Psalm 99
1 The LORD reigneth; let the people tremble: he sitteth between the cherubims; let the earth be moved.
2 The LORD is great in Zion; and he is high above all the people.
3 Let them praise thy great and terrible name; for it is holy.
4 The king's strength also loveth judgment; thou dost establish equity, thou executest judgment and righteousness in Jacob.
5 Exalt ye the LORD our God, and worship at his footstool; for he is holy.
6 Moses and Aaron among his priests, and Samuel among them that call upon his name; they called upon the LORD, and he answered them.
7 He spake unto them in the cloudy pillar: they kept his testimonies, and the ordinance that he gave them.
8 Thou answeredst them, O LORD our God: thou wast a God that forgavest them, though thou tookest vengeance of their inventions.
9 Exalt the LORD our God, and worship at his holy hill; for the LORD our God is holy.
Outline
God Reigns above All
By Pastor Clinton Macomber
God’s Throne Is Dynamic
It is angelic beings, Psalm 99:1
It has a home base, Psalm 99:2
It is holy, Psalm 99:3
God’s Throne Is Foundational
It originates and loves justice, Psalm 99:4
It accepts earth as His footstool, Psalm 99:5
It has high historic presence, Psalm 99:6
God’s Throne Is Relevant
It is personally involved, Psalm 99:7
It is merciful though stern, Psalm 99:8
It inspires worship, Psalm 99:9
Sermon
God Reigns above All
By Pastor Clinton Macomber
This world is filled with all kinds of philosophies, theories, items, and personalities to solicit worship. The retail industry wants you to worship their products. The financial and insurance industries want to you worship money. Historic societies want you to worship people and events. Cultural centers are temples for the worship of heathen cultures and societies. Government wants citizens to worship it. Institutions want you to worship their professors. Hospitals want you to worship their doctors. Religions want you to worship their structures, people, icons, and ideas. What these all have in common is that they all want to detract you from worship of God. This means that the very basis of most things of society is formed to resist God and to detract from holiness.
This Psalm is to offer God’s people a little insight into who God is and what an encounter with God will be like. Every human being will one day stand before God. Either they will stand as His subjects, or they will stand as His enemies. There is no middle ground.
God’s Throne Is Dynamic
It is angelic beings
Psalm 99:1 The LORD reigneth; let the people tremble: he sitteth between the cherubims; let the earth be moved.
God’s reign should really impact people to the very fiber of their being. It should radiate in their every action and thought. It should create a desire to be absolutely pure and holy before God. There should be a total abhorrence of all that is contrary to the wishes of God.
No man can stand before God. Humans fall in His presence. They become completely comatose because of His awesome power and knowledge. God has to issue the strength for them to just become cognizant in His presence.
For the people of the world to conduct their lives in a vacuum that wants to believe God does not exist, is an unbelievable thing. No only are people willfully ignorant, but they are having to close themselves off from all facts and realities of the Creation and life.
God’s Throne is in the middle of the Cherubim. Those few prophets that saw the cherubim were overwhelmed at their appearance and left us detailed accounts of what they saw.
So what do we know about the Cherubim?
They appear as guards of the Garden of Eden.
Genesis 3:24 So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.
They next appear in the Tabernacle on the Mercy Seat, the Veil and the Curtains.
Exodus 25:18 And thou shalt make two cherubims of gold, of beaten work shalt thou make them, in the two ends of the mercy seat.
Exodus 26:31 And thou shalt make a vail of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen of cunning work: with cherubims shall it be made:
Exodus 36:8 And every wise hearted man among them that wrought the work of the tabernacle made ten curtains of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet: with cherubims of cunning work made he them.
They were also a part of the Temple of Solomon covering the Ark of the Covenant.
1 Kings 8:6-7 And the priests brought in the ark of the covenant of the LORD unto his place, into the oracle of the house, to the most holy place, even under the wings of the cherubims. For the cherubims spread forth their two wings over the place of the ark, and the cherubims covered the ark and the staves thereof above.
They were described by Ezekiel.
