Psalm 99

Holy

He is holy, He is holy, God is holy.  This idea of holiness is repeated so often in this short psalm, that it is almost like a song refrain.  I broke this psalm down into three parts, one for each bit of holiness the author shares.  First, God is great and powerful; He is Holy.  Second, God loves justice and righteousness; He is holy.  Finally, God listens to his people and answers them; God is holy.

In order to really understand this psalm, you need a solid grasp on what exactly this notion of holiness is.  Holy, after all, is a very versatile word, and can mean a great many things, to a great many faiths.  I find definitions such as "having divine qualities" or "venerated as sacred", but that doesn't really completely grasp the magnitude of the God this psalm is trying to tell us about.  This isn't about divinity or veneration.  It's much more superlative.  God isn't just good; He's perfect.  He isn't just worthy; He deserves our complete and total devotion.  So that the people tremble and the Earth shakes.

But God is not looking for a one way relationship.  He loves justice, and he treats his people justly, even if they, as the author puts it, "worship at His footstool."  God listens to those who call Him.  The psalmist mentions Moses, Aaron, and Samuel as men God listened to, but those are not the only people God listens to.  He listens to all who call Him.  And He answers.

I think of the inclusion of Moses, Aaron, and Samuel.  These great prophets served a role in their society as a go-between between God and His people.  However, with Jesus Christ, God no longer needed a mediator with the divine.  When God became man, we no longer needed a prophet to directly reach God.  The question of a go-between got me thinking, is there an instance in my life where I can be the go-between with God and my fellow man?  I believe there is.  There are those who call out His name.  There are also those who want to, but can't.  Perhaps myself, as well as the other people of God, can be the person that are in between.

This is a God who loves justice, and He does not want one of His people to selfishly hoard a great thing without sharing it.  If you have God's love, it is your imperative to share it.  If you have a connection with God, you should open this connection for someone else.  God's gifts are a blessing for all, even those who are not looking for them.  Part of His holiness on Earth is that we all get to share in His love.

1 The Lord reigns,
    let the nations tremble;
he sits enthroned between the cherubim,
    let the earth shake.
2 Great is the Lord in Zion;
    he is exalted over all the nations.
3 Let them praise your great and awesome name—
    he is holy.

4 The King is mighty, he loves justice—
    you have established equity;
in Jacob you have done
    what is just and right.
5 Exalt the Lord our God
    and worship at his footstool;
    he is holy.

6 Moses and Aaron were among his priests,
    Samuel was among those who called on his name;
they called on the Lord
    and he answered them.
7 He spoke to them from the pillar of cloud;
    they kept his statutes and the decrees he gave them.

8 Lord our God,
    you answered them;
you were to Israel a forgiving God,
    though you punished their misdeeds.
9 Exalt the Lord our God
    and worship at his holy mountain,
    for the Lord our God is holy.