And the strength of the king that loveth justice. *Thou* hast established equity it is thou that executest judgment and righteousness in Jacob.
The psalm has been building to one moment: the King takes His throne. Verse 4 describes the power on that throne — strength that loves justice, and a rule that carries justice out, not just declares it.
The verse describes a rule already at work, not just promised. One writer reads it as the reign of the Messiah:
Psalm 99, though simple in its character, contains some important principles. Jehovah now reigns, not only by making heavenly power visible, but by establishing that power as king upon the earth. He now sits between the cherubim as He did before in Israel. He is great in Zion and high above all peoples… Further, the King — Messiah, but still Jehovah — loves judgment. He establishes equity, and executes judgment and righteousness in Jacob. So Jehovah, the God of Jacob, was to be exalted, and in Jerusalem.
Another writer names the place He rules from, and how His people feel about His rule:
He is now in Jerusalem. He is in the temple, sitting between the cherubim and judging in peace. Everything is done just as their hearts would desire.
Older translations read the line as "the king's strength loves judgment," where the ESV has "The King in his might loves justice." One writer treats that phrase as poetry with a point:
Might and right are wedded at last, in a rule with absolute authority. No one need shrink from it except the wicked. For "the king's strength loves judgment" — a beautiful poetic phrase that strangely seems to puzzle the commentators. "You have established equity; You have executed judgment and righteousness in Jacob."
Another writer says what a rule like that asks of those under it:
These verses present the character of His rule. His name is great and holy, and His reign matches His name: power used in righteous judgment… The glory of the One who rules calls not only for submission, but for worship at the footstool of His throne, and again we hear the reminder: He is holy.
The verse names two things: equity established, and judgment carried out. One writer points to the gap between the two in human hands:
"The King's strength also loves justice." He loves to discern what is right and good in contrast to the evil that is so common (v. 4). In reigning He has established equity, equal justice for all mankind. Not only has He established such principles, He has put them into execution. Men often have good laws, but cannot enforce them. The authority of the Lord Jesus will be completely different. He will allow no breaking of His decrees. This surely gives good reason for mankind to exalt and worship the Lord our God in His absolute holiness.
If the reign is one of peace, why must the King's strength love judgment at all? One writer answers:
The Lord will reign then, and there will be peace and prosperity, joy and gladness on every hand. The devil will be bound in the bottomless pit, so that he may not tempt man to evil. Yet despite all this, sin will not be entirely done away. And so we read in Psalm 99, "The Lord reigns; let the peoples tremble… The King's strength also loves judgment."
Judgment falls first "in Jacob" — in Israel. One writer shows how far its light then reaches:
In the appearing of Messiah's glory, the full rays of the divine holiness will shine out upon the furthest families of the nations. Long ago that holiness dwelt hidden in Israel's tabernacle, veiled from every eye, even from the tribes of His own inheritance. For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of Jehovah, as the waters cover the sea (Hab. 2:14).
- Seated. The King is not campaigning for power. He has come, taken His throne, and rules from Jerusalem.
- Wedded. Strength and justice, so often divorced in human hands, meet in Him: a rule no one need fear except the wicked.
- Enforced. He does not merely establish equity; He executes it — unlike men, who make good laws they cannot uphold.
- Necessary. Judgment still has work to do in that day, because even under His reign sin is not entirely gone.
- Worshipped. A rule that loves right and enforces it calls for more than submission. It draws worship at His footstool — and again the reminder: He is holy.
Exalt Jehovah our God, and worship at his footstool. He is holy!
In Psalm 99 the Lord has taken His place in Jerusalem, seated between the cherubim. Verse 5 is the response that follows: lift Him high, and bow low at His feet. Three questions follow. What is this "footstool"? Who does the call reach? And why does it end on the word holy?
The psalms around this one move in order, and by Psalm 99 the King has arrived and sat down.
Psalm 96 summons the nations. In Psalm 97 He is coming. In Psalm 98 He is come. He has shown His righteousness, He has remembered His mercy. In Psalm 99 He has come and made His salvation known. He sits between the cherubim, taking His place in Jerusalem. Then Psalm 100 summons the nations to come up and worship in peace.
Scripture uses the word in two ways, and only one is about worship.
The usual accompaniment of a throne. 2 Chronicles 9:18. The earth is the footstool of God's throne in the heavens. Isaiah 66:1; Matthew 5:35. It stands for "the place of rest." David had it on his heart to build a house of rest for the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and for the "footstool" of God. There God could find rest among His people, and there He was to be worshipped. 1 Chronicles 28:2; Psalm 99:5. It also stands for "subjection to power." The Lord Jesus must reign until all His enemies are made His footstool.
The footstool has an address on earth, and a purpose for the nations.
Verse 5 states the holiness of Jerusalem. It is the footstool of Jehovah, and the appointed place where the nations gather to worship His name.
A ruler this powerful could demand obedience alone. The call here goes further.
These verses present the character of His rule. His name is great and holy; His reign matches His name: He will use His power in righteous judgment. Man so often splits might and right apart. Under the rule of Christ, the King, they come together at last. The glory of the One who rules calls not only for submission, but for worship at the footstool of His throne. Again we are reminded that He is holy.
The peoples praise His name in this psalm. Verse 5 goes nearer: our God. (Older translations read verse 3 as "it is holy," of the name, and verse 5 as "He is holy.")
The peoples praise His Name. "It is holy." But there are those who can say, "Jehovah our God"; and in a nearer, more intimate way can say, "He is holy" (v. 5). They worship at His footstool — at the hill of His holiness.
If He is holy, who may come near Him? The answer is not a lowered standard.
This Psalm celebrates the majesty of Jehovah, the Holy One of Israel. The Psalm before it gave us the praise of the glory of His grace. Israel is a nation of worshippers with sandals removed. Through the blood of the covenant they are made partakers of the holiness they praise. Here they are heard exalting the name of Him who dwells between the cherubim.
The same holiness tests how people worship now.
Is this not the sin of the professing Christian world in the way it worships our God? Do those who do not believe share in serving in the holy things? How humbling for the people of God to mix the holy with the unholy, and to let those who do not believe into the house of God! What a dishonour to Him of whom it is said: "Holiness befits your house, O LORD," for: "Holy is Jehovah our God."
- Throne — The King has come and made His salvation known. He is seated in Jerusalem. Worship follows His arrival; it does not wait for it.
- Footstool — It is the place of rest, where God settles among His people and is worshipped. It is also the picture of enemies put under His feet. The same place means welcome, or it means subjection.
- Place — Jerusalem is that footstool. There the nations are appointed to gather and worship His name.
- Worship — His glory asks more than submission. Man tears might and right apart; the rule of Christ joins them. So exalt Him, and bow.
- Holy — "Holy is he" does not shut the worshipper out. Through the blood of the covenant, worshippers are made partakers of the holiness they praise. That is why mixing holy with unholy in worship dishonours Him.