The Pulpit Commentary — Psalms — Volume 2 — Section 311

HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Ver. 5.-" The Lord our God is holy." "This is the last of the series of royal psalms, of psalms which celebrate the coming of Jehovah as King. The first of the series is Ps. xciii. This opens with the announcement that' Jehovah is King;' passes on to tell that his throne has been from everlasting, that he me.de the world, and that he rules it-rules the -raging of the elements and the convulsions of political stri:e, of which that is the figure-and then concludes with one brief glance at his revelation of himself to his people, and the distinguishing glory of the house in which he deigns to dwell, • Holiness beeometh thine house for ever'" (Perowne). Three times over in this psalm is this declaration made of the Lord's holiness: After the setting forth ot his great and terrible Name (ver. 3); then after telling of his equity, judgment, and righteousness (ver. 6); and after the naming of the great saints of God who called on his Name, and to whom a gracious answer was vouchsafed (ver. 9). Consider- !. THE MEANING OF THIS REPEATED WORD, "The Lord our God is holy.'' 1. It tells of his own personal nature and character. That he is of too pure eyes to behold iniquity; that not, as is the case often times with men, holy deeds may hide an unholy heart, but that in all his thoughts, purposes, and in his inmost being, he is holy. 2. Of the constant character of Ms actions. For the trial of his people's faith he may at times seem to favour the ungodly and to cause the unrighteous to prosper, yet this is never because he is really on their side, but for quite other reasons; the main stream of his providential dealing is and has ever been clear on the side of ri~hteousness and holiness, and hence men have learned that the Lord is holy in all his ways, and righteous in all his works. 3. Of his sympathies. Men have believed and been confident that, however dark their circumstances, the love and favour of God, the shining of his countenance, ha\·e been towards his people, and that they knew it (ci". Ps. iv. 6, 7). II. ITS TRUTH. This is shown : 1. By his acts and ways. The review of God"s denlings with men-his teude;: mercies to them that fear him, and bis fierce wrath againRt evil-doers, all have proved this sure truth. 2. By those whom he has chosen to be his chief and most honoured urvants. (See ver. 6.) Not the evil, the worldly, the impure, but such 11s these snints of God here told of. 3. The ritual of the Law. This also taught the same truth. 'f11e gods of the heathen made no pretensions to holiness or dema11d for it, but the Lord demanded it o.\ways and everywhere, and above all thbgs e]S'l. Hence, that this may l:e impressed and indelibly engraved upon the minds 348 THE BOOK OF PSALMS. (PS. XCIX. 1-9,