Ps. 99.2 (Yhwh in Zion)

Yhwh / in Zion / is the Great One
and exalted / over all peoples. 

This verse exhibits much of the dynamic we spoke about in the previous reflection—of Israel not being merely a nation-among-the-nations because her covenant-God is not merely a god-among-the-gods. Here, the Yhwh who “reigns” and before whom all of humanity (all of Adam) and all of creation quake, the “Great One” is in Zion. This does not in any way lessen or diminish the fact that he is “exalted over all peoples”. Contained within this contrast is the astonishment of David when Yhwh first declared that he would reside in a Temple, that overwhelming graciousness of Yhwh, whom even the heavens can’t contain, decides (elects) to ‘dwell in Zion’. In some mysterious fashion this exhibits the wonder of the Philippian hymn, when it describes Christ’s “becoming flesh”. Here, Zion represents Yhwh ‘emptying himself’ in such a way as to dwell in the Temple. This may, however, obscure something important—there is no sense of a ‘loss’ on Yhwh’s part in this psalm. The “Cherubim-Enthroned-One” rules with just the same overwhelming authority. Now, he does it in Zion. It is this fact that begins the transformation of Zion and Israel—to the extent that Yhwh ‘comes down’ to them are they ‘raised up’ into his realm. Zion is no longer merely a city-among-cities, a mountain-among-mountains, a temple-among-temples—while it may exhibit similarities with other cities/mountains/temples, there is a profound and deep discontinuity to Zion that limns the same discontinuity of Yhwh and the other ‘gods’. In other words, Zion will be the mountain ‘exalted above all mountains’ just as, here, Yhwh is “exalted over all peoples”. This is the explosive and transformational power of Yhwh’s Presence and Name. As the psalm progresses, Yhwh will be seen to more and more ‘indwell’ Israel. Here, it is in Zion. Later it will be through ‘equity and justice in Jacob’, the arc of the covenant (his footstool), then in his priesthood (Moses and Aaron), and his prophets (?) Samuel. As Yhwh will ‘expand’ into Israel (in blessing and judgment), Israel will ‘expand’ into Yhwh’s reign and rule.