Psalms 87 Study Notes: Zion, Birthplace of the Nations
This short psalm celebrates Zion as the city God founded and loves above every other place in Israel. God names foreign nations, including Egypt and Babylon, as peoples who know Him and records them as citizens born in Zion, and musicians sing of the source of all their joy.
General
According to 87:2, what does the LORD love above every other place where Jacob's people live?
Answer: The entrances of His city Zion
This short song, credited to the sons of Korah, begins with God's city. God Himself laid its foundation on His holy mountains (87:1). The LORD prizes the entryways of Zion, the hill in Jerusalem where His temple stood, above any other place where Jacob's descendants live (87:2), and splendid things are said about this city of God (87:3). Zion's honor comes from God's choice and love, not from its own greatness. Other psalms say the same: the LORD chose Zion and desired it as His home (Psalm 132:13-14), He picked out Mount Zion as the object of His love (Psalm 78:68), and it is the great King's own city (Psalm 48:1-2).
- Psalm 87:1-3 (BSB)“A Psalm of the sons of Korah. A song. He has founded His city on the holy mountains. The LORD loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob. Glorious things are ascribed to you, O city of God. Selah”The psalm opens by celebrating the city God founded and the special love He has for Zion.
- Psalm 132:13-14 (BSB)“For the LORD has chosen Zion; He has desired it for His home: “This is My resting place forever and ever; here I will dwell, for I have desired this home.”Another psalm says the LORD chose Zion and desired it as His dwelling place.
- Psalm 78:68 (BSB)“But He chose the tribe of Judah, Mount Zion, which He loved.”Asaph says God chose the tribe of Judah and Mount Zion, which He loved.
- Psalm 48:1-2 (BSB)“A song. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, His holy mountain. Beautiful in loftiness, the joy of all the earth, like the peaks of Zaphon is Mount Zion, the city of the great King.”A psalm of the sons of Korah praises Mount Zion as the city of the great King.
Theological
What does 87:2 say the LORD prizes above all Jacob's other habitations?
Answer: The entrances of His city Zion
87:1-3 grounds Zion's glory in divine initiative: God laid the foundations of His city upon the sacred heights, and the LORD prizes Zion's entryways above every other habitation of Jacob; splendid things are spoken of God's city. Zion's privilege is a matter of election, not intrinsic worth. Psalm 132:13-14 speaks of the LORD choosing and desiring Zion as His resting place, Psalm 78:68 of His choosing the mount He loved, and Psalm 48:1-2 of Zion as the great King's city.
- Psalm 87:1-3 (BSB)“A Psalm of the sons of Korah. A song. He has founded His city on the holy mountains. The LORD loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob. Glorious things are ascribed to you, O city of God. Selah”The psalm opens by celebrating the city God founded and the special love He has for Zion.
- Psalm 132:13-14 (BSB)“For the LORD has chosen Zion; He has desired it for His home: “This is My resting place forever and ever; here I will dwell, for I have desired this home.”Another psalm says the LORD chose Zion and desired it as His dwelling place.
- Psalm 78:68 (BSB)“But He chose the tribe of Judah, Mount Zion, which He loved.”Asaph says God chose the tribe of Judah and Mount Zion, which He loved.
- Psalm 48:1-2 (BSB)“A song. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, His holy mountain. Beautiful in loftiness, the joy of all the earth, like the peaks of Zaphon is Mount Zion, the city of the great King.”A psalm of the sons of Korah praises Mount Zion as the city of the great King.
General
What is surprising about the peoples God names in 87:4?
Answer: They are foreign peoples, even old foes, counted as Zion-born
In 87:4 God Himself speaks. He names Rahab (a poetic name for Egypt, as in Isaiah 30:7), Babylon, Philistia, Tyre, and also Cush (the land south of Egypt) as peoples who know Him, and He says of each that it counts as native to Zion. These were foreign peoples, and several had been Israel's oppressors or enemies. Yet God counts people from these nations as true citizens of His city, as if they had been born there. Isaiah likewise foresees Egypt and Assyria blessed alongside Israel as God's people (Isaiah 19:24-25), and God says His house will be a place of prayer for every nation (Isaiah 56:7).
