Sunday, July 1, 2012 pm
“Glorious Things Are
Spoken of Zion”
PSALM 87
This is a psalm about the holy city of Zion, a name attributed to
Jerusalem, the city of David.
We will have more to say about this as we examine this psalm.
It is a psalm of praise devoted to God for His care and concern
for His holy city.
Its
superscription attributes it to the sons of Korah, musicians associated
with temple worship. As to
its timing we are not told, but some believe it was written shortly
after the deliverance of Jerusalem from the hands of Sennacherib. (2
Kings 18-19, 2 Chron. 32, Isa. 37)
This is so for several reasons:
1)
The psalm is written as
if the city has been established for a while – since great and glorious
things have happened with her walls.
This would lend doubt to it being written during the time of
David.
2)
The spectacular
deliverance of Jerusalem from the Assyrian army caused the world to take
notice and fear God. Such an
event would be cause for the godly to write psalms such as this one.
3)
The mention of various
nations (Babylon, Tyre, Philistia, Ethiopia, etc.) could put it in this
time frame – Babylon is specifically mentioned in 2 Kings 20 after
Hezekiah’s life is extended.
They sent envoys with letters and gifts. (20:12-13)
4)
Vs. 2 of the psalm notes
that “the Lord loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of
Jacob.” During the time of
the Assyrian assault, Samaria and Northern Israel, with their cities,
fell forever. Also many
cities in Judah fell (2 Kings 18:13).
But Jerusalem was spared and the stopping point.
But
this psalm also has spiritual implications that extend beyond the time
of the psalm itself to our present day Zion, and it is therein that we
find our greatest hope. In
fact, some see it as prophetic of the church, especially her being
receptive of all nations.
Let us examine this psalm.
a.
His foundation is in the
holy mountains – mountains had great significance in the Bible –
Mt. Sinai where the law was given (Ex. 20), Mts Ebal and Gerazim were
mountains where Israel, after inheriting the land were to remind
themselves of the blessings of keeping the word of the Lord and cursings
of rejecting Him (Josh. 8:30-35), Mt. Carmel where the prophets of Baal
were exposed by Eljah and Jehovah God (2 Kings 18), Mt. Ararat where the
Ark rested (Gen. 8:4), Pisgah – where Moses viewed the Promised Land and
then died(Deut. 34:1-2). IN the
New Testament we read of the mount of transfiguration (Matt. 17:1).
Also consider that
Jerusalem was in the hill country which we shall see in our text is what
the Psalmist makes reference to.
b.
The Lord loves the gates
of Zion –
i.
Zion a reference to physical Jerusalem
– we first read of it in 2 Sam. 5:7 where we find that David defeats
“the stronghold of Zion (that is, the city of David).”
(cf. 1 Kn. 8:1)
As Sennacherib, of Assyira was sieging the city and blaspheming God,
Hezekiah inquired of the Lord concerning the fate of Jerusalem thought
Isaiah. The message that
came back against Assyria was “The virgin, the daughter of Zion, has
despised you, laughed you to scorn; The daughter of Jerusalem has shaken
her head behind your back.” (2 Kings 19:21).
There was also a message that the remnant would escape out of
Zion (19:31). This is
followed by the promise that Assyria would not breach the walls of
Jerusalem. Sennacherib and
his army were defeated by God.
ii.
Jerusalem was also described as “the city of God” (vs. 3).
It was where the tabernacle eventually rested (2 Sam. 6) and where the
temple would be built by Solomon (cf. 2 Sam. 7, 1 Kings 5-6).
Throughout its history, God protected her from all sorts of
enemies. He loved her as she
represented His place of dwelling with mankind, especially His chosen
people. When Judah was
unfaithful, often times the name of Jerusalem would include all God’s
people. Eventually, because
of their idolatry, God would send them away into Babylonian captivity
which would teach them once and for all that you must choose God!
iii.
But often times the word is used to describe the remnant or future hope of
Jerusalem
– especially the word
Zion. Often in the prophets,
when Zion is used, there is a dual implication – describing events that
would happen in the future AND a spiritual relationship with God.
1.
For out of Zion shall go
forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem – Isa. 2:2-3
2.
Psa. 2:6, a messianic
psalm, “Yet I have set My King on My holy hill of Zion.”
(We will read much more about Zion in coming psalms)
3.
Isa. 52:7, “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good
news, who proclaims peace, who brings glad tidings of good things, who
proclaims salvation, who says to Zion, ‘Your God reigns.’” (See Rom.
10:15)
4.
Isa. 59:20, “The redeemer will come to Zion, and to those who turn from transgression
in Jacob,’ Says the Lord.”
5.
Isa. 60:14, speaking of
nations, similar to our psalm, “Also
the sons of those who afflicted you shall come bowing to you, and all
those who despised you shall fall prostrate at the soles of your feet;
And they shall call you The City of the Lord, Zion of the Holy One of
Israel.”
6.
Zechariah 8:2-3, written
after the return from Babylonian captivity and in an attempt to inspire
the people to resume building the temple we read, “Thus
says the Lord of hosts: ‘I am zealous for Zion with great zeal; With
great fervor I am zealous for her.’
