A distressing fact of modern culture is the widespread cancer of disdain for God and holy things. Profaning the sacred is a sickeningly popular sport among the foolish. Irreverence is a certain path to perdition.
Psalm 99 is the antithesis to this popular sport of our age. It pulsates with reverence for Jehovah’s highness and holiness. Three times reference is made to God pre-eminent holiness (vv. 3, 5, and 9). In fact, the psalm’s climactic crescendo is “Exalt the Lord our God and worship at His holy hill; for the Lord our God is holy” (v. 9).
This psalm enumerates these seven reasons for immense reverence:
- Jehovah’s sovereignty. “The Lord reigns; let the peoples tremble!” (v. 1).
- Jehovah’s glorious dwelling. “He dwells between the cherubim; let the earth be moved!” (v. 1).
- Jehovah’s exalted greatness. “The Lord is great in Zion, and He is high above all the peoples” (v. 2).
- Jehovah’s pristine holiness. “Let them praise Your great and awesome name—He is holy. The King’s strength also loves justice; You have established equity; You have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob. Exalt the Lord our God and worship at His footstool—He is holy” (vv. 3-5).
- Jehovah’s listening ear. “Moses and Aaron were among His priests, and Samuel was among those who called upon His name; they called upon the Lord, and He answered them” (v. 6).
- Jehovah’s revelation of His perfect will. “He spoke to them in the cloudy pillar; they kept His testimonies and the ordinance He gave them” (v. 7).
- Jehovah’s graciousness. “You answered them, O Lord our God; You were to them God-Who-Forgives, though You took vengeance on their deeds” (v. 8).
Reverence for God is the wisest decision you can make today.
