Psalms 87:1

PSALM 87

GLORIOUS THINGS OF THEE ARE SPOKEN

The title we have chosen here is the title of a famous hymn which is founded upon this psalm.[1] It is set to the music of the Austrian National Hymn, composed by Franz Joseph Haydn, and the words are those of John Newman.

Glorious things of thee are spoken.

Zion, City of our God!

He whose word cannot be broken

Formed thee for his own abode.

On the Rock of Ages founded,

What can shake thy sure repose?

With salvation's walls surrounded,

Thou mayest smile at all thy foes.

"This marvelous little psalm is a prophecy of the glorification of the Church universal, when all the nations of the world have come into it."[2] "It is a Korahitic psalm; it is also prophetic of the time when God's chosen and beloved city shall become the birthplace of all nations."[3]

What a wonderful way of saying that "The word of the Lord shall go forth from Jerusalem," and that souls of every nation under heaven will be born into the New Jerusalem of God's Church. Born in Jerusalem? Indeed yes, by means of the New Birth.

There are only two divisions in the psalm: (1) Psalms 87:1-3, and (2) Psalms 87:4-6, with a final exclamation in Psalms 87:7.

The occasion for this psalm is unknown, but some have suggested that it might have been following the destruction of the Assyrian Army in the days of Hezekiah, following which, all the nations of the world of that era sent gifts and presents to Hezekiah in honor of the occasion.

Psalms 87:1-3

ZION IS GOD'S DWELLING PLACE

"His foundation is in the holy mountains.

Jehovah loveth the gates of Zion

More than all the dwellings of Jacob.

Glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God.

(Selah)"

"In the holy mountains" (Psalms 87:1). God's foundations are there in the holy mountains. Their holiness is due to God's presence there, not the other way around. God is not there because the mountains are holy, but they are holy because God is there.

"God loveth the gates of Zion" (Psalms 87:2). This choice of Zion as God's dwelling place on earth is as inscrutable as his choice of the "Seed of Abraham" through whom God would bring the Christ and salvation to all men.

"Glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God" (Psalms 87:3). These words announce that God Himself is about to speak "glorious things of the city of God," the wonderful words spoken in the next three verses.