You Were a Forgiving God to Them – Psalm 99

It is most interesting in this psalm that three great heroes in Israel’s history are mentioned, three priests, we are told.  We may not normally think of Moses as a priest, but rather as Israel’s greatest leader.  Samuel is easily the greatest priest in Israel’s history after Moses and Aaron.  But why priests?  They should be those who are most close to Yahweh and most holy.  And yet the psalmist concedes their sinfulness and their need for forgiveness.  God calls Israel a “kingdom of priests” (Exodus 19:6) and by extension, so is the church (1 Peter 2:5-9).

The LORD reigns; let the peoples tremble!  He sits enthroned upon the cherubim; let the earth quake! The LORD is great in Zion;  he is exalted over all the peoples.  Let them praise your great and awesome name!  Holy is he!  The King in his might loves justice.  You have established equity; you have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob.  Exalt the LORD our God; worship at his footstool!  Holy is he!

Moses and Aaron were among his priests, Samuel also was among those who called upon his name.  They called to the LORD, and he answered them.  In the pillar of the cloud he spoke to them; they kept his testimonies and the statute that he gave them.

O LORD our God, you answered them; you were a forgiving God to them, but an avenger of their wrongdoings.  Exalt the LORD our God, and worship at his holy mountain; for the LORD our God is holy!  (Psalm 99 ESV)

When we have such a powerful and good God reigning over us we should praise Him and even tremble if there is any rebellion in our hearts.  Moses, Aaron and Samuel should lead the way for us, since they called on Yahweh and He answered them, and when they disobeyed He disciplined them and forgave them.  He is exalted and we should exalt Him.