Chapter 99

Psalm to David in Confession. David in this psalm offers advice to those who have already begun to believe - to give thanks for what has already been done. For “confession” here means thanksgiving given with praise. Ps.99:1. Shout to God, all the earth. Commands the redeemed to sing a song of victory; and the redeemed are the entire human race. For he calls those who live on earth “earth.” Ps.99:2. Work for the Lord in joy. Enslavement to people produces corrupting fear, but enslavement to the Lord produces immaculate fear, which brings joy to the soul. Come before Him with joy. Whoever has already accepted with his mind the joy of the exclamation, he, as if standing before Christ, rejoices with joy. Ps.99:3. Know that the Lord is our God. This Lord, who redeemed the whole earth with His blood, is also our Creator. For we did not come into existence by chance, but we are the work of His hands. Therefore, we are His “people”, and His “sheep”, and those of us are people who are intelligent, and those sheep who still remain among the dumb and have not experienced the Divine words, according to what was said: “We have gone astray, like a lost sheep” (Ps. 119:176). We are His people and the sheep of His pasture. Some are “His people”, these are the most perfect; others are “sheep of His pasture”, these are those standing on the lowest level. However, as God and the Creator of all, He calls everyone and appropriates them to Himself; for “the Lord saves men and beasts” (Ps. 35:7), some as His people, others as “the sheep of His pasture.” Ps.99:4. Enter into His gates in confession. He calls the earthly Church “the Gates of the Lord,” in which we must make confession and tell the blessings that have been to us. You might be interested in: