Here’s a paradox. I am given great comfort to know that the Lord reigns, but I am also given great fear to know that he reigns. The peoples tremble—and the earth quakes—because God is the one who reigns and is enthroned.
“The Lord reigns; let the peoples tremble! He sits enthroned upon the cherubim; let the earth quake!” Psalm 99:1
Psalm 99 delivers the message that the Lord reigns and instructs that we should tremble in response. It also delivers the message that God is enthroned and instructs that the earth should quake in response.
“The Lord is great in Zion; he is exalted over all the peoples. Let them praise your great and awesome name! Holy is he!” Psalm 99:2-3
Lest we forget it, God is exalted over all the peoples of the earth. He does not jockey for position. Be it a king or a pauper, rich or poor, or young or old, God is to be revered above all others. He is great. His name is awesome and holy.
Settle this in your heart and relationships are given context. Settle this and pain and loss are also given context. Acknowledge his sovereignty, greatness, and holiness and everything is put into liberating context.
If we surrender.
“The King in his might loves justice. You have established equity; you have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob.” Psalm 99:4
The justice and righteousness of God also establishes context for you as you walk through pain. Justice and equity—fairness—is not experienced in your life at the moment. But bank on this truth and stand in faith upon it: Our King loves justice, and he has promised justice. Right now it is given to you in the form or grace, mercy, and peace. Embrace these gifts and hold on.
“Exalt the Lord our God; worship at his footstool! Holy is he!” Psalm 99:5
Don’t forget those two words introduced in verse one. Tremble and quake before the Lord. Bow in his presence and exalt his name. Worship the one—the only one—who deserves your worship. When things are tough—pain, brokenness, loss—run to him and exalt his name.
“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.” Psalm 99:6-7
Hebrews tells us we have a cloud of witnesses—testifiers (Hebrews 12:1). The psalmist points us to Moses, Aaron, and Samuel. These men were also those who called upon the Lord. We are told that the Lord answered them. He spoke through a pillar and they chose to follow him.
Faithful ones have gone before us and experienced the faithfulness of God. We have witnesses, a veritable cloud of testifiers, who recount the story of the faithfulness of God.
Even in pain. Even in loss.
God answers. Further, he redeems. Our Lord avenges. In response, exalt and worship the Lord our God for he is holy and wholly trustworthy!
“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 99:8-9
Read the E-book Facing Loss: Lessons of Hope from My Unwanted Journey