God’s Renewing Word of Thankfulness and Praise
Introduction
Psalm 99: This psalm affirms that God is the supreme king and that God alone is holy. It concludes the collection of psalms we have been reading the past several days that praise God as king and righteous judge.
Scripture Reading
God the Supreme King
99 The Lord is king,
and the people tremble.
He sits on his throne above the winged creatures,
and the earth shakes.
2 The Lord is mighty in Zion;
he is supreme over all the nations.
3 Everyone will praise his great and majestic name.
Holy is he!
4 Mighty king, you love what is right;
you have established justice in Israel;
you have brought righteousness and fairness.
5 Praise the Lord our God;
worship before his throne!
Holy is he!
6 Moses and Aaron were his priests,
and Samuel was one who prayed to him;
they called to the Lord, and he answered them.
7 He spoke to them from the pillar of cloud;
they obeyed the laws and commands that he gave them.
8 O Lord, our God, you answered your people;
you showed them that you are a God who forgives,
even though you punished them for their sins.
9 Praise the Lord our God,
and worship at his sacred hill!
The Lord our God is holy.
TODAY’S KEY VERSE: PSALM 99:5
Praise the LORD our God; worship before his throne! Holy is he!
Reflect
What has the psalm writer said about God in verses 1 and 2? Verses 3 and 5 end with the words “Holy is he!” and verse 9 concludes with similar words. What does it mean to you that God is holy? Verses 6 and 7 include references to leaders in Israel’s past—Moses, Aaron, and Samuel—and how God spoke to them. Moses led the people out of Egypt (Exodus 12:37—14:31); Aaron was Moses’s brother and he and his sons became Israel’s first priests (Exodus 28:1); Samuel led the people after the time of the judges until Israel got its first king (1 Samuel 12:1-25). While the Israelites were in the wilderness, God appeared in the form of a cloud (Exodus 19:9; 33:9). In what ways do you experience God’s presence in your life?
Pray
Holy are you, Lord God, king of all creation. I worship and adore you and praise you for your deeds of righteousness and justice. As I listen for your voice, teach me your ways and order my steps this day. In your holy name, I pray. Amen.
Tomorrow’s Reading
Psalm 100: A psalm of thanksgiving.