The LORD is Great in Zion, And He is high above all the peoples. Psalm 99:2
To God Almighty be the glory for bringing us to the fourth month of this year 2022. In January, the theme was “God’s Presence,” “Divine Wisdom” in February, and “Power to March Forward” in March. This month, the theme is “The LORD is Great in Zion.” I pray that the Lord will always manifest His greatness in your life in Jesus’ name (Psalm 99:2).
We have every reason to celebrate the Lord. In Psalm 99, the Lord is celebrated as “He who was, as He who is and as He who is to come” (Hebrews 13:8). The psalmist encouraged everyone to exalt the Lord with praise because He is holy and because He mercifully answers His people’s prayers.
Let us read Psalm 99:1-9
1 The LORD reigns; Let the people tremble! He dwells between the cherubim; Let the earth be moved!
2 The LORD is great in Zion, And He is high above all the peoples.
3 Let them praise Your great and awesome name– He is holy.
4 The King’s strength also loves justice; You have established equity; You have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob.
5 Exalt the LORD our God, And worship at His footstool– He is holy.
6 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.
7 He spoke to them in the cloudy pillar; They kept His testimonies and the ordinance He gave them.
8 You answered them, O LORD our God; You were to them God-Who-Forgives, Though You took vengeance on their deeds.
9 Exalt the LORD our God, And worship at His holy hill; For the LORD, our God is holy.
Mount Zion is a city which king David carved out for himself where both his palace and the Temple of God were built. Physically, it is the highest place in Jerusalem. But Spiritually, Mount Zion constitutes a set of people from all walks of life; it is a church within the church. Hebrews 12:22 says “But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven.”
In Mount Zion, there is fellowship with “God the Judge of all, the Holy Spirit dwelling in just men made perfect, and with Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and washed with the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel.” (Hebrews 12:22-24). 1 Peter 2:9-10 tells us that those who fellowship in Mount Zion are “a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” These are people saved and delivered by grace, who live a holy life with prosperity, “But on Mount Zion there shall be deliverance, And there shall be holiness; The house of Jacob shall possess their possessions (Obadiah 1:17).
The Lord is great in Zion (Psalm 99:2), He is a great God above all other gods, a self-existing God, the Creator who was not created. The unchangeable Changer. The Lord reigns over the Universe and over all His creations. This is the essence of the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ to the whole world. For all power is given unto the Lord Jesus in heaven and in earth (Matthew 28:16). For the LORD is great and greatly to be praised; He is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the peoples are idols, But the LORD made the heavens (Psalm 96:4-5). The greatness of the Lord is portrayed in His love and the glory He displayed in redemption through His Son Jesus Christ (John 3:16; 1:12).
The Lord’s greatness is revealed in His holiness. In Psalm 99, “He is holy,” are repeated three times in verses 3, 5 and 9. There is none holy like the Lord; there is none besides Him; there is no rock like our God. If we are going to be consecrated to the Lord, if God is to manifest His greatness in our lives, it is vital to remember that our Lord is holy and He expects us to be holy, too. Our lives are to be patterned after Him. If people are going to see Christ in our lives, if He is going to be glorified in us, then we need to live like Him. We are His ambassadors. “Be ye holy,” is a command to be obeyed. We are urged repeatedly to be like the Lord.
My beloved in Christ Jesus, it is time for us to know who we serve. God loves us; therefore, we need to show our love to Him in our worship, in our service and dedication. Paul the Apostle was disturbed when he walked into a city and saw the inscription, “to the unknown God,” Acts 17:23. But Daniel 11:32b says, “those who know their God shall be strong and do exploits.” Trust in the Lord, and call upon Him, He will deliver you and you will not be put to shame. For they that trust in the LORD shall be as mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abides forever (Psalm 125:1).
I welcome you to the month of April 2022, May the Lord manifest His greatness in your life in Jesus’ name.
Yours in Him,
Pastor Lillian Haastrup
