Psalm 99: Transformation

 On this Last Sunday of the Season of Epiphany we are confronted with the Glory of the Lord in all the readings. In the reading from Exodus, Moses is called up onto Mount Sinai and into the presence of God which was like a devouring fire on the top of the mountain in the sight of the people of Israel. Moses entered the cloud, and went up on the mountain. (Exodus 24:17-18)

The Gospel account is the Transfiguration event as told in Matthew 17. In the Second Letter of Peter, we hear the author recount what happened to Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration where He received honor and glory from God the Father when that voice was conveyed to him by the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is my Son, my Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.” We ourselves heard this voice come from heaven, while we were with him on the holy mountain. (2 Peter 1:17-18) This rendering of the Transfiguration is by Munir Alawi.

There are two options for the Psalm for this Sunday. Either Psalm 2 or Psalm 99, both of which speak of the glory and power of God. I chose Psalm 99 because I couldn’t get past the imagery from Handel's Messiah where the bass solo sings, “The kings of the earth rise up and the rulers take council together, against the Lord and His anointed.” This is followed by a couple more movements before the grand Hallelujah Chorus. 

Psalm 99 calls us to remember that Yahweh is enthroned above the cherubim…exalted above all the people (as the Legacy Standard Bible puts it). The Psalmist reminds us that the King loves justice, established equity [and] done justice. As we enter Lent in just a few days, we are reminded, God is a forgiving God…yet an avenger of their evil deeds. Exalt Yahweh our God And worship at His holy mountain, For holy is Yahweh our God.

In our preparations for Ash Wednesday and Lent, we do well to consider where we have fallen short of justice, equity, righteousness, and worship. On this Sunday we are reminded of the Transformative Glory of God. We can ponder our response to that Holiness.

Psalm 99 The Lord is King; let the people tremble; * he is enthroned upon the cherubim; let the earth shake. The Lord is great in Zion; * he is high above all peoples. Let them confess his Name, which is great and awesome; * he is the Holy One. “O mighty King, lover of justice, you have established equity; * you have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob.” Proclaim the greatness of the Lord our God and fall down before his footstool; * he is the Holy One. Moses and Aaron among his priests, and Samuel among those who call upon his Name, * they called upon the Lord, and he answered them. He spoke to them out of the pillar of cloud; *  they kept his testimonies and the decree that he gave them. “O Lord our God, you answered them indeed; * you were a God who forgave them,  yet punished them for their evil deeds.” Proclaim the greatness of the Lord our God and worship him upon his holy hill; * for the Lord our God is the Holy One.                  (Episcopal Book of Common Prayer)

Yahweh reigns, let the peoples tremble; He sits enthroned above the cherubim, let the earth quake! Yahweh is great in Zion, And He is exalted above all the peoples. Let them praise Your great and awesome name; Holy is He. The strength of the King loves justice; You have established equity; You have done justice and righteousness in Jacob. Exalt Yahweh our God And worship at the footstool of His feet; Holy is He. Moses and Aaron were among His priests, And Samuel was among those who called on His name; They would call upon Yahweh and He would answer them. He would speak to them in the pillar of cloud; They kept His testimonies And the statute that He gave them. O Yahweh our God, You answered them; You were a forgiving God to them, And yet an avenger of their evil deeds. Exalt Yahweh our God And worship at His holy mountain, For holy is Yahweh our God. (Legacy Standard Bible)