- Psalm 87:4 (BSB)““I will mention Rahab and Babylon among those who know Me—along with Philistia, Tyre, and Cush—when I say, ‘This one was born in Zion.’””God names foreign nations, including old enemies, as peoples who know Him and are counted as born in Zion.
- Isaiah 30:7 (BSB)“Egypt’s help is futile and empty; therefore I have called her Rahab Who Sits Still.”Isaiah uses Rahab as a name for Egypt.
- Isaiah 19:24-25 (BSB)“In that day Israel will join a three-party alliance with Egypt and Assyria—a blessing upon the earth. The LORD of Hosts will bless them, saying, “Blessed be Egypt My people, Assyria My handiwork, and Israel My inheritance.””Isaiah pictures a day when Egypt and Assyria are blessed alongside Israel as God's people.
- Isaiah 56:7 (BSB)“I will bring them to My holy mountain and make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be accepted on My altar, for My house will be called a house of prayer for all the nations.””God says His house will be called a house of prayer for all the nations.
Theological
What is remarkable about the list of peoples in 87:4?
Answer: They are foreign peoples, even old foes, counted as Zion-born
In the divine speech of 87:4, the LORD names Gentile peoples, Rahab (Egypt, as in Isaiah 30:7), Babylon, Philistia, Tyre, and also Cush, as peoples who know Him, and declares each to have been born in Zion. Former oppressors and rivals are granted the status of native-born citizens of God's own city. The same widening vision appears in Isaiah 19:24-25, where Egypt and Assyria are named God's people alongside Israel, and in Isaiah 56:7, where God's house is to be a place of prayer open to every people.
- Psalm 87:4 (BSB)““I will mention Rahab and Babylon among those who know Me—along with Philistia, Tyre, and Cush—when I say, ‘This one was born in Zion.’””God names foreign nations, including old enemies, as peoples who know Him and are counted as born in Zion.
- Isaiah 30:7 (BSB)“Egypt’s help is futile and empty; therefore I have called her Rahab Who Sits Still.”Isaiah uses Rahab as a name for Egypt.
- Isaiah 19:24-25 (BSB)“In that day Israel will join a three-party alliance with Egypt and Assyria—a blessing upon the earth. The LORD of Hosts will bless them, saying, “Blessed be Egypt My people, Assyria My handiwork, and Israel My inheritance.””Isaiah pictures a day when Egypt and Assyria are blessed alongside Israel as God's people.
- Isaiah 56:7 (BSB)“I will bring them to My holy mountain and make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be accepted on My altar, for My house will be called a house of prayer for all the nations.””God says His house will be called a house of prayer for all the nations.
General
True or False: According to 87:6, it is the LORD Himself who records in His list of the peoples which ones were born in Zion.
Answer: True
This is true. The psalm says that one person after another will be spoken of as born in Zion, and that God Most High will personally make the city firm (87:5). Then the LORD is pictured keeping an official list of the peoples and noting beside each name that the person is Zion-born (87:6). Citizenship in God's city is recorded by God, not claimed by human effort. Jesus tells His followers to be glad that their names are recorded in heaven (Luke 10:20), and Hebrews describes believers coming to Mount Zion, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an assembly whose members are enrolled in heaven (Hebrews 12:22-23). Paul uses a related picture when he calls the Jerusalem above the mother of believers (Galatians 4:26).
- Psalm 87:5-6 (BSB)“And it will be said of Zion: “This one and that one were born in her, and the Most High Himself will establish her.” The LORD will record in the register of the peoples: “This one was born in Zion.” Selah”Zion is established by the Most High, and the LORD Himself records who belongs to her.
- Luke 10:20 (BSB)“Nevertheless, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.””Jesus tells His disciples to rejoice that their names are written in heaven.
- Hebrews 12:22-23 (BSB)“Instead, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to myriads of angels in joyful assembly, to the congregation of the firstborn, enrolled in heaven. You have come to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect,”Hebrews says believers have come to Mount Zion, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to the assembly enrolled in heaven.
- Galatians 4:26 (BSB)“But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother.”Paul speaks of the Jerusalem above as the mother of believers.
