The Lord loveth the gates of Zion (comp. Psalms 78:68 ). More than all the dwellings of Jacob; i.e. "more than all the other dwellings"—more than Shiloh, more than Kirjath-jearim, more than any other of the ark's resting places. read more
The principles of the Divine preference. These are seen— I. IN THE GREATER LOVE OF GOD FOR ZION THAN FOR ALL THE DWELLINGS OF JACOB . Not a few of those dwellings were spacious, magnificent, wealthy, adorned, and inhabited by men who feared God; but yet, because in Zion God's glory was more revealed, his grace seen, his truth declared, his people blessed, and because there that in man which God ever most of all delights in—the spiritual life, the life of... read more
The Divine interest in Zion. Taking Zion as a poetical name for Jerusalem, the temple city, and as the representative of every place where public and united worship is offered to God. Zion is still, for us, the pious name for God's house. The point prominent is this—that we should love God's house and worship is not in any sense surprising; but it is a surprise of condescension and grace that God should love our sanctuaries, and find his pleasure in our worship. Yet even this we are... read more
Glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God. The psalmist probably refers in part to the predictions of older prophets, but also in part to the revelations made to himself, which he is on the point of recording ( Psalms 87:4-7 ). read more
The glory of the Church. "Glorious things," etc. It is a glorious thing to be a real Christian. Glorious because of the relation such a one holds to God and to Christ—a child of God by faith in Christ Jesus ( Galatians 4:7 ; Romans 8:16 , Romans 8:17 ). Glorious also because of his relation to the Church of God—a citizen of the heavenly city, a member of the fellowship of saints, the brotherhood of the faithful, the spiritual body of which Christ is the living Head ( Colossians 1:18... read more
What can be said for our Jerusalem? "Glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God." In this joyous exclamation the poet of Hezekiah's time gathers up the joy of the kingdoms round Palestine, which were relieved of their anxiety by Jehovah's humiliation of Assyria. Jerusalem became the praise of everybody. It had become the champion deliverer of the nations. Its God had brought it glory. To it every eye was gratefully turned. We may think what things were then said; and let them... read more
The Lord loveth the gates of Zion - Compare Psalms 78:68. The gates of a city were the places of concourse; where business was transacted; where courts were held. The particular allusion here seems to be to the thronging multitudes pressing into the city for public worship - the numbers that gathered together at the great feasts and festivals of the nation; and the meaning is, that he looked with more pleasure on such multitudes as they thronged the gates, pressing in that they might worship... read more
Glorious things are spoketh of thee, O city of God - Jerusalem, called the “city of God” as being the place of his unique home on earth. The word rendered “are spoken” may mean either “have been spoken,” or “are to be spoken;” that is, either, such things have been said, or they may be said. They have been placed on record; or, they may now be put on record concerning thee. Probably the former is the true meaning; and the language would embrace such points as these:(1) Those things which had... read more
Psalms 87:2. The Lord loveth the gates of Zion That is, the city of Zion, or Jerusalem, gates being often put for cities. He saith Zion rather than Jerusalem, to intimate that he loved Jerusalem for Zion’s sake, or for the temple, which he chose for his peculiar dwelling-place. He loved the gates of the temple, of the houses of doctrines, as the Chaldee interprets it; more than all the dwellings of Jacob More than all other places of the land of Canaan in which the Israelites... read more
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The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 87:1-7
The glory of the Church. I. IN ITS FOUNDATION . "In the holy mountains." 1 . It is founded in the nature of God. In the Divine love. "The Lord loveth the gates of Zion," etc. 2 . It is founded also in the nature of man . In his spiritual nature, affinities, and needs. The Church, therefore, has sacred foundations: "and the gates of hell shall not prevail against her." II. IT IS CALLED THE CITY OF GOD . 1 . It Consists of the highest social... read more