Psalm 87: Jerusalem extolled

Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm. A song.

[Preliminary Comments: A strange but simple psalm that extols Jerusalem, otherwise known as Zion, the city of God’s choosing, the place of His dwelling with mankind, a city that stands out above all others on the high lands of central Israel [v.1,2]. The strangeness [to our ears at least] are the threefold declarations that the foundations or life of other nations can be found in Jerusalem – ‘born in Zion’ [v.4-6], their very life streams rising up from her [v.7], they exist because of Jerusalem.]

v.1,2 Zion, Jerusalem, was the city at the heart of God’s activities on earth

v.1 He has founded his city on the holy mountain.

v.2 The Lord loves the gates of Zion
    more than all the other dwellings of Jacob.

v.3-7 All origins of ‘life’ in other nations come back to God in Zion

v.3 Glorious things are said of you,
    city of God:

v.4 ‘I will record Rahab [an old term for Egypt] and Babylon
    among those who acknowledge me –
Philistia too, and Tyre, along with Cush [parts of Africa] –
    and will say, “This one was born in Zion.”’

v.5 Indeed, of Zion it will be said,
    ‘This one and that one were born in her,
    and the Most High himself will establish her.’

v.6 The Lord will write in the register of the peoples:
    ‘This one was born in Zion.’

v.7 As they make music they will sing,
    ‘All my fountains are in you.’

[Additional Comments: Perhaps this psalm should be seen prophetically as an end time fulfilment of the work of God. A number of times in the prophets, there is the declaration that nations will come to Jerusalem. See Isa 2:3, Mic 4:2, Zech 8:22. Other suggest that leaders from these other nations [or maybe just travellers] declare their heart is in Jerusalem.

After perhaps going back and meditating on individual verses, now read it meaningfully out loud straight through

1 He has founded his city on the holy mountain.
2 The Lord loves the gates of Zion
    more than all the other dwellings of Jacob.

3 Glorious things are said of you,
    city of God:
4 ‘I will record Rahab and Babylon
    among those who acknowledge me –
Philistia too, and Tyre, along with Cush –
    and will say, “This one was born in Zion.”’
5 Indeed, of Zion it will be said,
    ‘This one and that one were born in her,
    and the Most High himself will establish her.’
6 The Lord will write in the register of the peoples:
    ‘This one was born in Zion.’

7 As they make music they will sing,
    ‘All my fountains are in you.’

For those who may wish to make a study of this chapter, to perhaps think some more about what you have been reading, use the link below: