An Awesome Throne (vv. 1-3). Jehovah sits upon the throne in heaven (9:11; 110:2; 146:10), but in the psalmist’s day, He was also enthroned on the mercy seat in the Holy of Holies of the sanctuary on Mount Zion (see 80:1; 1 Sam. 4:4; 2 Sam. 6:2; 2 Kings 19:15 [Isa. 37:16]; 1 Chron. 13:6). It was there that God’s glory rested, and from there God spoke to Moses and ruled the nation of Israel (Num. 7:89). God chose the Jews to be His vehicle for telling the Gentile nations about the true and living God, and God chose Mount Zion to be His dwelling place. The prophet Isaiah saw the heavenly throne (Isa. 6), and so did the prophet Ezekiel (Ezek. 1). The name “Lord” is used seven times in this psalm, for God made His covenant with Israel alone, and they were His special people. “Salvation is of the Jews” (John 4:22). When the Gentiles beheld what God did for Israel, they should have trembled with awe and put their trust in Him (96:9; 114:7). God’s throne is awesome because He is holy (Lev. 11:44-45; 1 Peter 1:15-16). “The Holy One of Israel” is a name found thirty times in the book of Isaiah. The word holy means “separate, set apart, totally different.” God’s nature is “wholly other,” yet He was willing to dwell with His people and meet their needs. (Note the repetition of “he is holy” [vv. 3, 5, 9], and see Isa. 6:3.)