Bible Commentaries
Psalms 99

Verse 1

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

People — Such as are enemies to God and his people.

Sitteth — Upon the ark. He is present with his people.

Earth — The people of the earth.

Moved — With fear and trembling.

Verse 3

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

Them — All people.

Verse 4

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

Judgment — Though his dominion be absolute, and his power irresistible, yet he manages it with righteousness. The king’s strength is by a known Hebraism put for the strong, or powerful king.

Equity — In all thy proceedings.

Verse 5

Exalt ye the LORD our God, and worship at his footstool; for he is holy.

Foot-stool — Before the ark, which is so called, 1 Chronicles 28:2.

Holy — It is consecrated to be a pledge of God’s presence.

Verse 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.

Moses — Moses before the institution of the priesthood executed that office, Exodus 24:6.

That call — Who used frequently and solemnly to intercede with God on the behalf of the people.

Verse 7

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

Spake — To some of them: to Moses and Aaron, Exodus 19:24; Exodus 33:9-11; 1 Samuel 7:9, etc.

Verse 8

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

Them — The intercessors before mentioned.

Forgavest — The people for whom they prayed, so far as not to inflict that total destruction upon them which they deserved;