Psalm 87
Psalm 87, Citizens of Zion
Psalm 87 is titled “A Psalm or Song for the sons of Korah.” The sons of Korah were Levites from the family of Kohath. By David’s time, they served in the musical ministry connected with the worship of the LORD. 2 Chronicles 20:19, “And the Levites, of the children of the Kohathites, and of the children of the Korhites, stood up to praise the LORD God of Israel with a loud voice on high.”
The sons of Korah had a remarkable family history. Korah had rebelled against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness and came under severe judgment, yet his descendants were preserved by mercy. Numbers 26:10, “And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up together with Korah, when that company died, what time the fire devoured two hundred and fifty men, and they became a sign.” Numbers 26:11, “Notwithstanding the children of Korah died not.” The descendants of a judged rebel became singers and servants in the house of God. That background adds beauty to Psalm 87, because this psalm celebrates the privilege of belonging to Zion, the city God loves.
Psalm 87 is short, but it is full of theological weight. It celebrates Jerusalem, Zion, as the city specially loved by God and chosen as the center of His redemptive work. Yet the psalm also looks beyond ethnic Israel alone and speaks of Gentile nations being counted as citizens of Zion. Rahab, Babylon, Philistia, Tyre, and Ethiopia are mentioned, not merely as enemies or outsiders, but as peoples from whom God will bring those who know Him. The psalm therefore looks forward to the gathering of the nations into the blessing of God, ultimately fulfilled through Christ and the heavenly Jerusalem.
A. The Greatness of Jerusalem
God is not a local deity. He is not confined to Jerusalem. The whole earth belongs to Him. Exodus 9:29, “And Moses said unto him, As soon as I am gone out of the city, I will spread abroad my hands unto the LORD, and the thunder shall cease, neither shall there be any more hail, that thou mayest know how that the earth is the LORD’S.” Psalm 24:1, “The earth is the LORD’S, and the fulness thereof, the world, and they that dwell therein.” Yet the God who owns all the earth chose to center much of His covenant and redemptive activity in one city.
Jerusalem is significant because God’s work in history happens in real places and real time. God did not redeem abstractly. He acted in geography, history, nations, covenants, altars, temples, kings, sacrifices, prophets, and finally in the incarnation, death, burial, and resurrection of Christ.
Jerusalem is the place connected with Melchizedek, the king priest of Salem. Genesis 14:18, “And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine, and he was the priest of the most high God.” It is connected with Abraham’s offering of Isaac on the mount of the LORD, where God provided a substitute. Genesis 22:13, “And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns, and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son.” Genesis 22:14, “And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovahjireh, as it is said to this day, In the mount of the LORD it shall be seen.”
Jerusalem became the capital city under David. 2 Samuel 5:6, “And the king and his men went to Jerusalem unto the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, which spake unto David, saying, Except thou take away the blind and the lame, thou shalt not come in hither, thinking, David cannot come in hither.” 2 Samuel 5:7, “Nevertheless David took the strong hold of Zion, the same is the city of David.” There the temple was built by Solomon. 2 Chronicles 3:1, “Then Solomon began to build the house of the LORD at Jerusalem in mount Moriah, where the LORD appeared unto David his father, in the place that David had prepared in the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite.”
Most importantly, Jerusalem is where Jesus died for sins, was buried, rose again, and where the church was born at Pentecost. Luke 24:46, “And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day.” Luke 24:47, “And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.” Acts 2:1, “And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.” Acts 2:41, “Then they that gladly received his word were baptized, and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.”
Verse 2 says, “The LORD loveth the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob.” The gates represent the city as a whole, especially its public life, security, judgment, and identity. God loves the gates of Zion. He has a special regard for Jerusalem even beyond the other dwellings of Jacob, meaning the other places where the tribes of Israel lived.
