Psalms 123

Psalms 123:1

Introduction

The LORD reigns, literally: the LORD is King. This is mentioned for the fourth time (Psalms 93:1; Psalms 96:10; Psalms 97:1; Psalms 99:1). He has accepted His royal rule (Revelation 19:6) and sits on His glorious throne (Matthew 25:31). Now Christ is not only seated on His Father’s throne (Revelation 3:21), He is now also seated on His own throne along with the overcomers, the remnant. He is truthfully “the King of kings and Lord of lords” (1 Timothy 6:15).

The intercession of the remnant through Moses, Aaron and Samuel (Psalms 99:6) is answered and is followed by praise from the remnant (cf. Psalms 50:15). Now that the kingdom has come, the Name of the LORD is hallowed (Ezekiel 36:22-23).

The LORD Reigns and Is Holy

The psalm is a song of praise following the description of Christ’s reign on earth (Psalms 99:1). The roles are reversed. Israel enjoys the blessing, the nations must tremble. From the building of the tabernacle and the ark, the LORD “is enthroned [above] the cherubim” who stand on the mercy seat on the ark (Exodus 25:20; 1 Samuel 4:4; 2 Samuel 6:2). The cherubim are always mentioned in connection with the throne of God, in connection with His government (Genesis 3:24; Isaiah 37:16; Ezekiel 10:1-20). The ark with the cherubim stood in the hidden part of the holy of holies. The cherubim, the guardians of His holiness, have remained hidden. Now He rules openly in Zion, which is Jerusalem. It befits the earth to tremble before that King.

He “is great” (Psalms 99:2). He is great in Himself. It is not a matter of comparison, which then shows that He is the greatest. There is simply no one to compare to Him. He is great. Israel knows that God is great (Deuteronomy 10:17). Now all nations must also acknowledge that.

He is immeasurably, boundlessly great in power, love, justice and in all His features. In that indescribable greatness He dwells “in Zion” which He has chosen as His dwelling place on earth. He is also “exalted above all the peoples”. All nations are subject to Him. He is “great” to His people and “exalted” to the nations.

The psalmist addresses the LORD directly in the first line of Psa 99:3. He says to Him that it is appropriate that they “praise Your great and awesome name”. His Name is the expression of all that He is. His Name encompasses His Being and all His features. The psalmist concludes by stating: “Holy is He.” He is absolutely set apart from all that He has made. It does not mean that He is not involved in it, but He is not part of anything. He is holy in relation to all that is.

The hallowing or profaning of the Name of the LORD has to do with the condition of His people. If the people are not doing well, then the Name of the LORD, His covenant name, will be profaned. People will say: ‘It is the LORD’s people, and yet they had to leave the land.’ Conversely, the Name of the LORD is hallowed when Israel is restored (cf. Ezekiel 36:20-28).

Psalms 123:2

Introduction

The LORD reigns, literally: the LORD is King. This is mentioned for the fourth time (Psalms 93:1; Psalms 96:10; Psalms 97:1; Psalms 99:1). He has accepted His royal rule (Revelation 19:6) and sits on His glorious throne (Matthew 25:31). Now Christ is not only seated on His Father’s throne (Revelation 3:21), He is now also seated on His own throne along with the overcomers, the remnant. He is truthfully “the King of kings and Lord of lords” (1 Timothy 6:15).

The intercession of the remnant through Moses, Aaron and Samuel (Psalms 99:6) is answered and is followed by praise from the remnant (cf. Psalms 50:15). Now that the kingdom has come, the Name of the LORD is hallowed (Ezekiel 36:22-23).

The LORD Reigns and Is Holy

The psalm is a song of praise following the description of Christ’s reign on earth (Psalms 99:1). The roles are reversed. Israel enjoys the blessing, the nations must tremble. From the building of the tabernacle and the ark, the LORD “is enthroned [above] the cherubim” who stand on the mercy seat on the ark (Exodus 25:20; 1 Samuel 4:4; 2 Samuel 6:2). The cherubim are always mentioned in connection with the throne of God, in connection with His government (Genesis 3:24; Isaiah 37:16; Ezekiel 10:1-20). The ark with the cherubim stood in the hidden part of the holy of holies. The cherubim, the guardians of His holiness, have remained hidden. Now He rules openly in Zion, which is Jerusalem. It befits the earth to tremble before that King.

He “is great” (Psalms 99:2). He is great in Himself. It is not a matter of comparison, which then shows that He is the greatest. There is simply no one to compare to Him. He is great. Israel knows that God is great (Deuteronomy 10:17). Now all nations must also acknowledge that.

