Psalms 99:3

Let them praise thy great and terrible name; for it is holy. LET THEM (NAMELY, 'ALL THE PEOPLES') PRAISE THY GREAT AND TERRIBLE NAME - prophetic of what shall be; therefore put imperatively, because the Word of God effects by its inherent power, what it foretells. The lyric accompaniment of this is Psalms 100:1. The Lord's marvelous interposition for Israel shall be at last the theme of praise to all the nations, because these shall enjoy the blessedness resulting to them from God's restored favour to His ancient people (; ; Psalms 98:3). On "thy great and terrible name" - thy manifestation of thyself in great and t...

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 99:3. _LET THEM PRAISE THY GREAT AND TERRIBLE NAME_] Let them confess thee to be great and terrible: let them tremble before thee. FOR _IT_ IS _HOLY._] קדוש הוא _kadosh hu_. As this not only ends this verse but the _fifth_ also, and in effect the _ninth_, it seems to be a species of _chorus_ which was sung in a very solemn manner at the conclusion of each of these parts. His _holiness_-the immaculate purity of his nature, was the reason why he should be exalted, praised, and worshipped....

LET THEM PRAISE THY GREAT AND TERRIBLE NAME - The word rendered “terrible” means “to be feared or reverenced;” that is, his name - his being - he himself - is suited to inspire awe and reverence. The word “them” here refers to the nations over whom God reigns. It is a call on them to praise their king and their God. FOR IT IS HOLY - See the notes at Isaiah 6:3; notes at Revelation 4:8. The fact that God “is” holy - that he is pure and righteous - that he cannot look upon sin but with abhorrence - is a just foundation for universal praise. Who could worship or honor a God who was not pure and holy?...

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" ...

LET THEM PRAISE THY GREAT AND TERRIBLE NAME,.... All people, especially the Lord's people; those that dwell in Zion, where his name is great, in high esteem, venerable, and valued; as his name Jesus, or Saviour, is amiable and lovely to his saints; and his name, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, is terrible to his enemies: FOR IT IS HOLY; his name is holy, as well as reverend and great; his nature is holy, both divine and human; holy in all his ways and works; and is holiness to his people, and therefore worthy of praise; holiness is the ground and foundation of his praise from the seraphim, Isaiah 6:3....

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....

HOLY. See notes on Psalms 93:1; Psalms 93:5 and Exodus 3:5....

LET THEM, &C.— _They shall praise, they shall do homage to thy great and terrible name, because it is holy:_ Green adds, _and powerful,_ from the next verse, which he renders thus: _The king loveth judgment:_ But Mudge renders it, _Though the king be strong he loveth judgment:_ And he observes, that the latter part of the verse refers to the body of laws which God had given at Sinai. Dr. Delaney supposes, that as this psalm was composed when David was settled in his kingdom, so this verse particularly refers to his _executing judgment and justice unto all his people._ Whoever peruses the psalm will find, that David here, as every where else, considers God as the king of Israel, and himself only as his deputy. To this purpose are these expressions in the beginning of it: _The Lord reigneth:—the Lord is great in Zion._ It is true, David delighted to exert all the power which God had given...