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The LORD Reigns!
Psalm 99 is a song that calls people to respond to Yahweh as king. It joins praise, holiness, justice, remembered prayer, forgiveness and vengeance, showing why worship is fitting.
Understanding the passage
Read these words in context
In this psalm, Yahweh is described as reigning, enthroned among the cherubim, great in Zion and high above all peoples. The song repeats that he is holy, calls worshippers to exalt him, and remembers Moses, Aaron and Samuel as people who called on Yahweh and were answered.
Psalms 99:1–9Main takeaway
Psalm 99 teaches that Yahweh is holy, just and responsive, so people should exalt and worship him.
Explore the poem and its images
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01Yahweh reigns over allThe psalm opens with Yahweh reigning, so the peoples tremble and the earth is moved. This is poetry describing his rule with weight and greatness.
Explanation
The psalm opens with Yahweh reigning, so the peoples tremble and the earth is moved. This is poetry describing his rule with weight and greatness. He is enthroned among the cherubim, and he is not a local ruler only, because he is high above all the peoples.
02His name is praised because he is holyThe song answers God’s rule with praise. It calls people to praise his great and awesome name, then gives the repeated reason, “He is Holy!”
Explanation
The song answers God’s rule with praise. It calls people to praise his great and awesome name, then gives the repeated reason, “He is Holy!” In this psalm, that repeated line stands alongside the calls to praise, exalt and worship Yahweh.
03The king loves justiceYahweh’s kingship is not only powerful. His strength loves justice. The psalm says he establishes equity and executes justice and righteousness in Jacob.
Explanation
Yahweh’s kingship is not only powerful. His strength loves justice. The psalm says he establishes equity and executes justice and righteousness in Jacob. Because of that, the right response is to exalt Yahweh our God and worship at his footstool, again repeating, “He is Holy!”
04He answered, spoke, forgave and took vengeanceThe psalm remembers Moses, Aaron and Samuel as people who called on Yahweh and were answered.
Explanation
The psalm remembers Moses, Aaron and Samuel as people who called on Yahweh and were answered. Yahweh spoke to them, and they kept his testimonies and statute. Then the psalm addresses him directly: “You are a God who forgave them, although you took vengeance for their doings.” It ends by calling for worship at his holy hill because Yahweh is holy.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What repeated reason does the psalm give for praising and worshipping Yahweh?
Notice the line repeated after calls to praise and worship, and use the exact words of the psalm.
02How does Psalm 99 connect Yahweh’s kingship with justice?
Look for the words about what the King’s strength loves and what he establishes and executes.
03What does the psalm say Yahweh did when Moses, Aaron and Samuel called on him?
Collect the verbs the passage uses about Yahweh’s actions: answered, spoke, forgave, and took vengeance.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Psalms 99:1–9
1Yahweh reigns! Let the peoples tremble. He sits enthroned among the cherubim. Let the earth be moved.
2Yahweh is great in Zion. He is high above all the peoples.
3Let them praise your great and awesome name. He is Holy!
4The King’s strength also loves justice. You establish equity. You execute justice and righteousness in Jacob.
5Exalt Yahweh our God. Worship at his footstool. He is Holy!
6Moses and Aaron were among his priests, Samuel was among those who call on his name. They called on Yahweh, and he answered them.
7He spoke to them in the pillar of cloud. They kept his testimonies, the statute that he gave them.
8You answered them, Yahweh our God. You are a God who forgave them, although you took vengeance for their doings.
9Exalt Yahweh, our God. Worship at his holy hill, for Yahweh, our God, is holy!