This does not mean God despised the rest of Israel. He loved the dwellings of Jacob. But Zion had a special place. The city was chosen as the center of royal rule, temple worship, sacrifice, priestly ministry, and prophetic hope. Zechariah 2:12, “And the LORD shall inherit Judah his portion in the holy land, and shall choose Jerusalem again.”
This special love for Zion also points forward to the future kingdom. Jerusalem remains important in God’s prophetic plan. The city has past, present, and future significance because God chose to attach His name and purposes to it.
Psalm 87:3, Zion Praised
Psalm 87:3, “Glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God. Selah.”
The psalmist now says, “Glorious things are spoken of thee.” Zion is not praised because men invented legends about it. Glorious things are spoken of Zion because God has done, spoken, and promised glorious things there.
Glorious faith was exercised in Jerusalem. Glorious worship was offered there. Glorious sacrifices were made there. Glorious truths were taught there by prophets, priests, kings, apostles, and finally Christ Himself. Glorious atonement was accomplished near Jerusalem when Jesus died for sinners. Glorious power was displayed when He rose from the dead. Glorious anointing was poured out at Pentecost when the Holy Spirit came upon the church. A glorious future awaits Jerusalem when Messiah rules in righteousness.
The city is called “O city of God.” This is not a denial that God rules over all the earth. Rather, it recognizes that God chose Zion in a special way as the center of His redemptive work. Out of all the places He could have chosen, God centered so much of His covenant history and prophetic hope in Jerusalem.
The verse ends with “Selah.” The greatness of Zion deserves meditation. The believer should pause and consider the city God loves, the work God has done there, and the promises God has attached to it.
B. The Blessedness of the Citizens of Zion
Psalm 87:4, Boasting over the Citizens of Zion
Psalm 87:4, “I will make mention of Rahab and Babylon to them that know me, behold Philistia, and Tyre, with Ethiopia, this man was born there.”
God now speaks of Gentile nations. “I will make mention of Rahab and Babylon to them that know me.” Rahab here is a poetic name for Egypt, associated with pride and strength. Babylon was another great power and later a great enemy of Judah. These nations were often rivals, oppressors, or enemies of Israel. Yet God says there will be those among them who know Him.
To know God here means more than awareness that the God of Israel exists. It means true relationship, acknowledgment, submission, and saving knowledge. It is covenantal and personal. These Gentiles are not merely impressed by Zion. They come to know the LORD.
The verse continues, “behold Philistia, and Tyre, with Ethiopia.” Philistia was a long standing enemy of Israel. Tyre represented wealth, trade, luxury, and material power. Ethiopia, or Cush, represented distant peoples. Together with Egypt and Babylon, these nations show the wide reach of God’s saving purpose. Near enemies, wealthy cities, ancient empires, and distant nations are all within the scope of God’s plan.
Then comes the remarkable statement, “this man was born there.” This means that people from these Gentile nations will be counted as citizens of Zion. They will be regarded as though born there. The privilege of Zion will not be restricted to physical descent alone. God will bring outsiders in and count them as belonging.
This does not cancel God’s covenant dealings with Israel. Rather, it shows that even under the Old Testament, God’s plan always included blessing to the nations. God promised Abraham that all families of the earth would be blessed through him. Genesis 12:2, “And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great, and thou shalt be a blessing.” Genesis 12:3, “And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee, and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.”
Gentiles were never saved by genetics. They were saved by faith in the true God. Melchizedek knew God. Rahab believed and was spared. Ruth left Moab’s gods and came under the God of Israel. Naaman confessed the God of Israel after being healed. The psalm anticipates this broader gathering.
Ruth 1:16, “And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee, for whither thou goest, I will go, and where thou lodgest, I will lodge, thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God.” 2 Kings 5:15, “And he returned to the man of God, he and all his company, and came, and stood before him, and he said, Behold, now I know that there is no God in all the earth, but in Israel, now therefore, I pray thee, take a blessing of thy servant.”