Ezekiel 1:5-14 Also out of the midst thereof came the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance; they had the likeness of a man. 6And every one had four faces, and every one had four wings. 7And their feet were straight feet; and the sole of their feet was like the sole of a calf’s foot: and they sparkled like the colour of burnished brass. 8And they had the hands of a man under their wings on their four sides; and they four had their faces and their wings. 9Their wings were joined one to another; they turned not when they went; they went every one straight forward. 10As for the likeness of their faces, they four had the face of a man, and the face of a lion, on the right side: and they four had the face of an ox on the left side; they four also had the face of an eagle. 11Thus were their faces: and their wings were stretched upward; two wings of every one were joined one to another, and two covered their bodies. 12And they went every one straight forward: whither the spirit was to go, they went; and they turned not when they went. 13As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like burning coals of fire, and like the appearance of lamps: it went up and down among the living creatures; and the fire was bright, and out of the fire went forth lightning. 14And the living creatures ran and returned as the appearance of a flash of lightning.
When God’s Throne comes, the world is shaken in storm like conditions. When it reaches a person, that person falls helpless before God. The reason for these examples is to warn the Earth if the day when God will set up His Kingdom on Earth. The Earth will tremble at His coming, and all people will fall before God in Holy reverence. Not only will God finally get the respect and honor He deserves, but all nations will honor and obey God.
It has a home base
Psalm 99:2 The LORD is great in Zion; and he is high above all the people.
There is a second thing the powers of the earth try to do. This is to make headquarters of power in places that are opposite that which is holy and appropriate. The center of the Earth geographically, socially and spiritually is Jerusalem. It is the place to set up world power, yet it is the one place that is completely ignored except for satellite power. The centers of world power are in San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, New Orleans, Toronto, London, Rome, Geneva, Hong Kong, Singapore, Tokyo, Cairo, Babylon, etc. These cities are the epitome of filth, immorality, corruption, death, suffering, and every form of witchcraft and vile practices.
God has stated that Jerusalem is the place where His Throne will one day sit. It is the proper place to govern the affairs of mankind. It will be the place where the source of water is given to the whole Earth.
There is something else about this location. At the present, it is not the highest city on the earth, but one day the mountains will be leveled and Jerusalem will be Mount Zion. Zion will be the highest point on the Earth. Everyone will go “up” to Jerusalem in the eternal future.
This height is not only physical, it is social and spiritual. All human beings will look up to their Creator in Zion for advice, comfort, and direction in all their ways. God will be the Father of all.
It is holy
Psalm 99:3 Let them praise thy great and terrible name; for it is holy.
A real frustrating thing today is discovering the truth of Scripture, but having so few that will come away from the world to accept God’s Word alone. This has resulted in the followers of God being a lonely group throughout most of history. While God’s people are often feeble folk, their stand has shattered kingdoms and powers, as they stood alone before the best the world could muster. But even societies best is no match for a child of God.
One day this will change. God’s people will be the leaders of things from Heaven, and all people of the Earth will worship God alone. Society will no longer stand for everything that is contrary to the things of God, but instead will be about worshipping God and giving glory to God.
Gone will be the social events that praise everything but God. Gone will be the alcoholism and pharmacopeia society. Gone will be the institutions and educational system that seeks to support evil and warped opinion. Instead people will openly and honestly praise God in thought, deed and speech.
God’s Throne Is Foundational
It originates and loves justice
Psalm 99:4 The king’s strength also loveth judgment; thou dost establish equity, thou executest judgment and righteousness in Jacob.
This verse is so precious to those who cannot find justice in this sin-wrecked world! The power and boldness of God comes in putting things back into order by establishing instructions, recommendations and laws by which to live. In other words, God loves to establish equity and justice among mankind. He is not at all intimidated by the things that quickly deter human governors and judges from justice. God can also see the real facts, knowing all things, so the decisions of God are final and perfect.
To serve as an example to the world of what kind of Kingdom God will have, He executed justice and righteousness in Jacob. Jacob was a man who was chosen of God, but not reliant on God in the things he did. Finally, at middle age, Jacob was in fear of his life and was willing to give up all that he had. He had severed any chance of returning to Syria, and could only face the wrath of his stilted brother, who was advancing on Jacob with an army of men.
That night, Jacob wrestled with the angel of the Lord and became changed. To serve as a lifelong reminder of the change, Jacob’s thigh was put out of joint and his name changed to Israel. As long as Israel was dependent on God for his very survival, he was a ‘prince of God,” as his new name stated. The old Jacob that was strong, powerful, cleaver, and industrious was now a new man, reliant on God alone for survival and sustenance. Israel was a victor, leaving the victory in God’s hands, and tested in many different ways on earth.
God took a wayward, stubborn, rebellious, but very capable people and gave them His Law and Instructions. The Jewish people have done exceedingly well in preserving His Word, but go overboard in their endeavors to obey it, forgetting the actual words of God and following commentaries that were written about the commentaries of Scripture! Thus their laws are three levels removed from God’s Word. But through it all, we can see how God’s law is far superior to any system of laws man could possibly invent.
The United States is the one Christian nation that was built under the direction of Baptist pastors to follow New Testament teaching as much as they could see to do, having been raised in an orthodox system of governance and religion. They sought to set up a moral government that had a respect for the citizens of the country. They sought to elevate people to the status of master, while making the rulers the servants. Unfortunately this has been taken too far and now humanism has taken over the country, being proclaimed the religion of the land. Furthermore, this country openly seeks to have a democracy not only in this country but in all the nations of the world.
People cannot rule themselves. They must be shepherded by one who is appointed by God to do so. Democracy cannot work unless all are subject to God’s leaders and pastors. People will always choose what is evil over what is good for themselves. Only someone who has been changed by the Spirit of God will do that which is right and good, and then only after having undergone an enormous amount of training by God.
In America, we have fallen to the point where everything has to be spelled out in the laws, then tested by the courts, and then further tested by society in order to determine if it is right or wrong. This results in books that are thousands of pages long on just the simplest things in society. Those that are rich employ teams of lawyers to find loophole to permit them to do as they please. Those that are poor are treated as criminals when nothing has been done wrong. Thus we have the fallacy of democracy and legalism presented as an example in our own country.
God’s Law is very simple and direct. It presents the moral rules of life and practice. It provides the only legal system that works. The whole of God’s law fits easily in one book that can be carried about at will and completely memorized. Furthermore, God’s Law comes with a built-in interpreter and researcher who is there within each child of God.
It accepts earth as His footstool
Psalm 99:5 Exalt ye the LORD our God, and worship at his footstool; for he is holy.
Mankind likes to make the earth either a minor part of the universe that has no real impact or the origin of all gods.
Mankind tries to belittle human life by disregarding its value and in so doing belittles its Creator. Those that belittle life used to cause great concern to the civilized world. These were the savages of North America, seen as the ultimate in their disregard of anything moral or right. They used to be the African tribes. But after diligent work of Christian governments and missionaries that preached the gospel, these peoples were either subdued and controlled or transformed by the Word of God. Unfortunately, humanism has sought to again elevate these savage beings and their cultures and force their vile practices on the Christian societies of the world.
Today the examples of peoples that find great honor and dignity by belittling life in the world are the Moslem Arab, the street gangs, human traffickers, homosexualism, prostitutors, rapists, murders, abortionists, environmentalists, etc. So called scientists have convinced the American government to spend billions of dollars each year in seeking out alien life. There are radio centers that are staffed and equipped to beam out radio signals throughout the universe and receiving equipment working to try to find any kind of signal that would indicate intelligent life. The probes that are sent to explore the solar system are motivated to find other life forms. This whole culture is based on the belief that mankind is nothing more than some kind of valueless chemicals.
On the other hand, there are those that seem to think that that they are god in the flesh. These are the doctors, judges, politicians, movie stars, athletes, Olympians, Mormons, scientists, millionaires, etc. They think they are above all and so able to do as they please. They belittle all other life but their own. They demand that we honor them and treat them like royalty.
However, both of these ideologies are evil and harmful. God does grant earthly powers so that order may be kept on the earth until His Kingdom is set up here. However, there is no one who can use their God-given powers appropriately. The result is a corrupt government, educational system, business system, health system, family system, and on it goes.
God created the world and gave us His Word so that we would have a reference to use to learn to do things His way—the only one that works. God created the earth as His footstool, Matthew 5:35. It is there for Him, and it is there to sustain human life so that it can glorify Him.
Our job is to learn to always elevate God to His proper place in our lives, the lives of our families and the lives of our friends. Part of weekly church services is to help people do this, by starting each week out with God’s people, and considering the preaching and singing of God’s Word.
