Psalms 87:1-7: a reflection

1His foundation is in the holy mountains. 2The LORD loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob. 3Glorious things are spoken about you, city of God. Selah. 4I will record Rahab and Babylon among those who acknowledge me. Behold, Philistia, Tyre, and also Ethiopia: “This one was born there.” 5Yes, of Zion it will be said, “This one and that one was born in her;” the Most High himself will establish her. 6The LORD will count, when he writes up the peoples, “This one was born there.” Selah. 7Those who sing as well as those who dance say, “All my springs are in you.”

This short psalm celebrates Zion, the city of God; but it does something surprising with the peoples of the nations. God records among those who acknowledge him not only Israel, but Rahab and Babylon, Philistia, Tyre, and Ethiopia, saying of each, This one was born there, counting them as born in Zion. Even the nations that had been outsiders, even enemies, are recorded by God as citizens of his city, born in Zion. The psalm looks forward to a city of God that gathers people from all nations, even former outsiders written in as native-born.

Notice the breadth of God's city: peoples of many nations, even former enemies, recorded as born in Zion. The psalm does not picture a city for one people only; it names the nations, even Babylon and Philistia, once enemies, and records them as citizens, born there. God's city gathers people from all nations, writing even former outsiders into its citizenship as though native-born. The breadth of it is surprising: those who had been far off, even enemies, are counted as belonging, born in the city of God. God gathers his people from every nation into his city.

That breadth is worth resting in, for it means God gathers people from all nations into his city, even those once far off. We can imagine God's people as a narrow group, from which those who were once outsiders or enemies are excluded; but the psalm records even Babylon and Philistia as born in Zion, gathered into God's city. God's city is broad, gathering people from every nation, writing in even former outsiders as citizens. And this is fulfilled in Christ, who gathers his people from every nation. Do not imagine God's people as a narrow group that excludes the once-far-off; his city gathers people from all nations, even former outsiders, as citizens. Rejoice that God gathers people from every nation into his city, writing in even those once far off as citizens born there, as the psalm records the nations as born in Zion; for God's city is broad, gathering his people from all nations, and in Christ even those once far off are brought near and made citizens of the city of God.

Lord, this short psalm celebrates Zion, the city of God; but it does something surprising with the peoples of the nations. You record among those who acknowledge you not only Israel, but Rahab and Babylon, Philistia, Tyre, and Ethiopia, saying of each, this one was born there, counting them as born in Zion. Even the nations that had been outsiders, even enemies, are recorded by you as citizens of your city, born in Zion. The psalm looks forward to a city of God that gathers people from all nations. Show me the breadth of your city: peoples of many nations, even former enemies, recorded as born in Zion. The psalm does not picture a city for one people only; it names the nations, even Babylon and Philistia, once enemies, and records them as citizens, born there. You gather people from all nations into your city, writing even former outsiders into its citizenship as though native-born. Those who had been far off, even enemies, are counted as belonging. Let me rest in that breadth, for it means you gather people from all nations into your city, even those once far off. I can imagine your people as a narrow group, from which those who were once outsiders or enemies are excluded; but the psalm records even Babylon and Philistia as born in Zion. Your city is broad, gathering people from every nation; and this is fulfilled in Christ, who gathers his people from every nation. Keep me from imagining your people as a narrow group that excludes the once-far-off; your city gathers people from all nations, even former outsiders, Lord. Help me rejoice that you gather people from every nation into your city, and that in Christ even those once far off are brought near and made citizens of the city of God.