Psalms 99:8

Moses and Aaron among his priests, and Samuel among them that call upon his name; they called upon the LORD, and he answered them. -Admonition to Israel, literal and spiritual, to be instructed by past history, that if she would be ready for Yahweh's coming kingdom and for enjoying the near communion with God which Moses, Aaron, and Samuel enjoyed, she must, like them, keep God's testimonies, and avoid the sins and consequent punishment of those for whom Moses, Aaron, and Samuel interceded. Verse 6. MOSES AND AARON AMONG HIS PRIESTS, AND SAMUEL AMONG THEM THAT CALL UPON HIS NAME; THEY CALLED UPON THE LORD, AND HE ANSWERED THEM. The necessary condition of sharing in the coming kingdom of the Lord is now calling upon the Lord in faith; for, as in Moses', Aaron's, and Samuel's case, so always calling the way to obtain a hearing. Aaron alone was a priest in the Levitical sense; but the H...

8._O Jehovah our God _The prophet here reminds them that God had heard their prayers because his grace and their piety harmonized. Consequently, encouraged by their exemplary success in prayer, their posterity ought to call upon God, not merely pronouncing his name with their lips, but keeping his covenant with all their heart. He farther reminds us that if God does not display his glory so bountifully, and so profusely in every age, the fault is with men themselves, whose posterity have either utterly forsaken, or greatly declined from the faith of the fathers. It is not to be wondered at that God should withdraw his hand, or at least not stretch it forth in any remarkable way, when he beholds piety waxing cold on the earth. _O God, thou hast been propitious to them. _(123) From these words it is quite obvious that what the Psalmist had formerly said concerning Moses, Aaron, and Samuel,...

6-9 The happiness of Israel is made out by referring to the most useful governors of that people. They in every thing made God's word and law their rule, knowing that they could not else expect that their prayers should be answered. They all wonderfully prevailed with God in prayer; miracles were wrought at their request. They pleaded for the people, and obtained answers of peace. Our Prophet and High Priest, of infinitely greater dignity than Moses, Aaron, or Samuel, has received and declared to us the will of the Father. Let us not only exalt the Lord with our lips, but give him the throne in our heart; and while we worship him upon his mercy-seat, let us never forget that he is holy...

Verse Psalms 99:8. _THOU - FORGAVEST THEM_] When the people had sinned, and wrath was about to descend on them, Moses and Aaron interceded for them, and they were not destroyed. _TOOKEST VENGEANCE OF THEIR INVENTIONS._] God spared them, but showed his displeasure at their misdoings. He chastised, but did not consume them. This is amply proved in the history of this people....

THOU ANSWEREDST THEM, O LORD OUR GOD - The reference here is to God as “our” God; that is, the language used by those who now worship him is designed to give encouragement in approaching his throne. The God that “we” worship is the same that “they” worshipped; and as he answered them, we may feel assured that he will answer us. THOU WAST A GOD THAT FORGAVEST THEM - They were not perfect; they were sinners; they often offended thee, and yet thou didst answer them, and show them mercy. THOUGH THOU TOOKEST VENGEANCE - Though thou didst manifest thy displeasure at their misconduct; though thou in thy judgments didst show that thou wast displeased with them; nevertheless thou didst answer them. Sinners as they were, and often as thou didst show thy displeasure at their conduct, yet thou didst hear their prayers and bless them....

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" ...

THOU ANSWEREDST THEM, O LORD OUR GOD,.... This is repeated to show the certainty of it, and to encourage the people of God, in all ages, to pray unto him: THOU WAST A GOD THAT FORGAVEST THEM; even Moses, Aaron, and Samuel; for, though they were great and good men, they did not live without sin, and stood in need of pardoning grace and mercy, which they had; or rather the people for whom they prayed: so the Targum, "O God, thou wast forgiving thy people for them;'' that is, through their prayers; see Numbers 14:19, THOUGH THOU TOOKEST VENGEANCE OF THEIR INVENTIONS; their sins, which are the inventions of men, Ecclesiastes 7:29. Kimchi and others interpret this of the inventions, designs, and practices of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, ag

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....

THEM. Moses and Aaron. GOD. Hebrew El. App-4. IV THEM... THEIR. the People. TOOKEST VENGEANCE. Compare Numbers 20:12.Deuteronomy 3:26; Psalms 106:32; Psalms 106:33....