Psalms 99:5

Psalm 99:5 is a powerful call to worship, urging believers to acknowledge and revere the sovereign God. It encapsulates the heart of true adoration: recognizing God's supreme authority and perfect nature.

Context of Psalm 99:5

Psalm 99 is an enthronement psalm, celebrating the LORD as King. It emphasizes His righteous rule, justice, and the holiness that defines His character. The preceding verses proclaim God's majesty and power over the nations, asserting His throne is established in Zion. This verse, therefore, serves as a direct command to the people to respond to such a magnificent God with appropriate reverence and worship, flowing from the recognition of His unparalleled sanctity.

Key Themes and Messages

• Exaltation of God: The command "Exalt ye the LORD our God" is a directive to lift Him high in praise and honor. It's an invitation to acknowledge His incomparable greatness and supremacy above all creation. Our worship should elevate His name and character.
• Reverent Worship: "Worship at his footstool" signifies a posture of profound humility and submission. The "footstool" is often understood to refer to the Ark of the Covenant, representing God's manifest presence among His people, or more broadly, the earth itself as His creation (Isaiah 66:1). It underscores that our approach to God must be with awe and reverence, recognizing our place before the Almighty King.
• God's Holiness as the Foundation: The concluding phrase, "for he is holy," provides the ultimate reason for this call to worship. God's holiness (Hebrew: qadosh) signifies His absolute moral perfection, purity, and His complete distinctness from all creation. It is His inherent, unchangeable nature that demands and deserves our worship and adoration. This attribute makes Him worthy of all praise and sets the standard for His people.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "Exalt" is rum (רוּם), meaning to be high, to lift up, or to praise. It implies an elevation of God's status in the minds and hearts of His worshippers. The term "footstool" is hadom (הֲדֹם), which literally means a footstool, but in this context, it metaphorically points to a place of profound reverence and submission, often associated with the Ark of the Covenant (1 Chronicles 28:2) where God's presence was uniquely manifested. The most crucial word here is "holy," qadosh (קָדוֹשׁ). This term denotes separation, purity, and sacredness, emphasizing God's transcendence and moral perfection, which is the very essence of His being.

Practical Application

Psalm 99:5 calls us to a worship that is both passionate and reverent. It reminds us that our praise should not be casual but deeply rooted in an understanding of who God is—a sovereign, just, and perfectly holy King. This verse encourages us to:

• Cultivate Awe: To approach God with a sense of wonder and respect for His majesty and purity.
• Live in Humility: To acknowledge our position before Him, recognizing His infinite superiority and our dependence on Him.
• Pursue Holiness: Since God is holy, His people are also called to strive for holiness in their own lives, reflecting His character and being set apart for His purposes. Our worship should transform us to be more like the One we adore.

This verse serves as a timeless reminder that worship is not merely an activity but a foundational response to the inherent holiness of the LORD our God.