Psalm 87

The way God “regards Zion’ is evident in its history. Jerusalem has been attacked 52 times, captured and recaptured 44 times, besieged 23 times, and destroyed twice.  With every battle parts of the city were destroyed. The original streets that Jesus walked are meters below where the modern streets are because every reconstruction was just built on top of the rubble.

The first word of the psalm is literally ‘His establishment’ – an abrupt and emphatic opening – and its hills are (lit.) ‘hills of holiness’ because God is there; it is not the other way round. The psalmist’s fervent love for Jerusalem is something more than national pride; Zion was founded by God Himself. The mountains on which it stands are made holy by the Divine dwelling.

Jerusalem was the centre of God’s redemptive work: Melchezadek reigned here. Abraham was willing to sacrifice Isaac in the same place Jesus would die, David made it his capital there, the tabernacle and all its significance of sacrifice and worship were built here. Jesus acknowledged the city and observed its feasts and temple rituals. There He died for our sins and the church was born in that city on the day of Pentecost. The gospel was sent out from her walls.

The crowds in the earthly Jerusalem are celebrating (v7). Reminiscent of the celebration before the throne of God on what is described as a “sea of glass.” (Rev15:2)

‘All my springs are in you’ (God): refers to the spontaneously flowing sources of water and to the life, refreshment, and to the goodness they bring to a dry land, or a parched life. How important that in our “dry times” that we drink from the wells supplied; the word of God, nature, fellowship, and prayer. If all our springs are in God, then let our streams flow to God like the rivers run to the sea from whence they came.

As this psalm sings of the old Jerusalem from the old covenant, so my heart longs for the New Jerusalem that Revelation describes as alighting on the newly recreated earth. There we will become eternal citizens as we roam the galaxies throughout eternity.