Why are we? God never gives instructions without giving the reasons. He is holy. There is nothing holy in the earth. By exalting God for His holiness, we too learn to place a value on what is holy and so adopt holiness as a standard in our lives.
Leviticus 19:2 Speak unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say unto them, Ye shall be holy: for I the LORD your God am holy.
It has high historic presence
Psalm 99:6 Moses and Aaron among his priests, and Samuel among them that call upon his name; they called upon the LORD, and he answered them.
One of the things that people talk about when visiting the federal government buildings of the United States is the feeling of all the history and a feeling of wonder at being where some truly great people once walked. Our country is young, and the work quite insignificant when viewed beside the places of Scripture and history. It is really only significant among Baptist people who have labored hard for missionary freedom.
All the “great” institutions of the world have not produced anyone of any historic value. Sure the institutions of the world want you to worship their iconic personalities, but they add up to nothing in the history of the world.
There is a totally different story when it comes to those who have allowed God to take control of their lives. Among His people are the inventors of things that have truly benefited the world. These people were often not respected in their lifetime, and suffered dearly at the hands of the “powers” that be, but the work they left stood the test of time and brought a great change in the civilized world. Examples include Isaac Newton, George Washing Carver, Thomas Edison, Benjamin Franklin, John Pasteur, Madame Curie, Blaise Pascal, Alexander Fleming, David Brewster, Johannes Kepler, etc. One secular book that sought to compile all the greats of the world in history and their religious affiliation found that over 80% were Christian. It must be said that their selection was very secular!
The greatest men of history were the men that put God first in their lives. These include Moses, Aaron and Samuel. Moses and Aaron were the ones chosen to establish the priesthood in Israel. They will be called upon to do the same again when God’s Kingdom is established, but this time they will not have the hindrances and limits of a sin plagued world or society.
It is truly amazing that the God of Abraham, Moses, Joshua, Elijah, David, Noah, Paul, Job, and many others is our God, and wants to work with us just as much as He did with them. It could be said that God has nothing else to do, if we will just give our all to Him.
God’s Throne Is Relevant
It is personally involved
Psalm 99:7 He spake unto them in the cloudy pillar: they kept his testimonies, and the ordinance that he gave them.
God is not some pie in the sky concept. He is real and personally involved in our lives. He will cross any barriers that exist to make sure we hear His Word and have every opportunity to follow Him.
For Moses and Aaron, He spoke from a cloud to them, allowing them to record every word He said. Moses and Aaron obeyed everything they were given and taught the people to obey as well. This is totally different from the world’s way of making rules for everyone else to follow while never lifting a finger of compliance themselves.
Samuel as a young lad had a visit from the Lord to tell him about Eli’s children. Eli rightfully told Samuel to learn to not be afraid to speak what God has said. Samuel went on to become a great prophet of God, carefully sharing God’s will and way with every child of Israel.
Now we have the Word of God carefully recorded and readily available to follow. We also have God’s Holy Spirit to guide us and convict us. What more could we ask for to learn to be like the Lord and to prepare to meet God face to face?
It is merciful though stern
Psalm 99:8 Thou answeredst them, O LORD our God: thou wast a God that forgavest them, though thou tookest vengeance of their inventions.
There is one important thing about God. Although He must exact a penalty for sin, because He cannot ever condone it, He is also ready to forgive us when we confess our sin and repent of it. He is a merciful but fair God. When we sin, we can expect to pay a penalty for our sin, but we can also rest assured that God will forgive the sin and remove it from us.
It inspires worship
Psalm 99:9 Exalt the LORD our God, and worship at his holy hill; for the LORD our God is holy.
So what are we to do once we have a glimpse of God and His mightiness? We are to worship God and worship Him at His chosen place. We are to thank God for being holy, and understand that we will never find anything on this earth that measures up to Him. As such, we need to learn to be like Him, for He created us and enables us to continue living to have every opportunity to become transformed by renewing our minds.
Topic Study
The Throne of God
By Pastor Clinton Macomber
God sits on His throne.
2 Chronicles 18:18 Again he said, Therefore hear the word of the LORD; I saw the LORD sitting upon his throne, and all the host of heaven standing on his right hand and on his left.
God has prepared His throne in order to bring justice.
Psalm 11:4 The LORD is in his holy temple, the LORD’S throne is in heaven: his eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of men.
God’s Throne is one of absolute purity.
Psalm 47:8 God reigneth over the heathen: God sitteth upon the throne of his holiness.
God’s Throne is proceeded by mercy.
Psalm 89:14 Justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne: mercy and truth shall go before thy face.
God’s Throne is righteous and surrounded by clouds and darkness.
Psalm 97:2 Clouds and darkness are round about him: righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his throne.
God’s Throne was prepared in the Heavens.
Psalm 103:19 The LORD hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all.
God’s Throne is at times visible up high.
Isaiah 6:1 In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.
A whirlwind, huge cloud, and fiery brightness announces the coming of God’s Throne.
Ezekiel 1:4 And I looked, and, behold, a whirlwind came out of the north, a great cloud, and a fire infolding itself, and a brightness was about it, and out of the midst thereof as the colour of amber, out of the midst of the fire.
The middle of God’s Throne has four living beings that look human.
Ezekiel 1:5 Also out of the midst thereof came the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance; they had the likeness of a man.
The four beings had four faces and four wings.
Ezekiel 1:6 And every one had four faces, and every one had four wings.
The four Beings had straight legs with ox like feet of polished brass.
Ezekiel 1:7 And their feet were straight feet; and the sole of their feet was like the sole of a calf’s foot: and they sparkled like the colour of burnished brass.
Human hands are under the wings on four sides.
Ezekiel 1:8 And they had the hands of a man under their wings on their four sides; and they four had their faces and their wings.
The wings joined to each other, and they did not turn to move.
Ezekiel 1:9 Their wings were joined one to another; they turned not when they went; they went every one straight forward.
The four faces of the Beings were that of a man, lion, ox and eagle.
Ezekiel 1:10 As for the likeness of their faces, they four had the face of a man, and the face of a lion, on the right side: and they four had the face of an ox on the left side; they four also had the face of an eagle.
Their wings stretched upward, two adjoining the others, and two covering their bodies.
Ezekiel 1:11 Thus were their faces: and their wings were stretched upward; two wings of every one were joined one to another, and two covered their bodies.
There is no rotation of the Beings, they just move whatever direction needed.
Ezekiel 1:12 And they went every one straight forward: whither the spirit was to go, they went; and they turned not when they went.
The Beings looked like burning coals with bright lamp light that moved up and down among the Beings.
Ezekiel 1:13 As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like burning coals of fire, and like the appearance of lamps: it went up and down among the living creatures; and the fire was bright, and out of the fire went forth lightning.
The Beings came and went with lightning bolt speed.
Ezekiel 1:14 And the living creatures ran and returned as the appearance of a flash of lightning.
There was a wheel on the earth by each Being of the Throne.
Ezekiel 1:15 Now as I beheld the living creatures, behold one wheel upon the earth by the living creatures, with his four faces.
The wheels by the Beings was similar to a yellow gem stone. Each wheel was exactly like the others. The wheels appear to be a wheel intersecting a wheel.
Ezekiel 1:16 The appearance of the wheels and their work was like unto the colour of a beryl: and they four had one likeness: and their appearance and their work was as it were a wheel in the middle of a wheel.
Whatever direction the Beings went, they followed the faces on that side, not turning to go.
Ezekiel 1:17 When they went, they went upon their four sides: and they turned not when they went.
Their rings were frighteningly high and full of eyes around the four Beings.
Ezekiel 1:18 As for their rings, they were so high that they were dreadful; and their rings were full of eyes round about them four.
Where the Beings went, the wheels went.
Ezekiel 1:19 And when the living creatures went, the wheels went by them: and when the living creatures were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up.
Their Spirit was in the wheels, directing movement and staying with the beings wherever they went.
Ezekiel 1:20 Whithersoever the spirit was to go, they went, thither was their spirit to go; and the wheels were lifted up over against them: for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels.
The wheels always maintained their special relationship to the Beings.
Ezekiel 1:21 When those went, these went; and when those stood, these stood; and when those were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up over against them: for the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels.
Over the Beings was what looked like a firmament of a huge piece of crystal on the Being’s heads.
Ezekiel 1:22 And the likeness of the firmament upon the heads of the living creature was as the colour of the terrible crystal, stretched forth over their heads above.
The wings under the firmament were straight, one facing the other Being. Each had two that covered this side and two that covered that side.
Ezekiel 1:23 And under the firmament were their wings straight, the one toward the other: every one had two, which covered on this side, and every one had two, which covered on that side, their bodies.
The movement of the Beings of the Throne of God sounded like the noise of great waters, the sound of the Almighty, or an army.
Ezekiel 1:24 And when they went, I heard the noise of their wings, like the noise of great waters, as the voice of the Almighty, the voice of speech, as the noise of an host: when they stood, they let down their wings.
There was a voice that was over their heads, once they stood and lowered their wings.
Ezekiel 1:25 And there was a voice from the firmament that was over their heads, when they stood, and had let down their wings.
Above the amazing crystal firmament over the Being’s heads was an like a sapphire stone throne. The Throne had a human form on it.
Ezekiel 1:26 And above the firmament that was over their heads was the likeness of a throne, as the appearance of a sapphire stone: and upon the likeness of the throne was the likeness as the appearance of a man above upon it.
The Human form on the Throne appeared in amber color, and as if fire covered Him, with brightness glowing from Him.
Ezekiel 1:27 And I saw as the colour of amber, as the appearance of fire round about within it, from the appearance of his loins even upward, and from the appearance of his loins even downward, I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and it had brightness round about.
There was as if it were a rainbow of brightness all around the Throne like the glory of God.
Ezekiel 1:28 As the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness round about. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. And when I saw it, I fell upon my face, and I heard a voice of one that spake.
Heaven is God’s Throne.
Matthew 5:34 But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God’s throne:
Our High Priest is seated at the right hand of God’s Throne.
Hebrews 8:1 Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens;
God’s Throne is colorful and of angelic beings.
Revelation 4:2-3 And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne. And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.
God’s Throne flashes bright flashes of light. The middle of God’s Throne is the four living Beings.
Revelation 4:5 And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.
Quote
Psalm 99:6
by Frederick Brotherton Meyer, Our Daily Homily
(Redding, CA: Pleasant Places Press, 2004). Vol. 3 page 99
Samuel among them that call upon his name.
Evidently those that call upon the name of God compose a separate class. There are classes of prophets, pastors, teachers; and there are the mighty wrestlers with God, whose voices are familiar sounds in the Divine presence chamber. It is a high honour to be included among them that call upon his name. If you cannot find your place in any other class, perhaps it is here. Possibly you have great gifts of prayer and intercession, which you have never rightly employed, to your own great loss, and the loss of others. Do not wait for God’s Angel of Providence to shut you forcibly into a lonely chamber, and compel you to use your great gift.
Samuel’s prayers are frequently referred to. At times he would cry unto God all night. He counted it a sin to cease to pray for the people. His prayers secured the defeat of the Philistines; and the nation sheltered itself in his intercessions. We can never estimate the worth of a good man’s prayers; and they lift a man like Samuel, destitute of commanding genius, to stand side by side with Moses in the estimate of Eternity.
In a memorable interview with the late George Muller, he told me some of his wonderful experiences in dealing with a prayer-answering God. Just before he died he heard of the conversion of an old man, for whom he had prayed during fifty years. May not he, and such as he, be remembered in this holy category? Oh to be remembered among those that call on God’s name! But always bear in mind the thrice accentuated message of this Psalm (Psalm 99:3, 5, 9), that God is holy. It is only as we are cleansed from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, that we can prevail in intercessory prayer.
Devotions
Monday, Psalm 99:1-2 and Ezekiel 1:1-4
It is a terrifying thing to realize you will not get away with any type of sin in your life, because God reigns. Because we are purposely shielded from seeing God, we tend to think that we can do as we please and God will not bother us. However, this is simply wrong. God knows every step we take, every thing we do, and every thought we conjure up. We are going to have to stand before Him one day, and from then on be in His presence. The only way to prepare for this great event is to humble ourselves, learn to obey His Word, and to walk with Him each step of the way, remembering that God is a consuming fire.
