The City of God
Psalm 87 is a song of praise to God and celebration of Jerusalem as the centre of Israel’s spiritual life. The psalmist speaks of the grand position of the city of Zion as YHWH’s chosen dwelling place among the peoples of the world (87:1-3). Glorious things are spoken of Jerusalem because of God’s presence among His people (87:3).
The psalmist continues with God drawing attention to the worshippers of His that have come from the many Gentile nations (87:4). They have come to faith as if they had been born in Jerusalem like the Israelite worshipers (87:4).
We see this idea repeated in the New Testament in John 1:12-13, “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God...” God’s design for Jerusalem was to be a “city on a hill,” drawing the world to worship the one true God. The city has never quite lived up to this ideal. Yet, there will be a joyous time in the future, that ever-increasing numbers of believers will be incorporated into her as eternal citizens (87:5-7).
This psalm anticipates the glorious reality of the restored Jerusalem that will be established during the Millennial reign of Jesus Christ (Zech 14:16-21). It will be the seat of Jesus Christ’s worldwide rule and the spiritual centre for worship for all the earth (Jer 3:17). Maranatha!