Praise to the Holy God.

v1-3: God is great and holy. These verses may have been sung responsively;

• Declaration; the Lord reigns;
• Response; let the nations tremble;
• Declaration; He sits enthroned between the cherubim;
• Response; let the earth shake;
• Declaration; Great is the Lord in Zion; He is exalted over all the nations;
• Response; let them praise your great and awesome name;
• Declaration; He is holy.

The final phrase, "He is holy" is repeated in the psalm.

v4-5: God is just and holy. We may rely on His perfect character. He works "in Jacob", i.e. on behalf of His people.

v6: Since God is merciful, we can approach Him. We are given the examples of Moses and Aaron and Samuel; they were priests and prophets. They called upon His Name, and He answered them.

v7: Such grace, that God should speak to people, and reveal His word. The proper response, again exemplified by the three men, was obedience to His word. They also declared His word to His people.

v8-9: God is holy; He will forgive, and He will purify His people. See Jer 46.28 which relates God's dealing with His people. His discipline will never destroy those who are His.