Psa 87:4 | KingComments | STEP | After the Korahites sing of the glory of the city, they describe how children from various nations are counted to Zion ( ). They are counted as children born there. This presupposes a relationship with Him. Five nations are mentioned, from which people come to belong to the city because they acknowledge Him. They surrender their old citizenship and receive the citizenship of Zion. They are not incorporated into Israel, but into God’s city. First, two former superpowers are mentioned: Rahab and Babylon. Rahab is Egypt ( ; ). Both have been world powers that have ruled over Israel. Babylon is the power north of Israel and Egypt is the power south of it. Egypt, too, will know and serve the LORD in the realm of peace (cf. ). The second kingdom, Babylon, prophetically refers to the restored Roman Empire (Isaiah 40-48; Revelation 17-18). Despite the destruction of Europe in the end time, there will again be people in Europe who will serve the LORD. All those who have been taken from the world’s powers by grace will be credited to Zion. They will turn to the God of Israel and come to know Him. Rahab means pride and Babylon confusion. Both powers have been hostile to Israel in the past. Both powers will come to an end ( ). The coming of the LORD is the end of all pride. The ruins of confusion caused by Babylon will also disappear through Christ, Who is more than Cyrus ( ). In addition to these world powers, there is “Philistia” who fought Israel so many times in the land to take possession of the land given to Israel by God. Further, there is “Tyre”. It represents economic power, the world of rich and proud traders. It rejoiced over the fall of Jerusalem because of the commercial advantage he thought it would bring him ( ). Finally, reference is made to “Ethiopia”. It represents the more distant peoples. Individual inhabitants of these areas lay down their enmity. If these people (from the nations) want to come to know the LORD, they must travel to Zion to receive instruction ( ). There they will come to repentance and faith, there they will be born again (cf. ) and therefore they are considered to have been born in Zion. God says of them that they are “born there”, that is in Zion. They are all seen as citizens of the city of God, thereby sharing in the blessings God bestows upon the city. Paul, in relation to New Testament believers, speaks in such a way of “the Jerusalem above …; she is our mother” ( ). The blessing in connection with Zion is not so much for nations as a whole. It is an individual blessing ( ). In the city, which at first was childless, the number of inhabitants is constantly increasing (cf. ). The city will not be divided by the increase of individuals, but will remain a unity. God will see to that, “the Most High Himself will establish her”. His presence guarantees the continuity of peace. The LORD has laid her foundation ( ) and He will also confirm and maintain her. Then Jerusalem will truthfully be, according to the meaning of her name, ‘the city of peace’. The LORD keeps a careful record of who has the civil rights of His city ( ). He counts everyone who by new birth is in His city. No one is forgotten in this counting. The fact that He counts gives the assurance that someone belongs to the ‘numbered’ forever. For such a person the atonement money has been paid ( ). All the numbered are counted among God’s people (cf. ). Of each one of them the LORD says as a mark of truth: “This one was born there.” Such a person is counted and written down. This gives the numbered person the absolute assurance that he will never again be removed from the city of God. The seal of the ownership of God is upon him unbreakably. It is with it as with the sheep of the Lord Jesus, of whom He says that no one can snatch them out of His hand ( ).

‏ Psalms 87:4

This One Was Born There

After the Korahites sing of the glory of the city, they describe how children from various nations are counted to Zion (Psa 87:4). They are counted as children born there. This presupposes a relationship with Him. Five nations are mentioned, from which people come to belong to the city because they acknowledge Him. They surrender their old citizenship and receive the citizenship of Zion. They are not incorporated into Israel, but into God’s city.

First, two former superpowers are mentioned: Rahab and Babylon. Rahab is Egypt (Isa 30:7 ; Isa 51:9; Psa 89:11). Both have been world powers that have ruled over Israel. Babylon is the power north of Israel and Egypt is the power south of it. Egypt, too, will know and serve the LORD in the realm of peace (cf. Isa 19:25). The second kingdom, Babylon, prophetically refers to the restored Roman Empire (Isaiah 40-48; Revelation 17-18). Despite the destruction of Europe in the end time, there will again be people in Europe who will serve the LORD. All those who have been taken from the world’s powers by grace will be credited to Zion. They will turn to the God of Israel and come to know Him.

Rahab means pride and Babylon confusion. Both powers have been hostile to Israel in the past. Both powers will come to an end (Isa 2:11-17). The coming of the LORD is the end of all pride. The ruins of confusion caused by Babylon will also disappear through Christ, Who is more than Cyrus (Isa 44:26-28).

In addition to these world powers, there is “Philistia” who fought Israel so many times in the land to take possession of the land given to Israel by God. Further, there is “Tyre”. It represents economic power, the world of rich and proud traders. It rejoiced over the fall of Jerusalem because of the commercial advantage he thought it would bring him (Eze 26:2). Finally, reference is made to “Ethiopia”. It represents the more distant peoples.

Individual inhabitants of these areas lay down their enmity. If these people (from the nations) want to come to know the LORD, they must travel to Zion to receive instruction (Isa 2:3). There they will come to repentance and faith, there they will be born again (cf. Mt 19:28) and therefore they are considered to have been born in Zion.

God says of them that they are “born there”, that is in Zion. They are all seen as citizens of the city of God, thereby sharing in the blessings God bestows upon the city. Paul, in relation to New Testament believers, speaks in such a way of “the Jerusalem above …; she is our mother” (Gal 4:26).

The blessing in connection with Zion is not so much for nations as a whole. It is an individual blessing (Psa 87:5). In the city, which at first was childless, the number of inhabitants is constantly increasing (cf. Isa 54:1-3). The city will not be divided by the increase of individuals, but will remain a unity. God will see to that, “the Most High Himself will establish her”. His presence guarantees the continuity of peace. The LORD has laid her foundation (Psa 87:1) and He will also confirm and maintain her. Then Jerusalem will truthfully be, according to the meaning of her name, ‘the city of peace’.

The LORD keeps a careful record of who has the civil rights of His city (Psa 87:6). He counts everyone who by new birth is in His city. No one is forgotten in this counting. The fact that He counts gives the assurance that someone belongs to the ‘numbered’ forever. For such a person the atonement money has been paid (Exo 30:11-16). All the numbered are counted among God’s people (cf. Jer 33:13).

Of each one of them the LORD says as a mark of truth: “This one was born there.” Such a person is counted and written down. This gives the numbered person the absolute assurance that he will never again be removed from the city of God. The seal of the ownership of God is upon him unbreakably. It is with it as with the sheep of the Lord Jesus, of whom He says that no one can snatch them out of His hand (Jn 10:28).