Bellarmine on Psalm 99 : Title, theme and verse 1

Title and subject matter

Titulus et argumentum

A psalm of praise.

Psalmus in confessione.

To this title, which is in the Hebrew codices, the Greeks add the words of David. The subject matter is revealed in the title, for the Prophet is urging the people of God to make a frequent and diligent profession of their praising for God, firstly because God created us, next because He feeds us, next because His recollection is most sweet, and His mercy and faithfulness to us has no end.

Verse 1

Sing joyfully to God, all the earth: serve ye the Lord with gladness.

Jubilate Deo, omnis terra; servite Domino in laetitia.

To sing joyfully, as we have often said, is to sing with a loud and joyful voice; to serve in gladness is to be obedient, not through fear, but through love. “Sing joyfully to God, all the earth,” that is, all ye who truly worship God, wheresoever in the whole world ye may be, praise ye the Lord: there are good and bad men in the whole world, for cockles are mixed in with the wheat, and thorns with the lilies. And just as in the world the wicked blaspheme and murmur against God, when something happens not in accord with their wishes; so it is right that the good in the world should praise and bless the Lord whatever may befall them: “to them that love God, all things work together unto good, to such as, according to his purpose, are called to be saints.” according to the witness of Bl Paul in Romans viii.[1]  “Serve ye the Lord with gladness,”  that is, serve by obeying God not under compulsion but willingly, not with bitterness like slaves, but with joy, like free men: for, as St. Augustine says most beautifully: Truth hath set us free, but love hath enslaved us: and he who serves from love, serves with joy. In truth, the principal reason why God is to be served with gladness is this, because the highest of His commandments is love, and nothing is sweeter than love. It happens that servitude to God is beneficial to us but of no benefit to God; so that it may truly be said “To serve God is to rule.” 

[1] He shall judge the world with justice, and the people with his truth.  Judicabit orbem terrae in aequitate, et populos in veritate sua.[Ps. XCV. 13]

Totus tuus ego sum

Et omnia mea tua sunt;

Tecum semper tutus sum:

Ad Jesum per Mariam.