Tuesday, Psalm 99:3 and Ezekiel 1:5-9
Our purpose is to praise God forever. If we are having a problem with doing this, it is because we have not spent time in God’s Word, developing an understanding of God. God is the creator and sustainer of all things. He is far more glorious and powerful then we could ever imagine. Most people tremble in the presence of someone else that is far larger than themselves. The Living Creatures of the Throne of God are overwhelmingly terrifying by themselves. Satan was once one of these Beings. He works to delude all men to turn from God and salvation. We can either join the Devil by our actions or we can join God and learn that nothing can separate us from His love. We make the choice moment by moment.
Wednesday, Psalm 99:4-5 and Ezekiel 1:10-14
God’s Throne was established to ensure that justice was meted out among His Creation. God has a long and proven track record in earthly terms, having been equitable and fair from the first day. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of an angry God, but a wonderful thing to fall before Him in worship and praise. The earth is God’s footstool, so anywhere we fall in worship and praise before Him here on earth is appropriate. Our worship of God is a testimony to the world who will one day see the God they have spurned and understand why we are so prone to humble ourselves before God instead of mankind.
Thursday, Psalm 99:6 and Ezekiel 1:15-19
It is an amazing thing to realize that of all the Creation, those that worship God are able to call God and receive an answer! The whole universe is groaning and travailing in pain awaiting God’s Kingdom on Earth, but God responds to the cries of His own. His Throne is not stationary, but built to move instantly where needed on the Earth or Heaven. There is no waiting to turn or hover, the Throne moves instantly like lightning to and from a location, coming and going as necessary, but all instantaneously. How could we fear when God is able to come, and instantly does come, should He be needed? How could we figure we are unable to handle what He permits?
Friday, Psalm 99:7-8 and Ezekiel 1:20-24
When God reveals Himself to a person, that person will obey His Word and follow God’s instructions, even though God only reveals Himself in a “cloudy” way. Not only does God answer the call of His people, He demonstrates His forgiveness when once it is sought, even though God will demand punishment for evil deeds. God is fair however, and will only punish as is appropriate to the sin, forgiving us once we learn of the horrors of our deeds, and thus not exacting the full price of the penalty—eternal damnation.
Saturday, Psalm 99:9 and Ezekiel 1:25-28
The Living Beings that are a part of the Throne of God are so magnificent and amazing, that the prophet spent much of the time describing them. However, God’s magnificence is almost indescribable, so a few short verses describe Him. The prophet also fell in worship once He saw the glory of God above the Throne. To exalt God is to elevate Him to His rightful place. He is far above us, and His Throne is of an awesome height. God is not another human being. He is great, glorious, magnificent and wonderful. How can we not but praise and pray to Him?
Puzzle
| S | X | Y | I | V | E | D | Y | T | I | U | Q | E | P | C |
| F | U | Y | L | A | J | C | H | T | E | T | T | I | S | N |
| O | T | B | D | O | N | T | N | E | M | G | D | U | J | U |
| O | F | O | B | A | H | V | T | A | Y | Q | O | E | P | G |
| T | H | O | U | G | H | I | W | L | N | M | S | H | S | C |
| S | P | T | S | E | K | O | O | T | A | I | T | T | T | L |
| T | S | D | E | R | E | W | S | N | A | X | D | S | P | O |
| O | C | M | S | Y | T | R | E | M | B | L | E | R | H | U |
| O | T | S | E | T | U | C | E | X | E | V | I | D | O | D |
| L | F | B | E | T | W | E | E | N | A | E | V | N | H | Y |
| C | P | I | L | L | A | R | M | G | S | K | W | A | S | T |
| H | N | H | C | Y | J | J | R | T | G | D | S | A | O | Q |
| L | E | U | M | A | S | O | S | P | I | H | S | R | O | W |
| J | X | X | U | P | F | T | E | L | B | I | R | R | E | T |
| R | Q | H | I | L | L | S | M | I | B | U | R | E | H | C |
| ANSWEREDST | FOOTSTOOL | SAMUEL |
| BETWEEN | FORGAVEST | SITTETH |
| CHERUBIMS | HILL | TERRIBLE |
| CLOUDY | HOLY | THOUGH |
| DOST | JUDGMENT | TOOKEST |
| EQUITY | ORDINANCE | TREMBLE |
| EXALT | PILLAR | WAST |
| EXECUTEST | PRIESTS | WORSHIP |
The Puzzle solution is found here....