Theological
True or False: In 87:6 the LORD Himself enrolls the peoples in His register as native-born citizens of Zion.
Answer: True
This is true. 87:5 promises that many will be reckoned born in Zion and that God Most High will make her secure; 87:6 pictures the LORD keeping the census of the peoples and recording each as born there. Membership in God's city is by divine enrollment. The New Testament uses the same idea of a heavenly register: the disciples' names are recorded in heaven (Luke 10:20), and the church has come to the heavenly Jerusalem, the gathering of the firstborn whose names are registered above (Hebrews 12:22-23). Paul's language of the Jerusalem above as the mother of believers (Galatians 4:26) is a related picture of birth into God's city.
- Psalm 87:5-6 (BSB)“And it will be said of Zion: “This one and that one were born in her, and the Most High Himself will establish her.” The LORD will record in the register of the peoples: “This one was born in Zion.” Selah”Zion is established by the Most High, and the LORD Himself records who belongs to her.
- Luke 10:20 (BSB)“Nevertheless, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.””Jesus tells His disciples to rejoice that their names are written in heaven.
- Hebrews 12:22-23 (BSB)“Instead, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to myriads of angels in joyful assembly, to the congregation of the firstborn, enrolled in heaven. You have come to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect,”Hebrews says believers have come to Mount Zion, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to the assembly enrolled in heaven.
- Galatians 4:26 (BSB)“But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother.”Paul speaks of the Jerusalem above as the mother of believers.
General
How does Psalm 87 close?
Answer: With musicians proclaiming the source of all their joy
The psalm ends with music. Singers and pipers (players of flutes) declare that every spring of their gladness is found in the one they address (87:7). Readers differ on whether that one is Zion, the city addressed earlier in the psalm (87:3), or God Himself; either way, springs of water were life itself in a dry land, so the picture means that everything that refreshes and gladdens God's people flows from God's presence in His city. Another psalm credited to Korah's descendants pictures a river with channels that gladden God's city (Psalm 46:4). David says the source of life is with God (Psalm 36:8-9), and Isaiah pictures God's people drawing water with joy from salvation's springs (Isaiah 12:3).
- Psalm 87:7 (BSB)“Singers and pipers will proclaim, “All my springs of joy are in You.””The psalm ends with musicians proclaiming where every source of their joy is found.
- Psalm 46:4 (BSB)“There is a river whose streams delight the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells.”Another psalm of the sons of Korah pictures a river whose streams delight the city of God.
- Psalm 36:8-9 (BSB)“They feast on the abundance of Your house, and You give them drink from Your river of delights. For with You is the fountain of life; in Your light we see light.”David says the fountain of life is with God, who gives His people drink from His river of delights.
- Isaiah 12:3 (BSB)“With joy you will draw water from the springs of salvation,”Isaiah pictures God's people joyfully drawing water from salvation's springs.
Theological
With what scene does Psalm 87 conclude in 87:7?
Answer: With musicians proclaiming the source of all their joy
87:7 closes with festal musicians confessing that all their springs are in the one addressed. Interpreters differ on whether the address is to Zion (as in 87:3) or to God; on either reading the image of springs in an arid land denotes the source of life and refreshment, and the city's joy derives from God's presence within it, not from anything the city supplies by itself. The same imagery appears in Psalm 46:4 (the river that gladdens God's city), Psalm 36:8-9 (the source of life is with God), and Isaiah 12:3 (drawing water with joy from salvation's springs).
- Psalm 87:7 (BSB)“Singers and pipers will proclaim, “All my springs of joy are in You.””The psalm ends with musicians proclaiming where every source of their joy is found.
- Psalm 46:4 (BSB)“There is a river whose streams delight the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells.”Another psalm of the sons of Korah pictures a river whose streams delight the city of God.
- Psalm 36:8-9 (BSB)“They feast on the abundance of Your house, and You give them drink from Your river of delights. For with You is the fountain of life; in Your light we see light.”David says the fountain of life is with God, who gives His people drink from His river of delights.
- Isaiah 12:3 (BSB)“With joy you will draw water from the springs of salvation,”Isaiah pictures God's people joyfully drawing water from salvation's springs.