OLIVE TREE ALLIANCE

Most would agree that the ninety-ninth psalm is a description of temple worship in ancient Jerusalem. Read the words carefully, however. And, you will discover that the psalm is also predictive of the much anticipated Messianic Kingdom. 

 

PSALM 99

The Lord reigns;
Let the peoples tremble!

He dwells between the cherubim;
Let the earth be moved!

THE LORD IS GREAT IN ZION,
AND HE IS HIGH ABOVE ALL THE PEOPLES.

Let them praise Your great and awesome name—
He is holy.

The King’s strength also loves justice;
You have established equity;
You have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob.

Exalt the Lord our God,
And worship at His footstool—
He is holy.

Moses and Aaron were among His priests,
And Samuel was among those who called upon His name;
They called upon the Lord, and He answered them.
He spoke to them in the cloudy pillar;
They kept His testimonies and the ordinance He gave them.

You answered them, O Lord our God;
You were to them God-Who-Forgives,
Though You took vengeance on their deeds.

Exalt the Lord our God,
And worship at His holy hill;
For the Lord our God is holy.

 

The psalmist plainly states that it’s not just individuals who love the Lord, but—in point of fact—all people groups who will tremble at His great and awesome name. At a still future time, the manifestation of God’s presence will again “dwell” or be established in the Messianic Temple.

The psalmist reveals the set time when the Lord will rule in power and majesty from the Eternal City of Jerusalem during the Millennial Kingdom. He will deal equitably and do right by Israel.

In response, we are commanded to exalt to the Lord—to worship flat on our faces before Him (v. 5).  In case we need to be reminded, the refrain, God’s is holy, is repeated three times in Psalm 99.

God’s holiness—contrary to common misperceptions—does not make Him unapproachable. His dealings with Moses, Aaron and Samuel provide a glimpse of how the Lord operates in our experience. Call out to God; He will answer. Cry out for mercy; He is the God-Who-Forgives our sins (v. 8).

God’s holiness requires equity, justice and righteousness on the earth. So, don’t assume that He is aloof or disconnected from creation. God is intently aware of all that takes place in the universe—especially with regard to Israel (Zech. 2:8-9).

Psalm ninety-nine is not just history. It’s predictive. Ask the Lord to open your spiritual eyes to the depths of His Word. The prophesied Messianic era is on the horizon.  

 

IMAGES:
1) Sam Philipe sculpture, Ark of the Covenant, with the Waldorf Astoria in the background in Jerusalem at the corner of Shlomo ha-Melekh & Yitshak Kariv Streets. (Photo used for illustrative purposes) (Photo credit: By zeevveez from Jerusalem, Israel /CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)/Wikimedia/Enhancement,  MKM Portfolios)

Copyright © 2016 Charles E. McCracken, devotional comments only. Repost/Reprint with permission. Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.