Ps. 99:0 THE ARGUMENT This Psalm is supposed to be David’s, and the matter of it seems to suit to his time and the state of affairs which then was; although as David was a type of Christ, so this Psalm may look beyond David unto the Messias.

The people, to wit such are are enemies to God and to his people. Between the cherubims; upon the ark. See 1 Sam. 4:4. He is present with his people to protect them, and to punish their enemies. The earth; the people of the earth, by comparing this clause with the former.

The Lord is great in Zion: in the Hebrew text the words lie in this order, The Lord in Zion (i.e. which dwelleth in Zion, as is said, Ps. 9:11, Isa. 8:18, Joel 3:21) is great. Above all people; above all the people of the earth, of whom he spake Ps. 99:1, who shall exalt themselves against him.

Them, to wit, all people, last mentioned. For it is holy; for it is not only great, but holy, and therefore most praise-worthy.

The King’s strength also loveth judgment; though his dominion be absolute and uncontrollable, and his power irresistible, yet he doth not abuse it to tyranny and oppression, as the princes of the world commonly do, but tempers and manageth it with righteousness; and not only doth judge justly, but,…

For he is holy; or rather, for it, to wit, the ark, is holy; it is consecrated to be a pledge of God’s presence, and the only place of God’s public worship.

He presseth them to perform the duty of praising and worshipping God by the examples of three eminent persons who practised this duty, and that with happy success.

Unto them, i.e. to some of them; for the expression is only indefinite, and therefore doth not necessarily reach to all of them: to Moses frequently; to Aaron, Ex. 19:24, Ex. 33:9–11, Num.

Answeredst them; the intercessors before mentioned. Forgavest them; either, 1. Moses and Aaron, who did sin, and whose sins God did pardon, yet so that he did punish them with exclusion from the land of Canaan; of which see Num. 20:12, Deut. 32:50–51. Or rather, 2.

At his holy hill; either in Zion; or in his church typified by it, and oft called Zion.