← Back to Psalms

Psalms 99

9 verses

TL;DR

Psalm 99 celebrates God’s sovereign rule, His holiness, and the call to worship through remembrance of His covenant acts.

Summary

Psalm 99 proclaims that the LORD reigns supreme, causing the earth to tremble as He sits between the cherubim. It extols His greatness in Zion and emphasizes His authority over all peoples. The psalm calls the people to praise God’s holy and terrible name, urging them to worship at His footstool. It recalls God’s past faithfulness through Moses, Aaron, and Samuel, highlighting the covenantal obedience and the divine response. The passage concludes with a command to exalt God on the holy hill, reinforcing His holy nature and the community’s duty to acknowledge Him.

Outline
  1. Reaffirmation of God’s sovereign reign and holiness
  2. Invocation of worship and remembrance of covenant history
  3. Command to exalt God on the holy hill
Themes
Sovereignty and holiness of GodCovenant faithfulness and worshipJudgment and equity
Keywords
reignholyZioncherubimfootstoolcovenantjudgmentexaltworship
People
MosesAaronSamuel
Places
Zioncloudy pillarholy hill
Things
cherubimfootstoolcloudy pillar
Key Verses
  • Psalm 99:1: Introduces God’s reign and the earth’s trembling as a sign of His sovereignty
  • Psalm 99:5: Urges the people to exalt God and worship at His footstool, linking worship to divine holiness
  • Psalm 99:7: Recalls God's revelation through the cloud pillar, emphasizing covenantal guidance
Questions
  • What does the imagery of God sitting between the cherubim convey about His majesty?
  • How does the psalm link past covenant faithfulness to present worship?
  • Why is the call to worship at the footstool significant in the context of ancient Israelite religion?
Sentiment

positive
The psalm celebrates God's holiness and sovereign rule, encouraging worship and praise.