Psalm 87 The City of God
I. HER FIRM FOUNDATION
1 His foundation is in the holy mountains.
Or On the holy mount stands the city he founded;
Its Provenance - His foundation - means “His founded city”
Isaiah 28:16 therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.
Matt 21:42 Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes
Heb 11:16 But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city - The final and ultimate fulfillment of Mount Zion is Jesus Christ and His Church.
Its Permanence - His foundation is in (Present Tense)
Its Prominence - 1 His foundation is in the holy mountains.
Psalm 48:2 Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King.
II. HER FULL FAVOUR
2 The Lord loveth the gates of Zion, more than all the dwellings of Jacob
She is Fully Loved - Ephs 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
She is Faithfully Led - Psalm 32:8 I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.
She is Finally Liberated - Rev 19:7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him:
for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. 8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. 9 And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.
III. HER FAITHFUL FOUNDER
3 Glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God. Selah.
Glorious things - John Newton's Hymn Speaks Of - v. 1 Her Position, v. 2 Her Provision,
v. 3 Her Protection, v. 4 Her Profession - Saviour, if of Zion's city, I, thro' grace, a member am
let the world deride or pity, I will glory in thy name; fading is the worldling's pleasure, all his boasted pomp and show; solid joys and lasting treasure, none but Zion's children know.
IV. HER FUSED FOLD
4 I will make mention of Rahab and Babylon to them that know me: behold Philistia,
and Tyre, with Ethiopia; this man was born there.
Rahab (Egyptians) Babylonians, Philistines, Tyrians, Ethiopians
The future Jerusalem will be the mother of all peoples - Luke 2:10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
Ephesians 2:13 but now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
V. HER FITTING FAMILY - They are
Recounted - 5 And of Zion it shall be said,
Recorded - This and that man was born in her:
Recovered - and the highest himself shall establish her.
Recalled - 6 The Lord shall count, when he writeth up the people,
And Recompensed - that this man was born there. Selah. Romans 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 17 and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. 18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
NOT heirs with Christ - BUT joint-heirs with Christ - we get everything
VI. HER FINAL FOCUS - 7 As well the singers as the players on instruments shall be there: all my springs are in thee