Henry Ainsworth on Psalms 99:1-9

PSAL. XCIX.

IEhovah reigneth, the peoples are stirred: he sitteth on the Cherubims, the earth is moved. Iehovah is great in Sion, and high he is above all the peoples. Let thē confesse thy name, great and fearefull, holy it is. And the strength of the King loveth judgement: thou hast stablished righteousnesses, thou hast done in Iakob judgement and justice. Exalt yee Iehovah our God, and bow downe your selves at the footstoole of his feet, holy he is. Moses and Aaron, with his Priests, and Samuel, with them that call on his name: they called upon Iehovah, and hee answered them. In the pillar of a cloud hee spake unto them; they kept his testimonies, & the decree he gave them. Iehovah our God, thou answeredst them, a God forgiving thou wast unto them, and taking vengeance on their practises. Exalt yee Iehovah our God, and bow downe your selves at the mountaine of his holinesse, for Iehovah our God is holy.

Annotations. ARestirred] or, though they be stirred, to wit, with anger; as the Greeke translateth, be angry: see Psal. 4. 5. This is opened in Rev. 11. 17, 18. thou (Lord) reignest, and the nations are angry. Thus the wicked are affected, but the godly doe rejoyce, Psal. 97. 1. he sitteth] or, even hee that sitteth on the Cherubims, reigneth: see Psal. 80. 2. is moved] with indignation, stirred up to resist, as Act. 17. 13. Vers. 4. the strength] this is joyned with Gods wrath, Ezr. 8. 22. and here seemeth to have like meaning, that God is strong to punish in judgement the rebellious, and defend his people. V. 5. at the footstoole] or toward it, meaning the Sanctuary and Arke there, Esa. 60. 13. 1 Chron. 28. 2. Lam. 2. 1. Psal. 132. 7. Ezek. 43. 7. he is] as is expressed, vers. 8. or it (the temple) is holy. V. 6. with his Priests] or, among his principall officers; see the like phrase in Ps. 54. 6. The Hebrew Cohén, wch we call a Priest. or Saerificer, is the name of the kings chiefe officer, as in 2 Sa. 8. 18. Davids sons were Cohéns (chiefe Rulers, Aularchai as the Greek termeth them) which is expounded in 1 Chro. 18. 17. to be the first (or Chiefe) at the Kings hand. It hath the name of ministration, Esa. 61. 6. 10. & was a title specially given to Aaron and his sonnes, that ministred unto God in the Sanctuary, Exod. 28. 3, 4, 41. called] or were calling, that is, prayed for the people, as Exod. 32. 11, &c. Numb. 14 17, 19. and 16. 22, 46. 1 Sam. 7. 9. and 12. 19, 23. Hereupon Moses and Samuel were noted for chiefe intercessours with God, Ier. 15. 1. So the Chaldee here expounds it, his Priests which gave their lives for the Lords people; and Samuel prayed to the Lord for them, as the fathers of old, which prayed in his name. V. 7. of a cloud] as Exod. 33. 9. Num. 16. 42. and this noteth Gods favour, but with some obscurity; and so is inferiour to the mediation of Christ, who hath without clouds or shadowes obtained eternall redemption for us, that we may goe boldly to the throne of grace, for to receive mercy & finde grace to helpe in time of need, Heb. 4. 14, 16. and 7. 25. and 9. 11, 12. Vers. 8. a God for giving] a mighty God that pardonedst or tookest away, to wit, the punishment of their sin: see Psal. 25. 18. and taking] or though thou tookest vengeance. on their practises] theirs, that is, the peoples, for whom Moses prayed, as Num. 14. 20, 21, 23. Exod. 32. 14, 34, 35. or theirs, that is, Moses and Aarons sinnes, which God punished, and would not be intreated, as Num. 20. 12. Deut. 3. 23, 24, 25, 26.