Patrick Comerford
Before this day begins, I am taking some time this morning to continue my reflections in this season of Easter, including my morning reflections drawing on the Psalms.
In my blog, I am reflecting each morning in this Prayer Diary in these ways:
1, Short reflections on a psalm or psalms;
2, reading the psalm or psalms;
3, a prayer from the USPG prayer diary.
Psalm 99:
Psalm 99 is sometimes known by its Latin name Dominus regnavit. In the slightly different numbering system in the Greek Septuagint and Latin Vulgate, this psalm is counted as Psalm 98.
Psalm 99 is the sixth in a series of six psalms (Psalms 93-99) that are called royal psalms because they praise God as King. Psalm 99 has no title in the Masoretic text version, but the Septuagint provides a title: ‘A psalm of David.’
This psalm is a hymn of praise to God as king. The endings of verses 3, 5 and 9 may be a refrain for the worshippers as they praise God. God, on his throne above the cherubim, is to be praised by ‘all the peoples’ (verse 2).
God has helped people in their need (verses 6, 8), given them just laws (verse 7), and has punished and forgiven people where appropriate (verse 8).
Moses, Aaron and Samuel, who are named in verse 6, were known for communicating with God and were his representatives. They represent the ‘three crowns’ of leadership, prophethood, priesthood and kingship. Moses was the greatest of the prophets, Aaron the first of the priests, and Samuel the man who anointed Israel’s first kings, Samuel and David.
God’s holy mountain (verse 9) is Mount Zion, the hill on which Jerusalem is built.
Psalm 99 is recited in its entirety as the fifth paragraph of Kabbalat Shabbat (קַבָּלַת שַׁבָּת), welcoming the Shabbat.
Psalm 99 (NRSVA):
1 The Lord is king; let the peoples tremble!
He sits enthroned upon the cherubim; let the earth quake!
2 The Lord is great in Zion;
he is exalted over all the peoples.
3 Let them praise your great and awesome name.
Holy is he!
4 Mighty King, lover of justice,
you have established equity;
you have executed justice
and righteousness in Jacob.
5 Extol the Lord our God;
worship at his footstool.
Holy is he!
6 Moses and Aaron were among his priests,
Samuel also was among those who called on his name.
They cried to the Lord, and he answered them.
7 He spoke to them in the pillar of cloud;
they kept his decrees,
and the statutes that he gave them.
8 O Lord our God, you answered them;
you were a forgiving God to them,
but an avenger of their wrongdoings.
9 Extol the Lord our God,
and worship at his holy mountain;
for the Lord our God is holy.
Today’s Prayer:
The theme in this week’s prayer diary of the Anglican mission agency USPG (United Society Partners in the Gospel) is ‘Global Day of Parents.’
The USPG Prayer Diary this morning (2 June 2022) invites us to pray:
We pray for those who have chosen not to have children. May we recognise the dignity of this choice and not seek to question others on this sensitive subject.
Yesterday’s reflection
Continued tomorrow
Scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicised Edition copyright © 1989, 1995, National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. http://nrsvbibles.org
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