THE GLORY OF GOD’S CITY

Passage: Psalms 87:1-7

Key verse: 3

NIV

Psalm 87
Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm. A song.

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

3 Glorious things are said of you,
    city of God:[a](C)
4 “I will record Rahab[b](D) and Babylon
    among those who acknowledge me—
Philistia(E) too, and Tyre(F), along with Cush[c]—
    and will say, ‘This one was born in Zion.’”[d](G)
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(H) of the peoples:
    “This one was born in Zion.”

7 As they make music(I) they will sing,
    “All my fountains(J) are in you.”

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Footnotes
  1. Psalm 87:3 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verse 6.
  2. Psalm 87:4 A poetic name for Egypt
  3. Psalm 87:4 That is, the upper Nile region
  4. Psalm 87:4 Or “I will record concerning those who acknowledge me: / ‘This one was born in Zion.’ / Hear this, Rahab and Babylon, / and you too, Philistia, Tyre and Cush.”
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

Glorious Things of You Are Spoken

A Psalm of (A)the Sons of Korah. A Song.

87 On (B)the holy mount (C)stands the city he founded;
2     the Lord (D)loves the gates of Zion
    more than all the dwelling places of Jacob.
3 (E)Glorious things of you are spoken,
    O (F)city of God. Selah

4 Among those who (G)know me I mention (H)Rahab and Babylon;
    behold, Philistia and Tyre, with (I)Cush[a]—
    “This one was born there,” they say.
5 And of Zion it shall be said,
    “This one and that one were born in her”;
    for the Most High himself will (J)establish her.
6 The Lord records as he (K)registers the peoples,
    “This one was born there.” Selah

7 (L)Singers and (M)dancers alike say,
    “All my (N)springs are in you.”

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Footnotes
  1. Psalm 87:4 Probably Nubia
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

The city of Jerusalem, also called “Zion” after the hill it was built on, was the city God chose for his dwelling place among the nation of Israel (1). He meant it to be a holy city from which the knowledge of God would shine out to the world. At the height of Israel’s prosperity, it was a beautiful city. But the true Zion, or New Jerusalem, is the eternal city that will be the dwelling place of all the saved from all nations. This psalm foretells the gospel, saying that people of other nations such as Babylon and Cush would be included among the citizens of this city (4). When we come to Jesus by faith, we are born again, our names are written in the book of life, and we are counted among those born in Zion (6).

The splendor of our eternal heavenly dwelling place is beyond our imagining, but we can hope to see it with eager expectation based on what the Bible tells us of God’s city. It is good for us to meditate on the glory of the heavenly Zion and put our true hope there, not on earthly things.

Prayer: Thank you for your grace in Jesus that gives us a birthright in the heavenly city. Thank you for all the glorious things you tell us!

One Word: We will see glorious, eternal Zion