Psalm 99-101

The Voice

Psalm 99

¹The Eternal is the king ruling over all;
    let all people shake in fear.
    He sits on His throne, settled between winged guardians;^[a]
    let the planet tremble.
²The Eternal is great in the hearts of His people;
    He has made Zion His sacred mountain,
    and He reigns majestic over all people.
³Let them express praise and gratitude to Your amazing and awesome name—
    because He is holy, perfect and exalted in His power.
⁴The King who rules with strength also treasures justice.
    You created order and established what is right.
You have carried out justice
    and done what is right to the people of Jacob.
⁵Lift up the Eternal our God in your heart;
    bow down to the earth where He rests His feet.
    He is holy, perfect and exalted in His power.

⁶Moses and Aaron were two of His priests;
    Samuel was among those who called out to Him.
    They asked the Eternal for help, and He answered them.
⁷He answered them from a column of cloud;
    they heeded His testimonies
    and lived by the laws He gave them.

⁸You answered them, Eternal our God;
    You were, to them, a God who forgives,
    yet You did not ignore what they did wrong
    and punished them fairly as well.
⁹Lift up the Eternal our God in your hearts,
    and celebrate His goodness at His holy mountain,
    for the Eternal our God is holy, perfect and exalted in His power.

Psalm 100

A song of thanks.

Psalm 100 is one of the best known and most loved psalms. This hymn of thanksgiving invites the whole world to come to God’s temple in Jerusalem and enter its sacred spaces with unbridled joy and hearts filled with gratitude. And why should we? The psalm provides the answer. Not only has God created us—a gracious act of love in and of itself—but He has made us His own people. He has chosen us and loved us. As with Psalm 23, God’s people are cast in the role as sheep living well in His pasture.

The psalm ends on a high note of confidence and hope. At all times—but perhaps more in times of difficulty—we need to be reminded of what is true. Regardless of what seems to be happening around us, the Eternal is good; His love and faithfulness will endure forever.

¹Raise your voices;
make a beautiful noise to the Eternal, all the earth.
²Serve the Eternal gladly;
enter into His presence singing songs of joy!

³Know this: the Eternal One Himself is the True God.
    He is the One who made us;
    we have not made ourselves;
    we are His people, like sheep grazing in His fields.

⁴Go through His gates, giving thanks;
walk through His courts, giving praise.
Offer Him your gratitude and praise His holy name.

⁵Because the Eternal is good,
His loyal love and mercy will never end,
and His truth will last throughout all generations.

Psalm 101

A song of David.

¹I will sing of God’s unsparing love and justice;
to You, O Eternal One, I will sing praises.
²I will seek to live a life of integrity;
when will You come to me?

I will walk in my house
with an honest and true heart.
³I will refuse to look
on any sordid thing;

I detest the worthless deeds of those who stray;
evil will not get a hold on me.
⁴I will rid my heart of all perversion;
I will not flirt with any evil.

⁵Whoever secretly slanders his neighbor,
    I will silence;
I will not tolerate
    a condescending smirk, an arrogant heart.
⁶I will look for those who are loyal in the land
    so that they may live with me and know my pleasure.
Whoever walks with integrity
    will enter my service.