Psalm 87

A Psalm of the Sons of Korah. A Song

1 On the holy mount stands the city he founded;

2 the LORD loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwelling places of Jacob.

3 Glorious things of you are spoken, O city of God. Selah

The Hebrew in the first line is very succinct, “His foundation in the mountains holy”. The next line provides more context, confirming that the psalmist is speaking of Jerusalem, of Zion, the location of the temple. As a priest, the psalmist spent a great deal of time in its environs and it was very dear to him. Having founded this city from of old (think Melchizedek in Genesis 14), YHWH loves the gates of Zion (metonymy - where a part stands for the whole). God doesn’t just love the gates more, he loves Zion more than every other city in the land. People say glorious things about this city of God. This psalm represents a change in tone from most of the other psalms in Book 3 which was likely compiled for use in the exile. Perhaps the psalm is placed here as a reminder of what was lost and what may be restored if the exiles do not lose hope. Couple this psalm with the lament of Psalm 137. This may have been one of the songs of Zion that the psalmist was taunted to sing by the Babylonians. These opening verses describe the firmness, the sacredness and the glory of God’s dwelling place on earth. That place was demolished by the Babylonians and now only lives in the memory of the exiles. In literal terms, Zion was certainly not the most beautiful or remarkable city in the ancient world. There were pyramids, parthenons or hanging gardens. No statues, aqueducts, coliseums, or theaters. Just a smallish temple and its courts. It was a rather humble place for the God of the universe to dwell, but that’s actually fitting for the God of the Bible who chose to enter this world as a baby in a stable. From the viewpoint of the New Testament the songs of Zion in the psalms are about the dwelling of God among men in Jesus Christ and his church. The beauty of Zion is now multiplied all over the globe as men, women and children experience the holy and glorious presence of God through the indwelling Spirit and through their gathered worship. For the believer, this is a song about the church. Do you feel about the church the way that God feels about the church? He loves her more than all else. Marvel at her beauty today, the mountain that God established in the midst of the peoples. 

4 Among those who know me I mention Rahab and Babylon; behold, Philistia and Tyre, with Cush [Nubia]— “This one was born there,” they say.

This may be one of the most remarkable verses in the entire psalter. In the ancient world, every culture had their own deities, a pantheon of gods and goddesses who looked after them in exchange for their worship and devotion. But YHWH was not like that. Yes, he was the God of Israel and initiated a special relationship with Abraham and his descendants, but from the very beginning, he made himself to be known as the God of the nations. Abraham was called a father of many nations, and Israel’s purpose, her very existence, was to be as a light to all nations, even to her enemies (read the book of Jonah). Some of the major enemies of Israel are listed in this verse. Rahab is the poetic name for Egypt, and perhaps not coincidentally, the name of an ancient sea monster. Egypt was a monster, enslaving and brutalizing Israel for centuries. Like Egypt, Babylon crushed Israel, nearly wiping her out completely while allowing a handful of exiles to live and become integrated into Babylonian culture. What they didn’t crush through conquest they would eliminate by assimilation. Philistia and Tyre represent the neighboring enemies of Israel, Philistia to the west and south, Tyre to the west and north, each commanding the important sea coast. Cush (modern Ethiopia) was further away, south of lower Egypt, and presumably was a menacing force at times. The most amazing thing is that all of these enemies had representatives who had left their gods for the God of Israel. They effectively exchanged their citizenship and their birthright for a new home and identity. They gave up the power of their positions in foreign governments, their cultural privilege in order to be among those who worshiped YHWH. They were “naturalized” citizens of Israel having chosen to renounce their previous citizenship and fully embrace their new country. Sometimes those who are born into the faith have less faith than those who have chosen the faith over another. Church members who’ve always been in the church don’t know what it’s like to live outside of the faith and so it doesn’t mean as much to them. In contrast, those outside the faith know what it is to be lost and then to discover the truth, no, to be pursued and caught by the truth. While Israel began the fulfillment of this psalm, the church put it into high gear becoming the most diverse organization in the history of the world. 

5 And of Zion it shall be said, “This one and that one were born in her”; for the Most High himself will establish her.

6 The LORD records as he registers the peoples, “This one was born there.” Selah

The psalmist looks at the diverse nature of the worshipers in Zion and remarks that in spite of their many differences all of them were born in Zion. People from Egypt, Babylon, Philistia, Tyre, and Cush, different colors and customs all, assemble before YHWH at the temple in worship. As they do so, the LORD himself registers them in his book. He counts them as he writes their names in the book of life. It is a beautiful mosaic that much of the world aspires to -- diverse peoples living together in harmony. Everyone says they want world peace, and this is what that looks like. It is not coexistence where everyone believes contradictory things, rather it is a unity of worship, everyone assigning ultimate value to YHWH and aligning their lives with his ways. The metaphor of birthright citizenship is powerful and fascinating as it points to the New Testament reality of which Jesus spoke. Jesus said that to enter into the kingdom of God you must be born again. This new birth suggests a new nature, a new person, a new identity, a transformation from within. It is not just a change of address but a change of heart. John Lennon invited everyone to imagine a world without heaven, without religion, and without countries. This has become some kind of anthem for our time, but it is antithetical to Christianity and certainly to the vision of this psalm. While this psalm would hardly be fulfilled in the lifetime of the psalmist, it was aspirational. It was what God desired for Israel to be: a light to the gentiles. That promise would not be fulfilled until Jesus and the church began to usher it in. And the process will not be complete until the scene in Revelation 5 and 7 comes to pass -- people of every nation, language, tribe and tongue joyfully assembled in worship. This vision has been buried at times throughout church history as the church lost focus. In our day, may this hope of unity and worship be fulfilled as we labor to take the gospel to the nations.  

7 Singers and dancers alike say, “All my springs are in you.”

The final verse of the psalm is an exclamation point on the entire declaration. Singers and dancers together proclaim, “all my springs are in you.” The word translated “dancers” could just as easily be translated “instrumentalists” as it is rooted in the word for “pipe’. The point is that the universal kingdom of God is a cause for celebration and we should engage in all means possible to do so. The “together” aspect of this activity suggests planning, preparation, and synchronization. In other words, public worship. Singing, dancing, and instrumental music all suggest celebration and a party-like atmosphere with lots of smiles and laughter. The theme of the celebration is expressed in the primary lyric of the song, “All my springs are in you.” The “you” here likely refers to either YHWH or his city, but the two are intertwined so it could even be both. The metaphor of “spring” indicates life, refreshment, health, and even cleanliness. All of these are found in YHWH and in his community, this diverse collection of individuals from a mosaic of cultures and languages. The song declares that “all my springs” are in you, not just one or some. Our entire and complete source of life, health, joy, and cleanliness are found here. What this means in everyday life is that we will not be drawn to other sources that claim to offer these things. We will see them for what they are, life-draining, unhealthy, unhappy, and ultimately impure. Once you’ve had the best water, you can taste the difference and you’ll never want to go back. Jerusalem had a spring, the Gihon, and Psalm 46:3 refers to “a river that makes glad the city of God.” The Gihon was certainly not a river, but God used it to save the city in the days of Hezekiah, and it becomes a natural metaphor of God’s saving actions as a spring or river of life. Is YHWH the source of your life today? Is He the source of your joy and celebration? Is He the means of your cleansing? He is all of these and more. Make this clear to others today, even through singing, dancing, and making music.