by Charles L. Feinberg, Th.D., PhD .
Dean, Talbot Theological Seminary
F rom P salm 93 to P salm 100 we have what are called “ The Royal Psalms.” These important portions of Scripture deal with the exalted theme of the Kingship of the Lord. In Psalm 99, one of this series, we have not only a psalm of simple beauty, but also one which sets forth most timely truth for our day. This passage reads: “ The Lord reigneth; let the peoples tremble: He sitteth above the cher ubim; let the earth be moved. The Lord is great in Zion; And he is high above all the peoples. Let them praise thy great and terrible name: Holy is he. The king’s strength also loveth justice; Thou dost establish equity; Thou executest justice and righteousness in Jacob. Exalt ye the Lord our God, And worship at his footstool: Holy is he. Moses and Aaron among his priests, And Samuel among them that call upon his name; They called upon the Lord, and he answered them. He spake unto them in the pillar of cloud: They kept his testi monies, And the statute that he gave them. Thou answeredst them, 0 Lord our God: Thou wast a God that forgavest them, Though thou tookest vengeance o f their doings. Exalt ye the Lord our God, And worship at his holy hill; For the Lord our God is holy.” - In the midst o f a war-threatened, sin-sick and beserk world, the heart needs to fix itself on such a portion as this for refreshing and stability. Such a word gives true perspective and can prop erly nerve every endeavor for God. The principal truths o f the psalm are already indicated by the threefold refrain that it contains. It speaks, first of'all, of T he D ivine E xaltation , 1-3 When it is stated that the Lord is reigning, it is the Messiah, the Son of David and the Son of God, who is meant. The scene presents Him as already enthroned and ruling (93:1). God is not only
exalted in heaven, but on earth as well. The peo ples are called upon to tremble, to accord the King both reverence and awe. When it is said that the Ruler is enthroned above the cherubim, the state ment is in keeping with other Scriptures which connect the cherubim with the royal Throne of God (Ezekiel 1; Revelation 4). Where does the reign take place? The Lord reigns in Zion, though not exclusively over Israel, for He is high above all the peoples or nations. I f the people o f Israel de lighted in King Saul because he was head and shoulders above the people, we should all the more exult in God the King who is high above all peo ples. The worship rendered the Sovereign should accord with His nature and greatness. God’s holi ness harmonizes all His attributes and virtues. Three times in this short psalm we are told o f the holiness o f God. It reminds us o f the threefold declaration of God’s holiness in Isaiah 6:3. The refrain occurs in this passage on this essential characteristic of God (Lev. 19:2). God is above all else holy and righteous. Friend, no matter how un likely a righteous rule of the great Messiah and Saviour of Israel may appear at any time, it will come to pass. Some years ago a learned professor delivered a course of lectures, in one of which he proved that under the peculiar conditions of the heaving wqves, raging storms, rolling tides, and so forth, one could never cross the Atlantic by steam. The book in which that lecture was published was on the first steamer that crossed the Atlantic! When we hear o f things that cannot be done, we need to remember that with God all things are possible.
the second place, the psalm tells us T he D ivine J ustice , 4-5
In the rule o f earthly kings their strength is so often misspent and misdirected. But God’s King, the Messiah of Israel, will employ His omnipo-
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THE KING'S BUSINESS
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