Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 99:9
Exalt the LORD our God, and worship at his holy hill; for the LORD our God [is] holy.
9. A final call to worship the God of Israel in Zion, in His holy mountain (Psa 2:6; Isa 66:20), for holy is Jehovah our God.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Exalt the Lord our God – See the notes at Psa 99:5.
And worship at his holy hill – In Psa 99:5, this is, at his footstool. The holy hill refers to Zion, as the seat of the national worship.
For the Lord our God is holy – See Psa 99:5. This appropriately closes the psalm, by a distinct and solemn statement that the fact that Yahweh is a holy God is a reason for worshipping him. This is at all times the highest reason for adoration and praise.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 9. Worship at his holy hill] Worship him publicly in the temple.
For the Lord our God is holy.] The words of the chorus; as in the third and fifth verses.
ANALYSIS OF THE NINETY-NINTH PSALM
There are two parts in this Psalm: –
I. A description of the kingdom of God.
1. From the majesty and terror of it against his enemies, Ps 99:1-3.
2. From its equity in the execution of judgment and justice, Ps 99:4.
3. From his patience and clemency in giving audience to his servants, Ps 99:6-8.
II. A demand of praise and honour of all that acknowledge him for their King, begun at the third verse, repeated at the fifth, and continued in the last. The Psalm contains a prophecy of the kingdom of Christ, and its glory.
I. 1. The terror, power, and majesty of this kingdom: “The Lord reigneth.” 1. He bids defiance to his enemies: “Let the people tremble.” 2. “He sitteth between the cherubim.” He is always present with his people; they need not fear, though the earth be moved. 3. “He is great in Zion.” More potent and higher than all people. 4. “His name is great and terrible.” His enemies have every thing to fear, while his friends have every thing to hope.
2. The psalmist describes this kingdom, from its justice and equity. 1. “He loveth judgment.” This is one of his perfections. 2. “He establishes equity.” Gives just and equal laws to all. 3. “He executes judgment in Jacob.” None of his followers shall live without law; they are obedient children, living according to his will. 4. And therefore he requires them to exalt and adore him. 5. They are to worship at his foot-stool – all their approaches are to be made in the deepest reverence, with the truest self-abasement. 6. “For he is holy;” and he requires all his followers to be holy also.
3. He describes it from the mercy and clemency of the ruler. 1. He showed his mercy and kindness to Moses, Aaron, and Samuel, as intercessors for the people. “They called upon God,” for themselves and for the people; “and he answered them.” 1. See the intercession of Moses, Ex 32:31; 2. Of Aaron, Nu 16:46-48. 3. Of Samuel, 1Sa 7:5; 1Sa 7:9-10. 4. He spake to Moses, Ex 33:8-9; Ex 33:11; and to Aaron, Nu 12:5-8.
And now he adds the reason why he heard them: –
1. “They kept his testimonies.” Those precepts that were common to all others.
2. “And the ordinances that he gave them.” As public persons who were to rule in Church and state.
And that it was a great mercy that the Lord heard them, the prophet acknowledges by this apostrophe –
1. “Thou answeredst them, O Lord our God.” Which the history shows.
2. “Thou forgavest them;” that is, the people for whom they prayed: for in Hebrew the relative is often put without an antecedent.
3. “Thou tookest vengeance of their inventions.” The golden calf was broken to pieces, Ex 32:20; and the false gods were put away 1Sa 7:3-4. The people were not consumed, though their sin was in a certain manner visited upon them. See Nu 14:23; Nu 14:30; Nu 20:12.
II. The psalmist concludes with a demand of praise to this kind God.
1. “Exalt the Lord.” Show that he is high, holy, just, good, and kind.
2. “Worship at his holy hill.” Attend his public worship, and show a godly example in this way to all others. He who is indifferent about the public worship of God is generally not less so in private devotion.
3. The reason for all this is: “The Lord our God is holy.” He requires this worship because it is a chief means by which he communicates his holiness to his followers. Without this holiness there is no happiness here, and without it none shall ever see God. Get holiness, that you may get happiness here, and heaven hereafter.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
At his holy hill; either in Zion; or in his church typified by it, and oft called Zion.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
Exalt the Lord our God,…. Having given the above instances of Moses, Aaron, and Samuel, serving and worshipping the Lord, the psalmist repeats the exhortation in Ps 99:5, which he enforces by their example; [See comments on Ps 99:5]:
and worship at his holy hill; the holy hill of Zion, the church; attend the public worship and service of it: the Targum is,
“worship at the mountain of the house of his sanctuary; the temple, a type of the church of Christ:”
for the Lord our God is holy; his nature is holy, and he is glorious in the perfection of his holiness, and therefore to be praised and exalted; and his name is holy, and so reverend, and therefore to be worshipped; see in Ps 99:3.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
In the close of the psalm he repeats the same sentence which we had in the fifth verse, only substituting his holy mountain instead of his footstool; and as for the sake of brevity he had formerly said somewhat obscurely קדוש הוא, kadosh hu, he is holy, he now says more plainly, Jehovah our God is holy His intention is to show that God is not to be worshipped by the Israelites at random, (as the religion of the heathen depended upon fancy alone,) but that his worship is founded upon the assurance of faith.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
9. Exalt the Lord our God A repetition of Psa 99:5, with the change of holy hill, here, for footstool there, and “the Lord our God,” for the pronoun he indicating a rising emphasis.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
The Psalm beautifully concludes with repeating a third time the strongest of all arguments for praising Jehovah; the holiness of his nature: and what hath so highly exalted that glory to our view, and love, and praise, as the holiness of Christ Jesus? Heb 7:26 .
Psa 99
REFLECTIONS
AFTER reminding both the Reader and myself of all the blessed causes which this delightful Psalm contains, to join with the sacred writer in ascribing “glory to him that sifted, upon the throne, and to the Lamb that was slain, forever and ever, ” I would desire to recommend his attention, and my own, to what is said concerning those servants of the Lord, Moses, and Aaron, and Samuel. We are told that they called upon the Lord, and were answered. But though God forgave them, yet took he vengeance of their inventions. The solemn consideration of this account, suggests several very interesting and weighty reflections.
First, We learn from it, that God’s choicest servants have their inventions; and the best of men, after all, are but sinners. Aaron offended, and but for the intercession of Moses, would have fallen. Here Christ, surely, in his glorious, all-prevailing intercession, was eminently represented. Moses himself neglected to sanctify the Lord in the eyes of the people, when presumptuously joining himself with the Lord, he cried out, Must WE fetch you water out of the rock? and Eli’s partiality to his children made him too easy to their vices. Alas! who among the fallen sons of Adam, hath escaped the common taint of sin?
Secondly, we learn, that these sins of God’s people are displeasing to the Lord, and that he takes vengeance for them. Though their persons and their offerings are accepted in Christ, yet their corruption shall bring with it chastisement. And when a child of God feels the rod of God, as a kind correcting father, and cries out under it, Thou art righteous in all that is come upon us, for thou hast done right, but we have done wickedly; this is what is called in Scripture, accepting the punishment of our iniquity and this manifests the holiness of God, and prevents the abuse of his covenant-mercy in Christ.
Lastly, God hearing the prayers of his servants, and answering them, notwithstanding their inventions, of which he takes vengeance, teacheth us the whole cause wherefore it is that saints are accepted, and sinners saved; namely, on the sole account of the covenant-love and faithfulness of God our Father, in and for the sake of the blood and righteousness of his dear Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Oh, Reader, what a blessed consideration it is, that God still owns his covenant relationship; and Jesus’s blood and righteousness still plead for mercy. The corrections of our God and Father, are not to satisfy his justice, for that Christ hath done; but for the display of his holiness and love. And, amidst all our unworthiness, the merit of Jesus still remains the same. Blessed, forever blessed be God, for Jesus Christ! Lord, give us grace to serve with fear, and rejoice with trembling. May we ever exalt the Lord our God, and worship him in his holy hill: for the Lord our God is holy.
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Psa 99:9 Exalt the LORD our God, and worship at his holy hill; for the LORD our God [is] holy.
Ver. 9. Exalt the Lord ] Versus amoibaeus. See Psa 99:5 .
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Exalt: Psa 99:5
his holy: Psa 2:6, Psa 48:1, Psa 48:2, Psa 87:1-3
for the: Psa 99:3, Psa 99:5, 1Sa 2:2, Isa 5:16, Isa 6:3, Isa 57:15, Hab 1:12, Luk 1:49, 1Pe 1:15, 1Pe 1:16, Rev 3:7, Rev 4:8
Reciprocal: Exo 15:2 – exalt him Lev 11:44 – ye shall Lev 20:26 – the Lord Jos 24:19 – holy 1Ch 21:26 – and called Psa 3:4 – his Psa 18:46 – exalted Psa 93:5 – holiness Psa 98:7 – Let Psa 107:32 – exalt Psa 111:9 – holy Psa 132:7 – worship Psa 138:2 – toward Psa 148:13 – for his name Isa 66:1 – The heaven 1Co 3:17 – destroy Rev 15:4 – thou only