He is immeasurably, boundlessly great in power, love, justice and in all His features. In that indescribable greatness He dwells “in Zion” which He has chosen as His dwelling place on earth. He is also “exalted above all the peoples”. All nations are subject to Him. He is “great” to His people and “exalted” to the nations.

The psalmist addresses the LORD directly in the first line of Psa 99:3. He says to Him that it is appropriate that they “praise Your great and awesome name”. His Name is the expression of all that He is. His Name encompasses His Being and all His features. The psalmist concludes by stating: “Holy is He.” He is absolutely set apart from all that He has made. It does not mean that He is not involved in it, but He is not part of anything. He is holy in relation to all that is.

The hallowing or profaning of the Name of the LORD has to do with the condition of His people. If the people are not doing well, then the Name of the LORD, His covenant name, will be profaned. People will say: ‘It is the LORD’s people, and yet they had to leave the land.’ Conversely, the Name of the LORD is hallowed when Israel is restored (cf. Ezekiel 36:20-28).

Psalms 123:3

The LORD Executes Justice and Is Holy

Not only the Name of the King is to be praised, but also “the strength of the King” (Psalms 99:4; Matthew 28:18). His strength is not expressed in a capricious, arbitrary exercise of power. His power is exercised in righteousness, that is, in a just manner. That exercise is not done out of Self-protection, but because He “loves justice” (cf. Psalms 45:7). With Him, power, love, and justice go together. This is a combination of features that no earthly ruler has ever had.

His justice, the way He rules, is “equity”. “Equity” means according to a fair, just, balanced judgment. His government is completely fair to all, there is nothing to be questioned by anyone, everyone accepts His government because it is absolutely just and embedded in love for His God, His creatures and His creation.

This justice is now found nowhere. Instead of equitable government, there is so often corrupt government. When He rules, He establishes that equitable government on the whole earth, using Israel as an example. He has “executed justice and righteousness in Jacob”. The people are called “Jacob”, not ‘Israel’. This emphasizes the election of Jacob by God. This election cannot be undone by the unfaithfulness the people have often shown.

Then the call sounds to “exalt the LORD our God” (Psalms 99:5). That call applies first and foremost to Israel, for only they can speak of “our God”. To praise is to speak of with appreciation and praise. It is to honor and exalt. This is done by worshiping “at His footstool”, by which is meant the ark of the covenant in the temple or the temple itself (1 Chronicles 28:2; Psalms 132:7).

On the footstool rest the feet of a king. Worshiping at it means making the deepest possible bow, expressing the deepest reverence. While this will be done primarily by God’s people, it will also be done by the nations (Zechariah 14:16). This attitude toward Him is appropriate, for “holy is He”. This verse is a refrain, which has already sounded in Psalms 99:3 and with some changes also appears in Psalms 99:9.

Psalms 123:4

The LORD Executes Justice and Is Holy

Not only the Name of the King is to be praised, but also “the strength of the King” (Psalms 99:4; Matthew 28:18). His strength is not expressed in a capricious, arbitrary exercise of power. His power is exercised in righteousness, that is, in a just manner. That exercise is not done out of Self-protection, but because He “loves justice” (cf. Psalms 45:7). With Him, power, love, and justice go together. This is a combination of features that no earthly ruler has ever had.

His justice, the way He rules, is “equity”. “Equity” means according to a fair, just, balanced judgment. His government is completely fair to all, there is nothing to be questioned by anyone, everyone accepts His government because it is absolutely just and embedded in love for His God, His creatures and His creation.

This justice is now found nowhere. Instead of equitable government, there is so often corrupt government. When He rules, He establishes that equitable government on the whole earth, using Israel as an example. He has “executed justice and righteousness in Jacob”. The people are called “Jacob”, not ‘Israel’. This emphasizes the election of Jacob by God. This election cannot be undone by the unfaithfulness the people have often shown.

Then the call sounds to “exalt the LORD our God” (Psalms 99:5). That call applies first and foremost to Israel, for only they can speak of “our God”. To praise is to speak of with appreciation and praise. It is to honor and exalt. This is done by worshiping “at His footstool”, by which is meant the ark of the covenant in the temple or the temple itself (1 Chronicles 28:2; Psalms 132:7).

On the footstool rest the feet of a king. Worshiping at it means making the deepest possible bow, expressing the deepest reverence. While this will be done primarily by God’s people, it will also be done by the nations (Zechariah 14:16). This attitude toward Him is appropriate, for “holy is He”. This verse is a refrain, which has already sounded in Psalms 99:3 and with some changes also appears in Psalms 99:9.