Psalms 87:1

The Bible says in Psalm 87:1-3, “His foundation is in the holy mountains.[2] The LORD loveth the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob.[3] Glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God. Selah.” The Psalmist called the mountains of Israel “the holy mountains.” And then he focused on the city of Jerusalem. The Psalmist said in verse two that God loves Zion, which is another name for Jerusalem. If you are a student of the Bible then you know that of all the real estate on the earth, the one that God has especially blessed, and concerning which God made a covenant to Abraham, and God has fit so prominently into His eternal plan is Israel and Jerusalem. God loves all the dwellings of Jacob, but He loves Jerusalem even more. Verse three is a well-known verse because it is the basis of a Christian song that starts out: “Glorious things of thee are spoken, Zion city of our God. He, whose word cannot be broken, formed thee for his own abode.” The song was written by John Newton, the same man who wrote “Amazing Grace.” It is interesting that the city of heaven is called ‘the new Jerusalem.” It says in Revelation 3:12, “Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.” And it says in Revelation 21:2, “And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.”

It is interesting that Psalm 87:1 says that God’s “foundation” is in the holy mountains of Israel. Maybe the word “foundation” is used here because we must go all the way back to the book of Genesis and the life of Abraham to understand the importance of Israel in God’s great eternal plan. God made an unconditional promise to Abraham. It is called a covenant. In effect, God promised, and God always keeps His promises. The centuries roll by: nations come and go, but God always keeps His promises. It says in Genesis 12: 1-3, “Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee:[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:[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.” It says in Genesis 15:6, “And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.” This important verse is quoted by the Apostle Paul in Romans 4:1-3, “What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?[2] For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.[3] For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.” The way that we become rightly-related to God today is exactly the same spiritual principle. We believe in Jesus, and because of that, we are justified by grace through faith. The great promises that were made to Abraham are not only fulfilled by what happens in Israel and in Jerusalem, but are also fulfilled in all of us who believe in Jesus, the spiritual “seed” of Abraham. That is why it says in Galatians 3:14-16, “That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.[15] Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though it be but a man's covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto.[16] Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.”

The Bible says in Psalm 87:4-7, “I will make mention of Rahab and Babylon to them that know me: behold Philistia, and Tyre, with Ethiopia; this man was born there.[5] And of Zion it shall be said, This and that man was born in her: and the highest himself shall establish her.[6] The LORD shall count, when he writeth up the people, that this man was born there. Selah.[7] As well the singers as the players on instruments shall be there: all my springs are in thee.” The Psalmist thought that it would be a great blessing to be born in the city of Jerusalem. That is kind of an Old Testament view of things. According to the teachings of Jesus, it is more important to have a spiritual birth. Jesus said in John 3:3-8, “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.[4] Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?[5] Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.[6] That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.[7] Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.[8] The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.” It is not where you are from that is important, but where you are going. And to get to heaven, you must have the spiritual birth through faith in Christ.

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