Psalms 99:2

The LORD is great in Zion; and he is high above all the people. THE LORD IS GREAT IN ZION - (.) It is not His greatness in general which is the theme of praise, but His greatness as Zion's King manifested in Jerusalem, as 'high above all the peoples' (so the Hebrew)....

2_Jehovah in Zion _It is proper that we should not forget the antithesis I formerly mentioned, namely, that God is great in Zion to destroy and annihilate all the enemies of his Church; and that, when the Psalmist goes on to say, _he is high above all nations, _his meaning is, not that he presides over them to promote their welfare, but to disconcert their counsels, to baffle their designs, and to subvert all their power. That which immediately follows about the _praising of God’s name, _refers not to the nations at large, but in my opinion to the faithful, from whom alone the prophet demands a tribute of gratitude. For although God compels his vanquished enemies to acknowledge him, yet as they do not cease from speaking against his glory, and blaspheming his holy name, it cannot be to them that the exhortation is addressed, _Praise the name of God, for it is holy; _but to the faithful,...

1-5 God governs the world by his providence, governs the church by his grace, and both by his Son. The inhabitants of the earth have cause to tremble, but the Redeemer still waits to be gracious. Let all who hear, take warning, and seek his mercy. The more we humble ourselves before God, the more we exalt him; and let us be thus reverent, for he is holy....

Verse Psalms 99:2. _THE LORD_ IS _GREAT IN ZION_] It is among his own worshippers that he has manifested his _power_ and _glory_ in an especial manner. _There_ he is known, and _there_ he is worthily magnified....

THE LORD IS GREAT IN ZION - Compare Psalms 95:3. The meaning here is, not that God is “absolutely” great - which is indeed true - but that there is a sense in which he has shown himself great “in Zion;” that is, in his manifestations toward his own people. He has evinced power in their behalf; he has interposed for them in times of danger; he has so discomfited their enemies as to show that he is a great God - a God worthy to be adored. AND HE IS HIGH ABOVE ALL THE PEOPLE - Above all the nations. He has them under his control. He rules over all. The God who rules in Zion also rules all the nations of the earth; and his people, therefore, have special occasion to praise him....

EXPOSITION HERE we have the last of the series of Second Advent psalms, which began with Psalms 93:1. The first of them, the fifth, and the last, commence in the same way—with the watchword, "The Lord reigneth." The first and last lay special stress on holiness, as God's leading characteristic, and as required by him (Psalms 93:5; Psalms 99:3, Psalms 99:5, Psalms 99:9). Delitzsch has called this psalm "the earthly echo of the seraphic Trisagion." It resolves the concentrated declaration, "Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts" ...

THE LORD IS GREAT IN ZION,.... Where the temple stood, and into which Christ came as the proprietor of it, and gave it a greater glory by his presence than the first temple had; here he preached his doctrines, wrought many of his miracles; here he poured forth the Spirit on his apostles; and from hence went forth his Gospel into all the world: or in Zion, that is, in his church, and among his people; here he grants his gracious presence, and bestows the blessings of his goodness; and shows himself to be great and glorious in his person, offices, and operations; see Psalms 98:1, AND HE IS HIGH ABOVE ALL PEOPLE; as God, he is the Creator of them all; in whom they live, move, and have their being, and so must be above them all; as Mediator, he is the Saviour of his own people, and exalted to be so unto them; as King, he is higher than the kings of the earth, and therefore must

Psalms 99 The Reign of Righteousness _ 1. His throne (Psalms 99:1)_ 2. Judgment and righteousness executed (Psalms 99:4) 3. His gracious dealings (Psalms 99:7) It is a Psalm of the righteous government. The Lord who reigns is holy, demands obedience. He is holy and must be worshipped. Moses and Aaron were His priests in the past and Samuel among them that called upon His Name. He dealt graciously with His people in the past and forgave them, and the same Lord now reigneth and will deal in righteousness and mercy with His people....

XCIX. A TEMPLE SONG AFTER VICTORY. The Ps. is divided into three parts by the refrain Holy is he (_i.e._ separate from all defilement) at Psalms 99:3; Psalms 99:5 and (in an expanded form) at Psalms 99:9. PSALMS 99:1. The Psalmist praises Yahweh as exalted above all material things. The cherubim seem to recover what was perhaps their original significance, as spirits of the tempest (see on Psalms 18:9). Yahweh is seated on the cherubim, _i.e._ on the throne which they guard....

ZION. See App-68. THE PEOPLE. the peoples. Authorized Version, 1611, omitted "the"....