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Looking at King David, we can see an imperfect picture of our perfect King Jesus.
Let’s be honest: Coming into the king’s presence can be a fearful activity. Does he know something about you that you don’t know? Is he in a good mood? For the law-abiding citizen of Israel, coming before King David was without fear or punishment, but with a healthy respect of who he was. But with King David, we see a healthy, loving attitude that the people had.
- David and all Israel celebrated when the ark of the covenant of the Lord came to Jerusalem (2 Samuel 6:5).
- And the way David blessed all the people following this would have raised the level of esteem they had for him.
- God was pleased with David too: The Lord gave David victory wherever he went (8:6).
- David continued to do the right thing (8:15).
- At the end of David’s life the eyes of all Israel were on David to see who he would select to sit on his throne after him.
(All of the Scriptures in this post may be viewed by clicking here.)
Psalm 99 appears to be one that was written during the reign of King David. This royal psalm looks at the limited reign of David to see a better picture of the throne room of King Jesus.
The opening words tell us “the LORD reigns” (v. 1a). The word tremble can have two definitions. The first is to be perturbed or disquieted. This is addressed to the nations who don’t bow their knee to Yahweh, as a result they shake in fear. Second, this word tremble can also mean to be excited about coming before the King.
King Jesus is called “great, exalted over all the nations” (not just Israel), and He is said to have a “great and awesome name.”
“He IS holy,” which means He is the undisputed standard of all that is right and wrong, and no one can question His ruling. The nations that don’t know the King as their King tremble and shake, but those who do know Him as their King praise His awesome name (Revelation 5:13).
In many translations the word King is capitalized in v. 4, but we don’t know if this is referring to God or David. Since v. 2 refers to the “LORD in Zion,” that would appear to be a capital “K” King. But v. 4 mentions Jacob (not Zion), so I believe this is a lower case “k” referring to David. Let me restate verse 4 this way: “David is mighty, David loves justice—David has established equity; in Jacob David has done what is just and right.”
David’s own prayers also bear out this interpretation (see Psalm 20:6-9; 21:1-7). This is what the royal psalms do: Point us to David to show us a better picture in Jesus.
This is the end of stanza 1 which ends with this call to worship (v. 5).
Verses 6-7 give us another example (prior to the era of the kings) of Moses, Aaron, and Samuel. These priests could call on God’s name and expect to receive an answer from Him. They lived obediently to all God spoke to them (v. 7b). Then v. 8 reminds us that God still speaks and forgives, but He is also the final Judge who will punish “misdeeds.” These verses clearly speak to Jesus who is both King and Priest before God’s throne.
This is the end of stanza 2, which has a similar call to worship as stanza 1 (v. 9).
I want you to also notice some places of worship:
between the cherubim (v. 1)—God’s mercyseat. This is where sin was atoned every year under the old system of David’s era, but where Jesus has has presented the once-for-all atonement for all who will believe on Him. - His footstool (v. 5)—another name for the ark of the covenant of the LORD (1 Chronicles 28:2).
- the pillar of cloud (v. 7)—the covering of God’s presence and the reminder of His protection.
- His holy mountain (v. 9)—see Hebrews 12:18-29.
Remember Psalm 99:4 in the AMPC—The strength of the king who loves righteousness and equity You establish in uprightness; You execute justice and righteousness in Jacob (Israel).
King Jesus is the perfect King of justice and righteousness (Isaiah 9:7; Revelation 5:12).
One day every knee will bow at the footstool of God’s holy mountain. They will either bow in despair and shaking because they did not put their faith in Jesus, or they will bow in humble adoration for the atonement that King Jesus made for them.
For those who don’t know Jesus—Away from Me, all you evildoers! There will be weeping there, and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves thrown out. (Luke 13:27-28)
For those who know King Jesus, there is no fear (Luke 12:4-5; 1 Corinthians 15:55-57)!
Christians must live every day exalting and worship God, bowing gratefully at His footstool. This lifestyle of adoration of the great and awesome King is our testimony to a skeptical and searching world.
If you’ve missed any of the other Royal Psalms we’ve discussed in this series, you can check them all out here.
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Craig T. Owens 