‘Thus says the Lord: ‘I will return to Zion, and dwell in the
midst of Jerusalem.
Jerusalem shall be called the City of truth, The Mountain of the Lord of
hosts, The Holy Mountain.”
7.
Jerusalem, is the place
where the church/kingdom began – Acts 2, cf. Joel 2:28-32
8.
We can go on and on
showing Zion (Jerusalem) associated with God and His people.
9.
One final thought before
we move on – In the New Testament we read of “the New Jerusalem.”
Rev. 3:12 speaks of he who overcomes, “I will make him a pillar
in the temple of MY God, and he shall go out no more.
I will write on him the name of MY God and them of the city of My
God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God.
And I will write on him My new name.”
This ‘new Jerusalem’ is associated with His kingdom.
In Rev. 21:2 John sees this new Jerusalem coming down out of
heaven as a bride adorned for her husband.
Heb. 12:22-24 says, “But you have
come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly
Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly
and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the
judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, to Jesus the
Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks
better things than that of Abel.”
c.
May we, in such
descriptions see hope for us!
Consider this description of Jerusalem as we consider the
following verses from our psalm:
i.
Vs. 2 - Loved more than all the dwellings of Jacob
– Jacob is traditionally a description of Israel as a whole.
Certainly God loved all His people, but Jerusalem was where His
temple was and where He met with Israel and they met with Him.
It was representative of the nation, being its capitol.
ii.
Vs. 3 - Glorious things are spoken of you
– the history of Jerusalem, from its taking by David was glorious –
recall when David brought the ark into the city, when Solomon completed
the temple and the glory of God filled her, numerous victories over her
enemies including the defeat of Sennacherib.
There were godly kings such as
Josiah & David who made this city great and at times the envy of the
world.
And let us NOT forget the future hope that even they anticipated.
And of course, if this be
prophetic we know of the most glorious of things being the coming of our
Lord who would be the sacrifice for our sins and the beginning of the
church in that city – Acts 2
iii.
O city of God – Jerusalem through the ages, His city –both ancient Jerusalem and the
“new Jerusalem”
a.
I find the wording of
these verses challenging.
Perhaps the reason for such is the possibility of multiple meanings.
They could refer physically to the acknowledgment of other
nations that Jehovah God is sovereign OR they could refer to a future,
spiritual realm (within God’s kingdom) in which all nations will flow to
this Zion OR both (dual implication). Considering
our discussion of Zion and Jerusalem above, this prompts an interesting
discussion.
b.
Verse 4 - The psalmist
now lists a number of nations that had experienced prominence, primarily
in opposition to Israel and Judah.
Each had its own gods:
Rahab is a reference to Egypt (cf. Isa.51:9) – with its many gods,
Babylon – a rising kingdom as mentioned previously, who also worshipped
its own gods, including Marduk, the god of the city.
Philistia – home of the Philistines, a nation that was a source of
continued trouble to Israel.
Their gods included Dagon, Ashtoreth and Baal-zebub.
Tyre – a coastal city of the Phoenicians, who worshipped the Baals.
IT was from this region that wicked Jezebel, wife of Ahab came.
Ethiopia – out of Africa (also known as Cush) was at the southern region
of Egypt and allied with her.
We do not know of her specific gods, but their idolatry would be
shared with Egypt.
c.
Different versions read
differently concerning this verse.
NKJV, “I will make mention of
Rahab and Babylon to those
who know Me” (KJV, similar – “them”)
NASU, “I shall mention Rahab and
Babylon among those who know
Me”
ASV, “I will make mention of Rahab
and Babylon as among them
that know me.”
EVS, “Among those who know me I
mention Rahab and Babylon.”
In this verse (4) there is mention of these nations and those born
there. The verse seems
to be speaking of a time when those of nations such as these will be
“allied” with Zion, or joined with her
(if this has future reference – cf. Isa. 2:2 – “all nations”)
OR because of the greatness of God such nations recognize and bow before
Him and acknowledge those from Jerusalem – many of them at one time or
another DID submit to His will as they faced their fate.
d.
Vs. 5-6 - “Of Zion it will be said, ‘This one and that one were born in her; and
the Most High Himself shall establish her.”
In these verses we see the acknowledgment of these other nations,
concerning those born in Zion as being from God.
Vs. 6, It is the LORD who will record those registered there.
While not directly alluded to, I cannot help but think of Paul’s
description of the day of judgment when he says of Jesus, “Therefore
God has highly exalted Him and given Him a name which is above every
name, that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE SHOULD BOW, of those in
heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that
EVERY TONGUE should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of
the Father.” (Phil. 2:9-11)
Rom. 14:11, “As I live says the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue
shall confess to God” (cf. Isa. 45:23)
e.
The point in these
verses is that it is truly a blessing to be born in the kingdom that
belongs to the ONE True God. And that IS true both physically AND
spiritually!
a.
They will say, “All my
springs are in you.” (i.e. in Zion)
b.
The idea of a spring is
that which sustains life.
Waters and springs are often associated with life.
In the wilderness, water sprang forth on more than one occasion
to sustain Israel in the wilderness.
c.
The mention of singers
and players of instruments indicates a time of rejoicing – something
ALSO found in the Lord.