Day 592: Psalm 99- Holy Worship

The Lord reigns; let the peoples tremble!
    He sits enthroned upon the cherubim; let the earth quake!
2 The Lord is great in Zion;
    he is exalted over all the peoples.
3 Let them praise your great and awesome name!
    Holy is he!
4 The King in his might loves justice.[a]
    You have established equity;
you have executed justice
    and righteousness in Jacob.
5 Exalt the Lord our God;
    worship at his footstool!
    Holy is he!
 
6 Moses and Aaron were among his priests,
    Samuel also was among those who called upon his name.
    They called to the Lord, and he answered them.
7 In the pillar of the cloud he spoke to them;
    they kept his testimonies
    and the statute that he gave them.
8 O Lord our God, you answered them;
    you were a forgiving God to them,
    but an avenger of their wrongdoings.
9 Exalt the Lord our God,
    and worship at his holy mountain;
    for the Lord our God is holy!
 
Meditation
In City Alight’s worship song, “Only a Holy God” Christians are invited to worship through a series of questions and answers. One of my favorites comes at the end of the second verse: What other majesty rules in justice? Only a Holy God.
 
Psalm 99 invites us to worship God through declaring a series of statements centered on celebrating the holiness of God evidenced through His justice. The invitation to exalt God, to worship Him because He is holy, is repeated (5, 9). The justification for joyful worship is that our King rules in justice.
 
The Lord reigns as king (1-3). The King “loves justice, has established equity,” and has “executed justice” (4). The justice of God is celebrated with Moses, Aaron, Samuel, and the season of wandering in the wilderness (6-7). God is just, forgiving sin and avenging wrongdoing (8). God’s people respond by worshipping Him.
 
No other majesty rules in justice. No other god is holy, totally set apart from His creation. Isaiah saw God sitting on the throne of Heaven and heard the song of worship, “Holy, Holy, Holy!” (Isaiah 6:3) Moses saw the victory of God at the Red Sea and asked, “Who is like you, Oh God?... majestic in holiness, awesome in glory?” (Exodus 15:11).
 
Our Holy God is just and He justifies sinners through Christ’s death on the cross (Romans 6:23-26). Christians find our righteousness and holiness in Christ (1 Corinthians 1:30). The justice of God highlights the holiness of God and compels the people of God to worship the King!
 
Richly Dwelling
-What stands out to you about the descriptions of the justice of God?
 
-God is Holy and worthy of our worship. How does the declaration of God’s holiness highlight our need for forgiveness as unholy people?
 
-Jesus Christ makes you holy! By satisfying justice, taking the penalty our sin deserves and giving us God’s righteousness. Christ is our God can rule in justice! How can you worship Him today?
 
Key Verse
5 Exalt the Lord our God; worship at his footstool! Holy is he!