Psalm 87 - Zion

Psalm 87:1-4, 7 NIV

He has founded his city on the holy mountain. 

The Lord loves the gates of Zion

 more than all the other dwellings of Jacob. 

Glorious things are said of you, city of God:

 “I will record Rahab and Babylon among those who acknowledge me—

 Philistia too, and Tyre, along with Cush —

 and will say, ‘This one was born in Zion.’ ” 

As they make music they will sing, “All my fountains are in you.”

Psalm 87 could easily be titled as "Ode to Jerusalem." This is more poetry than prayer. It's liturgical for temple worship.

Much of the worship conducted at the temple was done by the priests with the assistance of Levites. They would perform services to the Lord without a congregation watching. Only those given the task and privilege of serving in the Lord's temple witness most of the worship there. Perhaps Psalm 87 was part of their writings and used to celebrate the city, the mount upon which God placed His Name and chose as His earthly dwelling.

Think of other songs celebrating towns. Sinatra's New York, New York is the first that comes to mind. Then I think of "Chicago, Chicago that toddling town." And then I remember "Back Home Again in Indiana." The Broadway musical The Music Man contributed the song, "Gary, Indiana." I live not 20 minutes from there.

All these songs celebrate things about the places they sing of. Sinatra sang of the city that never sleeps. He wants to be a part of it. He believes if he can make it in that town he'll make it anywhere.

When Sinatra sang of Chicago he boasted they do things on State Street they never do on Broadway (meaning the Theater District in New York City). He boasts that Chicago is a town Billy Sunday, a famous evangelist, couldn't shut down. Sunday was converted to faith in Christ at a mission on State Street in Chicago. He deplored the kind of life Sinatra celebrates. He preached against boozing and fornication, dancing and smoking. These were sinful, Sunday preached, but Sinatra thinks such behavior gives people the time of their lives!

How different is the heart of the one who celebrates Jerusalem! Sodom and Gomorrah have their shameful infamy, but Jerusalem is known for God. Three major faiths call Jerusalem blessed. It is a spiritual home to billions. Abraham obediently offered Isaac there. The Muslims believe Muhammad ascended to heaven from there. Jesus was crucified, died, and rose again in Jerusalem. It's name means the city of peace. It's the city of God.

After acknowledging that God has established the city, the psalm lifts up a vision of all the neighboring nations honoring the God whose name dwells in Zion. The psalm makes the boast that others will say with esteemed honor, "This one was born in Zion." And even God boasts, "All my fountains are in you."

I think of the Sunday School song, Sunbeam. The idea is to shine for Jesus, to be a witness to His love. To be a fountain for God is also about being a witness, a sign to others that points to the blessed life lived in obedience to God. Fountains were a sign of life and abundance. A well of water gives life in the desert. An oasis is truly salvation for the thirsty. Jerusalem represents God's life giving presence among His people, his fountains. They are to bubble over with His blessings and bless the world with the knowledge of God.

Others may wine and dine, dance and fornicate their lives away. Their sign is the sewer. But the people of God drink from fountains of living water welling up to eternal life. Rather than leading a life of self indulgence, they humbly serve the living God and His love spills out of them over into the lives of their neighbors.

Now that the Spirit of God dwells in those who are in Christ, perhaps the nations will boast, "This one is born of heaven."