Psalms 87

A Psalm or Song for the sons of Korah.

This psalm, “which establishes Zion as the word for Church, marks a turning point in revelation. It stands absolutely alone up to its time. It shows that the unification of the nations is to be effected by the welding power of a spiritual influence hitherto unknown.” Bishop Alexander. This influence is that of spiritual birth, giving citizenship in Zion, the true Church, the Kingdom of God. Here, also, is the origin of that form of speech among the Hebrews which denominated a proselyte as one “newly born.” John 3:3-7. The theme is the praise of Zion, but in the spiritual sense. Thus she was greater than the nations of the earth. “The mission thought in Psalms 86:9 becomes the ruling thought here. It is a prophetic psalm, boldly and expressively concise, even to obscurity.” Delitzsch. The comparison by which Zion is exalted above the nations is twofold: First, it is greater than the cities of Jacob or the chosen people, Psalms 87:2; secondly, it is above the Gentile nations. This last is also divided into two parts, the surrounding people who envied Israel, as Philistia, Tyre, and Ethiopia, (Hebrews Cush, Arabia,) and the great representatives of worldly pride and power, Rahab ( Egypt) and Babylon. The point or test of superiority is in the pride of nobility, and citizenship. This man boasts that he was born in Babylon; that, in Egypt, Psalms 87:4; but Zion should be distinguished by the greater number of her native born citizens, and for their higher type of citizenship. Of her citizens, Jehovah himself should keep and publish the record, Psalms 87:6. The tone of triumph indicates some great occasion of joy on account of Jehovah’s special interposition to defend and establish Zion, whose glorious historic fame had been celebrated in song, Psalms 87:3. But the glory which is the special theme of the prophet is still an anticipation, as the future tense of the leading verbs in Psalms 87:5-6, show, contrasted with the preterit, “was born,” in Psalms 87:4. Much can be said, plausibly, in favour of dating this psalm in the reign of Hezekiah, on the overthrow of Sennacherib, but the evidence seems to preponderate in favour of the restoration, under Ezra and Nehemiah. The greatness of the work of rebuilding Jerusalem and re-establishing the nation, is exceeded only by the exodus and the first settlement in Canaan, to which it is often compared by the prophets. The reviving of the holy city was indispensable to success and the reassertion of nationality, whether viewed in a political or religious light. Against this lay the pressure of want and the lure of gain which drove the colonies into the smaller towns and villages near to the lands of their ancient inheritance. The whole experiment of rebuilding the capital was thus held in suspense nearly a hundred years, (Nehemiah 1:1-3,) and was accomplished at length by Nehemiah, under a royal commission granting him an absence of twelve years. Nehemiah 2:4-8; Nehemiah 5:14. To people Jerusalem one tenth of the inhabitants were drafted by lot, (Nehemiah 11:1-2, seq,) which would make a basis of population of about five or six thousand. The importance of the work may be further gathered from such passages as Zechariah 2:4-5; Zechariah 2:12; Isaiah 52:1-2; Jeremiah 31:23; Isaiah 1:26-27; Psalms 122:0. For further evidence see the notes. We must, therefore, place this psalm at the dedication of the walls of Jerusalem, which is the date of the restoration of the capital city. Nehemiah 12:27-43. TITLE:

A Psalm or Song Two words which may give the sense of a song set to instrumental music.

Sons of Korah See note on title of Psalms 84:0