7. cloudy pillar—the medium of divine intercourse (Exodus 33:9; Numbers 12:5). Obedience was united with worship. God answered them as intercessors for the people, who, though forgiven, were yet chastened (Exodus 32:10; Exodus 32:34). read more
6-8. The experience of these servants of God is cited for encouragement. among . . . priests, among . . . upon the Lord [and] He spake . . . pillar—may be referred to all three (compare Exodus 18:19; Leviticus 8:15; Deuteronomy 5:5; 1 Samuel 9:13). read more
Because the God who reigns is so great, everyone should tremble in reverential fear. In the temple, God dwelt between the cherubim (1 Kings 6:23-28; cf. Psalms 80:1). The cherubim were representations of angelic beings that symbolically guarded the holiness of God. "Holy" means different. In particular, God is holy in that He is different from man whom sin saturates. read more
1. The holiness of the King 99:1-5 read more
Psalms 99This royal psalm calls on God’s people to praise Him for His holiness and because He answers prayer. read more
God is worthy of worship because He loves justice, equity, and righteousness. These are manifestations of His holiness.Psalms 99:5 is a double refrain. The statement, "Holy is He," repeats the end of Psalms 99:3. The whole fifth verse occurs again-with slight modifications-in Psalms 99:9. read more
2. The mercy of the King 99:6-9One might suppose that such a holy God would not tolerate any sinner. However, God tempers holiness with mercy. Even though the Israelites sinned, God still answered the prayers of their intercessors, specifically Moses, Aaron, and Samuel. The picture of God speaking to His people from the pillar of cloud graphically combines the concepts of God’s holiness and mercy. However, God was not so merciful that He failed to discipline the sinners. This balanced view of... read more
This Ps. is like the preceding ones in the prominence it gives to God’s Kingship, and no doubt belongs to the same period with them. God’s holiness, too, is emphasised in the refrain of Psalms 99:3, Psalms 99:5, Psalms 99:9. The Ps. begins with a call to worship God with the awe and reverence which are due to Him (Psalms 99:1-3). His righteous rule in Israel is a reason for repeating the summons (Psalms 99:4-5). The history of His dealings with His people from the days of Moses and Aaron to the... read more
XCIX.This psalm plainly belongs to a group (see Psalms 95:0, Introduction) to be referred to the post-exile times, when the renewed worship and nationality made it possible for the poet to compare his age with that of the greatest saints and heroes of old. The short refrain marks the poetical form. read more
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Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Psalms 99:6
6-8. The experience of these servants of God is cited for encouragement. among . . . priests, among . . . upon the Lord [and] He spake . . . pillar—may be referred to all three (compare Exodus 18:19; Leviticus 8:15; Deuteronomy 5:5; 1 Samuel 9:13). read more