Psa 87:2 | KingComments | STEP | Finally, all enemies have been eliminated. Now all attention can be turned to Zion, Jerusalem. The “city of God” ( ) is now the civil and religious capital of the world. This psalm describes the relationship between Zion and the nations, and is the further elaboration of what we have read in Psalm 86 ( ). It is now about the time of the regeneration of the earth ( ). This “psalm” is called “a song” ( ). By “a song” is usually meant a song of praise. It is a song of the remnant, of both the two and the ten tribes. This is “all Israel” that has been saved ( ). For “of the sons of Korah” see at Psalm 42:1. The psalm sings of the future glory of Zion as the mother city of all nations (cf. ), as a joy to the whole earth ( ). It is so because God has chosen it and laid His foundation for it ( ; cf. ). He has built His city upon “His foundation” (cf. ). That foundation is “in the holy mountains” (cf. ). Upon them “is” His foundation. It speaks of stability, of a stable and lasting peace. The foundation and at the same time the stability of Zion lies in the fact that it was chosen by the love of God ( ; cf. ). Therefore, it is the “city of God”, which means both a great city – a superlative, as in Jonah 3 of Nineveh ( ) – and the city where God Himself is present ( ; ; cf. ). The church of the living God, the new Jerusalem, is also built on a foundation that God has laid. That foundation is Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God ( ; ). This foundation was laid by the apostles and prophets in their teaching about the church ( ). The foundation and location of the city distinguish it from all other cities. They are holy mountains, because He has set those mountains apart from all other mountains for Himself and His city. They are holy mountains , because He has given it that exalted place above all other cities (cf. ). The plural ‘mountains’ may have something to do with the fact that Jerusalem was built on several hills. God chose the city because He loves it ( ; ; cf. ). There is nothing in the city itself that would make it more attractive than other cities. Rather, it is originally repulsive ( ), but He has taken care of it in love and made it attractive ( ). “The LORD loves the gates of Zion” because they allow access to the city to also partake of His blessing. The gates characterize the city as one that is accessible. People enter the city in crowds through the gates to worship the LORD. Gates are also the place where justice is spoken. They speak of the authority of God in the city. It is also the place of government of the city ( ) from which law and power are exercised. The city not only rises above other cities in a natural way, because of its location on the mountains. The city also rises above all the dwellings of Jacob in the love that God has for it. There are many beautiful dwellings or cities in Israel, but to none does His heart go out in the same way as to this city. The “glorious things” are the things that God has worked in her ( ). They are spoken of by the prophets in their prophecies about the city. They are also things noticed by the nations and their kings and spoken of by them. There is much to note about her sins, but in Christ there are only glorious things to mention. The same is true of the church. All these very glorious things concern the “city of God”. Everything in the city reflects His glory. This can only refer to the future, for currently Jerusalem is not the city of God, God does not now dwell there. Israel is still Lo-Ammi, not My people ( ). When He takes up His residence in the temple again, He will dwell there again ( ).

‏ Psalms 87:2

Introduction

Finally, all enemies have been eliminated. Now all attention can be turned to Zion, Jerusalem. The “city of God” (Psa 87:3) is now the civil and religious capital of the world. This psalm describes the relationship between Zion and the nations, and is the further elaboration of what we have read in Psalm 86 (Psa 86:9). It is now about the time of the regeneration of the earth (Mt 19:28).

God’s Love for His City

This “psalm” is called “a song” (Psa 87:1a). By “a song” is usually meant a song of praise. It is a song of the remnant, of both the two and the ten tribes. This is “all Israel” that has been saved (Rom 11:26).

For “of the sons of Korah” see at Psalm 42:1.

The psalm sings of the future glory of Zion as the mother city of all nations (cf. Isa 2:1-4), as a joy to the whole earth (Psa 48:2). It is so because God has chosen it and laid His foundation for it (Psa 87:1b; cf. Heb 11:10). He has built His city upon “His foundation” (cf. Isa 14:32). That foundation is “in the holy mountains” (cf. Psa 3:5 ; Psa 15:1 ; Psa 99:9). Upon them “is” His foundation. It speaks of stability, of a stable and lasting peace.

The foundation and at the same time the stability of Zion lies in the fact that it was chosen by the love of God (Psa 87:2; cf. Deu 12:5 ; 14 ; 18 ; 21). Therefore, it is the “city of God”, which means both a great city – a superlative, as in Jonah 3 of Nineveh (Jona 3:3) – and the city where God Himself is present (Eze 48:35; Rev 14:1; cf. Isa 60:14).

The church of the living God, the new Jerusalem, is also built on a foundation that God has laid. That foundation is Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God (1Cor 3:10; Mt 16:18). This foundation was laid by the apostles and prophets in their teaching about the church (Eph 2:20).

The foundation and location of the city distinguish it from all other cities. They are holy mountains, because He has set those mountains apart from all other mountains for Himself and His city. They are holy mountains, because He has given it that exalted place above all other cities (cf. Jer 31:23). The plural ‘mountains’ may have something to do with the fact that Jerusalem was built on several hills.

God chose the city because He loves it (Psa 87:2; Psa 78:68; cf. Deu 7:6-8). There is nothing in the city itself that would make it more attractive than other cities. Rather, it is originally repulsive (Eze 16:1-5), but He has taken care of it in love and made it attractive (Eze 16:6-8).

“The LORD loves the gates of Zion” because they allow access to the city to also partake of His blessing. The gates characterize the city as one that is accessible. People enter the city in crowds through the gates to worship the LORD. Gates are also the place where justice is spoken. They speak of the authority of God in the city. It is also the place of government of the city (Rth 4:1-10) from which law and power are exercised.

The city not only rises above other cities in a natural way, because of its location on the mountains. The city also rises above all the dwellings of Jacob in the love that God has for it. There are many beautiful dwellings or cities in Israel, but to none does His heart go out in the same way as to this city.

The “glorious things” are the things that God has worked in her (Psa 87:3). They are spoken of by the prophets in their prophecies about the city. They are also things noticed by the nations and their kings and spoken of by them. There is much to note about her sins, but in Christ there are only glorious things to mention. The same is true of the church.

All these very glorious things concern the “city of God”. Everything in the city reflects His glory. This can only refer to the future, for currently Jerusalem is not the city of God, God does not now dwell there. Israel is still Lo-Ammi, not My people (Hos 1:9). When He takes up His residence in the temple again, He will dwell there again (Eze 43:1-7 ; Eze 48:35).