Psalms 99

The Lord reigns; peoples tremble; enthroned upon the cherubim; earth quake. Wesley: People—enemies; Sitteth—on the ark, present with his people; Earth—peoples; Moved—with fear. Reign; cherubim throne; tremble/quake.

Presence at the ark is true. Trembling is fitting before enthroned holiness.

Calvin: Jehovah reigns; peoples tremble; he dwells between the cherubim; earth moved—reign produces holy agitation, not casual familiarity.

The LORD reigns enthroned on the cherubim, and the peoples tremble and the earth quakes. Majesty shakes nations and ground alike.

The Lord is great in Zion; high above all the peoples. Zion greatness; exaltation over peoples.

The LORD is great in Zion and high above all peoples. Greatness in the church does not shrink worldwide supremacy.

Calvin: Jehovah great in Zion; high above all peoples—Zion's God is not a tribal mascot.

Great in Zion; exalted over peoples. Particular dwelling, universal highness.

Let them praise your great and awesome name. He is Holy is he! Wesley: Them—all people. Great/terrible name; holy is he.

This is the first of the psalm’s holiness refrains. Awesome does not annul praise—it deepens it.

Calvin: they shall praise thy great and terrible name; it is holy—name and holiness bound.

He is Holy is he. Doxology starts with who he is.

The King’s strength also loves justice; established equity; executed justice and righteousness in Jacob. Wesley: Judgment—absolute dominion managed in righteousness; King's strength—the strong king; Equity—in all proceedings. Both see: might loves justice; equity; Jacob's just rule.

Power without equity is not this King. Jacob experienced righteous administration—imitate it.

Calvin: the king's strength loves judgment; thou established equity; executed judgment and righteousness in Jacob—irresistible might married to right.

Might loves justice; equity; righteousness in Jacob. Throne ethics for the covenant people.

Exalt the LORD our God. Worship at his footstool. He is Holy is he! Wesley: Footstool—before the ark; Holy—pledge of presence. Exalt; footstool worship; second holy refrain.

Footstool is low place for high God. Holiness again—do not rush past the refrain.

Calvin: exalt Jehovah our God; worship at his footstool; he is holy—bowed approach at the ark's pledge.

Exalt; footstool; holy is he. Low worship matches holy height.

Moses and Aaron among his priests; Samuel among those who called on his name; they called, and he answered. Wesley: Moses—priestly work before formal priesthood; That call—solemn intercessors. Priestly callers; answered prayer.

Israel’s history records intercession that God answered. Call as they called—expect the God who answers.

Calvin: Moses and Aaron among his priests, Samuel among callers on his name; they called, and he answered—precedents of prevailing prayer.

Priests; callers; he answered. Memory of answer fuels present asking.

In the pillar of cloud he spoke; They kept his testimonies, the statute he gave. Wesley: Spake—to Moses, Aaron, Samuel. Cloudy speech; kept testimonies and statute.

Revelation and obedience go together. Keeping statute is how answered people live.

Calvin: he spoke in the cloudy pillar; they kept testimonies and the statute he gave—word received and guarded.

Spoke in cloud; kept testimonies and statute. Hearing without keeping is not the pattern.

You answered them; a forgiving God to them, yet an avenger of their wrongdoings. Wesley: Them—intercessors; Forgavest—the people, sparing total destruction they deserved. Answer; forgive; still avenge inventions/wrongdoings.

Pardon is not in doubt; discipline is true. Do not flatten holiness into cheap leniency or into refusal to forgive.

Calvin: thou answeredst them; wast a God who forgavest them, though taking vengeance on their inventions—mercy to the people through intercession, yet not without chastening their corrupt ways.

Answered; forgiving; avenger of wrongdoings. Forgiveness and holy vengeance are not enemies in God.

Exalt the Lord our God; worship at his holy hill, for the LORD, our God, is holy! Shared close: exalt; holy mountain; third holiness refrain.

Mountain worship ends where footstool began—exaltation. Holy closes the circle thrice.

Calvin: exalt Jehovah our God; worship at his holy hill—for Jehovah our God is holy. Final holiness seals the reigning name.

Exalt; holy mountain; our God is holy. Thrice-holy psalm ends in worship, not speculation.