Psalm 99 - Great, Just & Merciful

Psalm 99 - Great, Just & Merciful - Aneel Aranha  

The LORD reigns,
let the nations tremble;
he sits enthroned between the cherubim,
let the earth shake.
Great is the LORD in Zion;
he is exalted over all the nations.
Let them praise your great and awesome name —
he is holy.
The King is mighty, he loves justice —
you have established equity;
in Jacob you have done
what is just and right.
Exalt the LORD our God
and worship at his footstool;
he is holy.
Moses and Aaron were among his priests,
Samuel was among those who called on his name;
they called on the LORD
and he answered them.
He spoke to them from the pillar of cloud;
they kept his statutes and the decrees he gave them.
LORD our God,
you answered them;
you were to Israel a forgiving God,
though you punished their misdeeds.
Exalt the LORD our God
and worship at his holy mountain,
for the LORD our God is holy.

The psalmist speaks about three of the attributes of God in his psalm: his greatness, his justice, and his mercy. Let us reflect on these today so that we appreciate him more and, consequently, worship him more.

God is great. As the psalmist says, he is not just a tribal deity or limited to a specific people. He is the God of all the earth, above all powers and rulers. If we want to get a sense of his greatness, all we need to do is look around us at his creation —the sun, the stars, the mountains, and the oceans. No one is as amazing and wonderful as God. We can trust and depend on him at all times.

God is just. The psalmist also speaks of God's justice and righteousness. To say God is just means that he is fair and right in everything he does. God's justice is like a perfect balance, where wrongs are made right and good deeds are rewarded. He always does what is right and never makes mistakes. His justice gives us hope that, in the end, all things will be made right, and those who trust in him will find comfort and protection.

God is merciful. The psalmist reflects on how God forgave the people's sins and answered their prayers. God's mercy means that he shows compassion and forgiveness to those who don't deserve it. Instead of punishing us as we deserve, God offers us forgiveness and grace. It's a gift that we can't earn or repay, but God freely gives it to us because of his great love for us. 

We find all three attributes of God exemplified in Jesus Christ. As the Son of God, he displayed the greatness of the Father through his miracles, teachings, and the ultimate act of sacrificial love on the cross. He upheld divine justice by confronting sin and its consequences, taking upon himself the penalty that we deserved. And he exemplified God's mercy by extending mercy to the repentant, forgiving their sins, and inviting them into a loving relationship with God. 

As we reflect on these truths about God, let us thank him from our hearts and render the worship he deserves.

God bless you.