Finding Yourself in the Psalms

Psalm 99

A Psalm To Worship God For His Holiness

97, 98, 99 “The Lord Reigns”

Enthronement Psalms

97 The Justice of YHWH our King
98 The Greatness of YHWH our King
99 The Holiness of YHWH our King
Psalm 99 ends the Tripplet with its own triplet. . .Holy, Holy Holy

“The Lord Reigns, The Lord Reigns, The Lord Reigns, HOLY, HOLY, HOLY is the LORD”

“Holy, Holy, Holy” The SERAPHIM (burning angels – purity and holiness)
(Isaiah 6:3) "And they were calling to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.”"
(Revelation 4:8) "Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under his wings. Day and night they never stop saying: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come.”"
The TRINITY is in view when this reference is used
In Psalm 99, THREE QUESTIONS about God’s holiness are answered.
SKEPTICS argue against GOD
• For JUDGING SINNERS (“A loving God wouldn’t send anyone to hell)
• For IMPARTIALITY (“I can’t worship a God who . . . .”) See Romans 9-11!
• For UNKINDNESS (“I can’t worship a God who allows bad things to happen. . .”) SEE (Lamentations 3:22-23) "Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."

QUESTION: Can I worship a God whose ways I do not always understand? ANSWER: Any other being would not be God and therefore not worship of worship!

I. YHWH is Holy in the way he RULES. 99:1-3
A. Holy = qadosh.
1. Set apart

2. 23 Times in ISAIAH – comparing the sinful people with their holy God (Isaiah 1:4) "Ah, sinful nation, a people loaded with guilt, a brood of evildoers, children given to corruption! They have forsaken the Lord; they have spurned the Holy One of Israel and turned their backs on him."

3. (Isaiah 17:7) "In that day men will look to their Maker and turn their eyes to the Holy One of Israel."
B. The sphere of His rule.
1. He rules ON EARTH. 99:1
2. He rules IN HEAVEN. 99:1 “cherubim” (reference to the Ark)
3. He rules IN ZION. 99:2
a. All three stanzas mention God’s rule over His CHOSEN ones
C. No one can accuse God in the way he rules. He is holy. II. YHWH is Holy in the way he LOVES. 99:4-5
A. God has done terrible things

1. (1 Chronicles 16:25) "For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods."

2. (Psalm 76:7) "You alone are to be feared. Who can stand before you when you are angry?"
3. (Psalm 76:11) "Make vows to the Lord your God and fulfill them; let all the neighboring lands bring gifts to the One to be feared."
4. (Malachi 1:14) "“Cursed is the cheat who has an acceptable male in his flock and vows to give it, but then sacrifices a blemished animal to the Lord. For I am a great king,” says the Lord Almighty, “and my name is to be feared among the nations."
B. 4 characteristics:
1. Justice
2. Equity
3. Righteous (Tsidquaw)
a. (Jeremiah 23:5-6) "In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. This is the name by which he will be called: The Lord Our Righteousness."
b. (Jeremiah 33:16) "In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will live in safety. This is the name by which it will be called: The Lord Our Righteousness.’"
4. Reviled in JESUS CHRIST
III. YHWH is Holy in the way he ANSWERS PRAYER. 99:6-9
A. Moses, Aaron, Samuel
B. They all CALLED
C. The Lord ANSWERED, forgave, punished sin
D. HIS PEOPLE:
1. Only his people can worship Him. 99: 5 “His footstool” = the Tabernacle
(1 Chron 28:2; Lam 2:1; Isa 60:13)
2. Our Holiness is found in Jesus. Hebrews 10:19-22
3. We Must worship Him AS HE DEMANDS. 1 Peter 2:9-10. The thing

God hates the most is FALSE RELIGION