The Book of Psalms

Psalm 87

Psalm LXXXVII · Vol. II, p. 1043

1 The seat and glory of the church. 4 The increase, honour, and comfort of the members thereof.

Margin referencesNotes ↓

A psalm or song for¹ the sons of Korah.

1 His foundation^a is in the holy mountains.

B.C. cir. 1045.

1 Or, of.

a 2 Ch.3.1. Ps.48.1,2; 78.67-69. Mat.16.18. Is.2.2,3.

2 The^b LORD loveth the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob.²

b 2 Ch.6.6. Ps.132.13,14.

2 See Ps.78.67.—C.

3 Glorious^c things are spoken of thee, O city of God. Selah.³

c Hag.2.9. Is.49.16-26; 54.1-17; 55.1-13; 56.8; 57.15-20; 59.19-21; lx.-lxii. lxv. lvi. Je.iii. xxxi. xxxiii. Eze.xxxiv. xxxvi. xxxvii. xl.-xlviii., &c. Re.21.2.

3 See note on Ps.3.2.—C.

4 I will make mention of Rahab⁴ and Babylon to them that know me: behold ^dPhilistia, and Tyre, with Ethiopia; this man⁵ was ^eborn there.

A.M. cir. 2959. B.C. cir. 1045.

4 Or, Egypt, Ps.89.10. Is.51.9; 19.16-25. 1 Pe.5.13.

d Ac.8.27,40; 21.3,4; 8.27. Ps.45.12; 68.31.

5 This man. Man is not in the original. The meaning seems to be—these renowned Egyptians, &c., were born there—each in his own celebrated country. 'But of Zion it shall be said'—her glory above all lands—'The man of men,' the Messiah, was born in her.—C.

e Jn.1.12,13; 3.3,5,7. Ga.3.26; 4.26. 1 Pe.1.23. 2 Co.5.17.

5 And^g of Zion it shall be said, This and that man was born in her; ^hand the Highest himself shall establish her.

g Is.60.1-9; 49.12,20; 19.24,25; 44.4,5. Col.3.11. Ga.3.28.

h Mat.16.18. Is.22.23,24.

6 The LORD shall count, when he ⁱwriteth up the people, that this man was born there. Selah.

i Eze.13.9. Is.4.3. Ps.22.30. Je.3.19.

7 As^j well the singers as the players on instruments shall be there: ^kall my springs are in thee.⁶

j 1 Ch.23.5. Ps.68.25,26. Re.14.1-3.

k Ja.1.17. Ps.46.4. Re.22.1,2. Ca.4.15. Is.12.3.

6 All the sources of pleasure, happiness, and life, are in thee—in Zion, because God and his ordinances are there.—P.

Notes

Ver. 1. The chief object of this psalm is to show the advantages of religious ordinances and religious training. Especially the psalmist illustrates the great benefit of having been born and educated in the holy city, where God is honoured, and where the enlightening, restraining, and quickening influences of his worship are felt. P.——The Lord's foundation is Christ, 1 Co. 3. 10, upon whom are builded, first apostles and prophets, then the whole church, Ep. 2. 20; and this foundation rests upon the mountains, the high raised strength of the Redeemer's holiness, ver. 2. See Ps. 78. 68. C.

Ver. 4. I will mention Egypt, Ps. 89. 10; Is. 51. 9, 10, whom I judged with many plagues, and whence I delivered my people at the first; and Babylon, which I have doomed to extirpation, because she led Zion captive. Behold, also, Philistia, whose persevering enmity I have foiled and punished; Tyre, that once great city, which I have left a desolate rock—with the whole land of Ethiopia (Cush), which I have swept with successive judgments—and all this I have done for my Zion's sake. C.

Reflections.—Behold how firmly and publicly our gospel church is founded upon Jesus Christ the Rock of ages! And how Jehovah delights in fellowship with his people in the public and private ordinances of his grace. Glorious things are spoken of her foundation, her ordinances, her members, her properties, her fulness. And under the influence of almighty grace the heathen nations on every side crowd into her. Behold also the exact and kind care which God takes of every true member! And great spiritual joy and rejoicing, and fresh springs of salvation, are found in her by the saints.