He is Holy – Psalm 99:3 – Collection of Commentaries

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He is Holy – Psalm 99:3

November 30, 2024

Psalms

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Psalm 99:3 NKJV

Let them praise Your great and awesome name—
He is holy.

“Let them praise thy great and terrible name:” The well-instructed servants of Jehovah praise him in all the aspects of his character, whether terrible or tender. Grace streaming from the mercy-seat can alone work in us this admirable frame of mind.

“For it is holy,” or “He is holy.” In him is no flaw or fault, excess or deficiency, error or iniquity. He is wholly excellent and is therefore called holy. In his words, thoughts, acts, and revelations as well as in himself, he is perfection itself. O come let us worship and bow down before him. (Spurgeon)

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Let them praise Your great and awesome name: God rightfully receives praise because of His greatness and because He is holy. (Guzik)

He is holy: Holiness, at its root, has the idea of apartness. It describes someone, or something, which is set apart from other people or things. An object can be holy if it is set apart for sacred service. A person is holy if he is set apart for God’s will and purpose. Guzik)

ii. “Holy is a word to emphasize the distance between God and man: not only morally, as between the pure and the polluted, but in the realm of being, between the eternal and the creaturely.” (Kidner)

iii. God Himself is set apart in many senses. He is set apart from creation, in that the Lord God is not a creature, and He exists outside of all creation. If all creation were to dissolve, the Lord God would remain. He is set apart from humanity, in that His nature or essence is Divine, not human. God is not a superman or the ultimate man. God is not merely smarter than any man, stronger than any man, older than any man, or better than any man. You can’t measure God on man’s chart at all. He is Divine, and we are human. Guzik)

iv. God’s holiness is a part of everything He is and does. God’s power is a holy power. God’s love is a holy love. God’s wisdom is a holy wisdom. Holiness is not an aspect of God’s personality; it is the essence of His entire Being. Guzik)

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Let them praise thy great and terrible name – The word rendered “terrible” means “to be feared or reverenced;” that is, his name – his being – he himself – is suited to inspire awe and reverence. The word “them” here refers to the nations over whom God reigns. It is a call on them to praise their king and their God.

For it is holy – See the notes at Isaiah 6:3; notes at Revelation 4:8. The fact that God “is” holy – that he is pure and righteous – that he cannot look upon sin but with abhorrence – is a just foundation for universal praise. Who could worship or honor a God who was not pure and holy? (Barnes)

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Let them praise thy great and terrible name,…. All people, especially the Lord’s people; those that dwell in Zion, where his name is great, in high esteem, venerable, and valued; as his name Jesus, or Savior, is amiable and lovely to his saints; and his name, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, is terrible to his enemies:

for it is holy; his name is holy, as well as reverend and great; his nature is holy, both divine and human; holy in all his ways and works; and is holiness to his people, and therefore worthy of praise; holiness is the ground and foundation of his praise from the seraphim, Isaiah 6:3.

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The holiness of God’s name makes it truly great to his friends and terrible to his enemies, v. 3. This is that which those above adore- holy, holy, holy. (Henry)

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For it is holy. — קדוש הוא kadosh hu. As this not only ends this verse but the fifth also, and in effect the ninth, it seems to be a species of chorus which was sung in a very solemn manner at the conclusion of each of these parts. His holiness, immaculate purity of his nature, was the reason why he should be exalted, praised, and worshipped. (Clarke)

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Geneva Bible 1560

Psalms 99:3

3 They shal b praise thy great and fearful Name (for it is holie)

b Though the wicked rage against God, yet the godly shall praise his Name, and mighty power.

Farewell:

The Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Grace be with you. Amen.

2 Timothy 4:22 NKJV