#230 CHRIST THE HOLY KING 10-3-26
Psalm 99 is a psalm of majesty. It lifts our eyes above the noise of earth and places them before the throne of God. Three times this psalm declares that He is holy. It speaks of a King who reigns, a people who worship, and a God who answers when His people call.
And when we read Psalm 99 through the light of the New Testament, we see something beautiful. The King who reigns is revealed to us in Jesus Christ. Christ is not merely a teacher to looks at or a Savior to call upon when life falls apart. He is the Holy King.
THE REIGN OF CHRIST
“THE LORD REIGNS; Let the peoples tremble! He dwells between the cherubim; Let the earth be moved!” (Psalm 99:1).
The first truth Psalm 99 places before us is the reign of God. The throne is occupied. The King is not absent. Heaven has not lost control.
The New Testament identifies Jesus with this royal authority. After His resurrection, Jesus declared, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth” (Matthew 28:18). Paul said that God “raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 1:20).
Christ reigns.
That changes the way we face life. The world may appear chaotic, but Christ is still King. Nations rise and fall. Circumstances change. People disappoint us. Plans collapse. But the throne of Christ remains.
Hebrews 12:28 says, “Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.”
We are not serving a defeated King.
We belong to a kingdom that cannot be shaken.
THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF CHRIST
Psalm 99:4 says, “The King’s strength also loves justice; You have established equity; You have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob.”
The King does not merely possess power. His power is joined to righteousness.
That is one of the great differences between the kingdoms of men and the kingdom of Christ. Human power can be corrupted. Human authority can become selfish. Human judgment can be distorted by appearances, prejudice, ignorance, or pride.
But Christ is righteous.
When Jesus walked among men, He did not judge according to outward appearance. He knew what was in man (John 2:24-25). He could look upon the proud and call them to repentance. He could look upon the broken and offer mercy. He could confront sin without becoming sinful Himself.
Hebrews 4:15 says that we have a High Priest who “was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.”
Jesus understands humanity without becoming corrupted by humanity.
At the cross, we see the righteousness of Christ in its fullest expression. “Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God” (1 Peter 3:18).
The Just One died for the unjust.
That is righteousness reaching down to rescue sinners.
THE RESPONSE TO CHRIST
Psalm 99 does not merely tell us who God is. It tells us how His people should respond.
“Exalt the LORD our God, And worship at His footstool—He is holy” (Psalm 99:5).
Again, the psalm says, “Exalt the LORD our God, And worship at His holy hill; For the LORD our God is holy” (Psalm 99:9).
The proper response to the Holy King is worship.
When we understand who Jesus is, worship is no longer something we simply attend. It becomes the posture of our lives.
Thomas saw the risen Christ and said, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28).
Paul wrote that God has highly exalted Jesus and given Him “the name which is above every name,” so that “at the name of Jesus every knee should bow” and “every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord” (Philippians 2:9-11).
Christ deserves more than casual admiration.
He deserves our allegiance.
Psalm 99 gives us another remarkable truth. It says, “Moses and Aaron were among His priests, And Samuel was among those who called upon His name; They called upon the LORD, and He answered them” (Psalm 99:6).
The God who reigns is also the God who hears.
That truth finds its fulfillment in Christ. Jesus taught His disciples to pray to the Father in His name (John 16:23). Hebrews tells us that we can come “boldly to the throne of grace” (Hebrews 4:16).
The Holy King is not a distant King. He hears. He answers. He receives those who come to Him.
Psalm 99 ends where it began, with holiness: “Exalt the LORD our God, And worship at His holy hill; For the LORD our God is holy.”
And that is where Christ brings us.
He is the King who reigns, the Righteous One who redeems, and the Lord who receives our worship.
The world may offer many things to admire, follow, and fear. But there is only one throne before which every knee will ultimately bow.
Jesus is King.
Jesus is righteous.
Jesus is holy.
And because Christ is King, we can live with confidence. Because Christ is righteous, we can trust His judgment. Because Christ is holy, we should approach Him with reverence.
The throne is occupied.
The King is reigning.
And His name is Jesus.
_________________
Lord Jesus, You are our holy King. Help us trust Your reign, follow Your righteousness, and worship You with reverence and joy. Keep our hearts humble before Your throne, and let our lives proclaim that You alone are worthy. Amen.
BDD
