99:1
Yahweh rules.
Let the peoples quake.
(He [lit., who] is one dwelling [among] the cherubim).
Let the earth shake.
[Verse 1 gives the basic theme of the Psalm, that Yahweh is sovereign, and he rules the whole world. He dwells in heaven (among the cherubim) and is to be feared.]
99:2
Yahweh in Zion [is] great
and he is exalted over all the peoples.
99:3
Let them confess ‘Great [is] your name’
And being feared, it is holy.
99:4
And the strength of the king loves judgement.
You establish uprightnesses, judgement
and you do righteousness in Jacob.
[In verses 2-4, the focus of the Psalm turns to his earthly dwelling place, Zion, Jacob, the dwelling of the Davidic King. Israel was always meant to be a light to the nations. The Psalmist calls on the nations to fear Yahweh as he reveals himself, having chosen Jerusalem and Israel as his kingdom of priests.]
99:5
Raise up Yahweh our God,
and bow down to the footstool of his feet.
Holy is he.
[This refrain is repeated in essence in verse 9, and picks up three key themes. First, raise up Yahweh. He is already high, dwelling among the Cherubim, but we need to attribute to him what is fitting. Second, the footstool may be Jerusalem (cf. verse 9, "the mountain of his holiness"). The nations should bow down to Zion. Third, God is holy. ]
99:6
Moses and Aaron his priest,
and Samuel [who] call[ed] on his name,
[they] call[ed] unto Yahweh
and he answered them.
99:7
With a pillar of cloud he was speaking to them.
They observed his testimony and statute he gave to them.
99:8
Yahweh our God, you answered them,
a forgiving God you are to them,
and avenging their wantonness.
[Verse 6-9 refers to God's relationship with and faithfulness to Israel in history. The Exodus is alluded to with Moses, Aaron, and Samuel, and the pillar of cloud. The theological statement about Yahweh in verse 8 reflects his revelation in Exodus 34 to Moses, that Yahweh forgives wickedness, rebellion, and sin, yet not leaving the guilty unpunished.]
99:9
Raise up Yahweh our God,
and bow down to the mountain of his holiness,
For holy is Yahweh our God.
[Refrain. Compare verse 5]