing that God answered their prayers and spoke to them from the cloudy pillar. While forgiving His people, He also took vengeance on their sinful inventions, underscoring His balanced nature. The psalm repeatedly urges the exaltation and worship of the LORD our God, for He is holy.

Long Summary

Psalm 99 opens by declaring the LORD's universal reign, commanding the people to tremble and the earth to be moved in recognition of His sovereignty. It establishes His majestic presence, seated between the cherubims, and His greatness within Zion, asserting His elevated position above all nations. The psalm exhorts all to praise His great, terrible, and holy name, acknowledging the awe and reverence due to Him. It further describes the King's strength as loving judgment, establishing equity, and executing righteousness specifically in Jacob. A repeated call to exalt the LORD our God and worship at His footstool underscores His holiness. The psalm then draws upon historical precedents, citing Moses and Aaron among His priests, and Samuel among those who called upon His name, noting that the LORD answered them. It recalls God's communication from the cloudy pillar and the people's adherence to His testimonies and ordinances. The text affirms that the LORD our God answered them and was a God who forgave them, yet also took vengeance upon their sinful "inventions." The psalm concludes with a final, emphatic call to exalt the LORD our God and worship at His holy hill, reiterating the central theme of His profound and unchanging holiness.

Core Concepts

  • God's SovereigntyThe psalm declares the LORD's absolute reign, stating that He "reigneth" and sits "between the cherubims," causing the people to tremble and the earth to be moved by His supreme authority.
  • Divine HolinessGod's holiness is a central theme, repeatedly stated as the reason for His "great and terrible name" and the basis for the call to worship Him at His footstool and holy hill.
  • Justice and EquityThe LORD is depicted as a King whose strength loves judgment, establishing equity and executing righteousness among His people, Jacob, demonstrating His commitment to moral order.
  • Responsive PrayerThe psalm highlights God's responsiveness to prayer through the examples of Moses, Aaron, and Samuel, who called upon the LORD and were answered by Him.
  • Forgiveness and VengeanceGod is portrayed as both forgiving His people for their transgressions and taking "vengeance of their inventions," illustrating His balanced nature of mercy and justice.
  • Worship and ExaltationThe psalm repeatedly calls for the exaltation of the LORD our God and worship at His footstool and holy hill, emphasizing the proper response to His greatness and holiness.