Prophetically, Psalm 87 looks forward to the gospel bringing Gentiles into true relationship with God. Through Christ, believers from the nations are born again and counted as citizens of the heavenly Zion. John 3:3, “Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Ephesians 2:19, “Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God.”
The words “this man was born there” are especially precious because the man does not say it of himself. God says it. God Himself recognizes and records the citizen of Zion.
Psalm 87:5 through Psalm 87:6, God Records the Register of His People
Psalm 87:5, “And of Zion it shall be said, This and that man was born in her, and the highest himself shall establish her.”
Psalm 87:6, “The LORD shall count, when he writeth up the people, that this man was born there. Selah.”
The thought from verse 4 is repeated and expanded. “And of Zion it shall be said, This and that man was born in her.” Zion will be known as a mother city, a place of belonging, identity, and spiritual birth. To be counted as born in Zion is an honor because Zion is the city God loves and establishes.
The verse continues, “and the highest himself shall establish her.” Zion’s security does not rest finally in walls, armies, kings, or human government. The Most High Himself establishes her. What God establishes cannot finally be overthrown. Jerusalem has known war, destruction, exile, and sorrow, yet God’s purposes for Zion remain.
Verse 6 says, “The LORD shall count, when he writeth up the people, that this man was born there.” God keeps the register. Citizenship in Zion is not finally determined by human records, national pride, or external claim. The LORD Himself writes up the peoples. His registration is infallible.
This points forward to the heavenly reality described in the New Testament. Hebrews 12:22, “But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels.” Hebrews 12:23, “To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect.” Galatians 4:26, “But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.”
There is a literal Jerusalem that God has chosen and will yet use in His kingdom purposes. There is also a heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God, where believers are registered in heaven. These truths do not cancel each other. The spiritual privilege in Christ surpasses earthly citizenship, while still allowing God’s special regard for literal Israel and Jerusalem to stand.
The repeated phrase “this man was born there” emphasizes God’s personal attention. He counts man by man. The individual is not lost in the multitude. God knows each citizen of Zion by name. Human census records can be mistaken. God’s register is perfect.
The verse ends with “Selah.” The believer should pause and consider the honor of being counted by God as a citizen of Zion. To be born from above, to belong to the heavenly Jerusalem, to be registered by God Himself, is a mercy beyond human boasting.
Psalm 87:7, The Blessedness of Zion’s Citizens
Psalm 87:7, “As well the singers as the players on instruments shall be there, all my springs are in thee.”
The psalm closes with worship. “As well the singers as the players on instruments shall be there.” Zion is filled with praise. Singers and musicians, and perhaps even dancers if the phrase is understood that way, join in celebration. The citizens of Zion are not silent. They worship.
The final confession is, “all my springs are in thee.” Springs are sources of water, life, refreshment, and fruitfulness. In a dry land, springs are precious because they flow from a hidden source and sustain life. The psalmist confesses that all his springs are in Zion, or more ultimately, in God Himself.
It is best to understand this as pointing to God. All life, blessing, refreshment, salvation, joy, strength, hope, and fruitfulness come from Him. Every good and perfect gift flows from God as from a spring. James 1:17, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.”
If all our springs are in God, then all our streams should flow back to God. Everything we have from Him should be returned in worship, obedience, gratitude, service, and praise. Life comes from Him, and life should be lived for Him.
This final line is also fulfilled in Christ. Jesus is the source of living water. John 4:13, “Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again.” John 4:14, “But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst, but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.” John 7:37, “In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.” John 7:38, “He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.”
Psalm 87 therefore celebrates Zion as the city God loves, the city founded in the holy mountains, the city of glorious things, the city where God registers His people. It also looks beyond Israel’s borders to the nations, showing that even former enemies and distant peoples may be counted as citizens of Zion by God’s grace. The final blessing is not merely geographic, but spiritual and eternal, to belong to the city of God, to be registered by the LORD, and to confess that all springs are in Him.
