Psalms 99 · The Lantern

The LORD Reigns!

The LORD reigns; let the peoples tremble. He sits on the cherubim; let the earth quake.

The LORD is great in Zion, and he is high above all the peoples.

Let them give thanks to your name — great and fearful. He is holy.

And the strength of a king who loves judgment — you yourself have established uprightness; judgment and righteousness in Jacob you yourself have done.

Exalt the LORD our God, and bow down at the footstool of his feet. He is holy.

And the apostles worshiped, and, therefore, they who bore the testimony of the faith received authority of faith. And the angels worshiped God, of whom it is written: "And let all his angels worship him."But they worship not only his Godhead but also his footstool, as it is written: "And worship his footstool, for it is holy." Or, if they deny that in Christ the mysteries also…

And adore the footstool of his feet, for it is holy. What is this footstool of the feet of Jesus, which is holy? We read in another place: 'Heaven is my throne, but the earth is the footstool of my feet.' And now it is said, Adore the footstool of his feet.

"O magnify the Lord our God" [Psalm 99:5]. Magnify Him truly, magnify Him well. Let us praise Him, let us magnify Him who has wrought the very righteousness which we have; who wrought it in us, Himself. For who but He who justified us, wrought righteousness in us?

Moses and Aaron among his priests, and Samuel among those who call on his name — they called to the LORD, and he himself answered them.

WHETHER SAMUEL WAS ONE OF THE SONS OF AARON, AND WHETHER HE IS TO BE CONSIDERED A PRIEST? — There are some among us who, partly occupied with secular affairs and partly less studious concerning the Holy Scriptures, fall into error, thinking that Samuel was a priest, that is, that he traced his origin from Aaron, whose offspring the Lord God ordained should be born priests, not…

Moses and Aaron among his priests, and Samuel among those who call upon his name. Many err, and think that blessed Samuel was a priest. He was not a priest, he was a Levite. Finally, even his garment was not made as for a priest, but as for a Levite. For it is written: 'And his mother made for him,' it says, 'an ephod bad garment.' Ephod means garment, but bad means linen.

"Moses and Aaron among His priests, and Samuel among such as call upon His Name: these called upon the Lord, and He heard them" (ver. 6). "He spake unto them out of the cloudy pillar" (ver. 7). ...Of Moses it is not there stated that he was a priest. But if he was not this, what was he? Could he be anything greater than a priest?

In a pillar of cloud he spoke to them; they kept his testimonies and the statute he gave them.

LORD our God, you yourself answered them; a forgiving God you were to them, and one who avenged their deeds.

Exalt the LORD our God, and bow down at his holy mountain, for the LORD our God is holy.

Psalms99

The LORD Reigns!