The key theme of Psalm 99 is that the Lord is holy, that is, He is totally different from all of His creation in every one of His attributes and entirely perfect in them too. He is more love, more pure, more just, more life, more grace, more wisdom, etc., etc. than we can ever imagine. And He is absolutely perfect in them all. He is holy.
Psalm 99 is structured so that there are three ways God’s holiness is addressed. The first is a description of proper response to the holiness of God. Psalm 99:1-3 “The Lord reigns; let the peoples tremble! He sits enthroned upon the cherubim; let the earth quake! The Lord is great in Zion; He is exalted over all the peoples. Let them praise Your great and awesome name! Holy is He!” Fear and Praise are proper responses to God’s holiness. Healthy fear is simply acknowledging that God is entirely holy and we are entirely sinful in and of ourselves. Healthy fear is understanding what we deserve in His presence and realizing we do not receive it! Therefore, what else can we do but praise Him?
Second, several aspects of God’s holiness are described. vv 4-5 “The King in His might loves justice. You have established equity; You have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob. Exalt the Lord our God; worship at His footstool! Holy is He!” God is absolutely just and righteous, and therefore, He is to be praised.
Third, God, who is so far above us in His holiness, has come down to us in His grace! This is the main point of vv 6-8, ending in v 9 “Exalt the Lord our God, and worship at His holy mountain; for the Lord our God is holy!” The end therefore of the holiness of God is the praise of His people!
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