Like a player closing in their hundredth game, a batsmen on their century, a married couple on a milestone anniversary, Psalm 99 is a reflective celebration of the salvation history of the Jewish people.
It’s past, present and future tense: God has been good, God is good, and God will be good forever because all his ways are eternally good.
The geography of his goodness in 99 is both particular, relevant and specific to the people of Israel. The Lord is great in Zion. Worship Him here.
I’m not sure that’s where the Psalm begins, though. I think it begins with all creation. ‘The Lord reigns, let the peoples tremble…let the earth quake’.
It seems like the writer is exhorting the congregation: “Listen up, God reigns over all and if you knew what was good for you, you’d praise His holiness…and, hey, we know know it, so let’s praise Him!”
From there, it’s on to some major milestones in their history: Moses, Aaron and the Exodus; Samuel, who called upon the Lord and is guided by Him; the people of Israel who are directed by a pillar of smoke.
Like any milestone, or memorial, it’s the good stuff that is recalled…but it’s also God’s faithfulness in the stinky mess. The Israelites witnessed some of God’s finest work in the lead up to the Exodus and the miraculous signs that followed, but they also endured centuries of patiently waiting for God to do something while buckling under oppression and slavery. Generations who knew the God of their forefathers, but were surely wondering if He still did stuff like he used to.
Psalm 99 is on the other side of that, but you mightn’t be. As much grace as you’ve received, as much mercy and love as you’ve been blessed with, you could be reading 99 thinking ‘How long, O Lord?’, ‘is there another side to the stinky mess?’.
The good news is Jesus. The good news is yes and yes. The good news is not a diminishing of the stinky mess, it is a greater joy that lies both within and beyond the circumstances. The ‘all things’ that Paul writes of in Romans 8:28 isn’t referring to the good stuff alone, but the sucky stuff as well. The betrayal and abandonment, the loss and the grief, the mourning and the dancing, the failure and the faithfulness.
We have a living hope. It’s a beautiful thing. Sometimes it’s beautiful in a top-of-the-mountain-fist-pumping kind of way, sometimes it’s beautiful in a bottom-of-the-valley-chest-thumping kinds of way. But He is here. He is good. He is faithful. And He has said ‘yes’ to you.
99 is a reminder that just beyond where you are is more love, for His steadfast love endures forever. Waves of mercy. Waves of grace.