Psalms 87

His foundation is in the holy mountains; Wesley: Its foundation—the foundation of the temple of God. God-founded city on holy mountains.

Temple foundation language honors the place God chose. Start with his founding, not civic boast.

Calvin: foundations refer to God founding Jerusalem among surrounding holy mountains; difference from other cities—Jerusalem his peculiar sanctuary and royal seat, not mere civil polity.

Holy mount; city he founded. Spiritual government and true worship were then nowhere but in Jerusalem.

“The LORD loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob.” Wesley: Zion—Jerusalem, loved for Zion's sake / the temple. Both readings hold: preferential love for Zion's gates.

Love for the temple-seat explains the preference. Jacob's other dwellings are not despised; Zion is prized.

Calvin: excellence depends on free choice; God rejected Shiloh and Joseph's tabernacle to dwell in Zion which he loved. Why so distinguished? Because it so pleased God. Free love is the source.

Loves Zion's gates above Jacob's dwellings. Trace preference to divine pleasure, not urban merit.

Glorious things are spoken about you, city of God. Selah Shared: speech of glory over God's city; Selah.

Pause at Selah over spoken glory. The city's fame is theological before it is political.

Calvin: glorious things spoken of the city of God—her praise is what God speaks and does concerning her.

Glorious things are spoken of Zion. Let God-talk define Zion's honor.

I will record Rahab and Babylon among those who acknowledge me; Philistia, Tyre, and Ethiopia too—“This one was born there.” Wesley: Rahab—Egypt; under these enemies, all enemies of the church reconciled and united. Former foes counted as born in Zion's knowledge.

Conversion of the nations is the song. Enemies become citizens by new birth language.

Calvin: Rahab and Babel among those who acknowledge me; Philistines, Tyre, Ethiopia—he is born there. Gentile inclusion into Zion's citizenship; Jewish ears softened by noting Gentiles also are God's creatures.

Rahab, Babylon, Philistia, Tyre, Cush named; born there. Christ-ward reading of Gentile birth into the city.

And of Zion it will be said, “This one and that one was born in her,” and the Most High himself will establish her. Wesley: Man and man—all sorts without national difference; Establish—lasting, Almighty founder. Many born in her; Most High establishes.

No ethnic monopoly on Zion's birth register. Stability is God's work.

Calvin: man and man born in her; Most High himself will establish her—numerous citizens from the nations; her permanence rests on God, not census alone.

This and that one born; Most High establishes. Church strength is the Highest's establishing.

The LORD will count, when he writes up the peoples, “This one was born there.” Selah Wesley: When—God surveys citizens as princes keep a register. Agreed: the LORD's own enrollment of peoples; Selah.

Heaven's register, not merely earth's. Pause over divine census language.

Calvin: the Lord will recount when he writes the peoples—he is born there. Divine bookkeeping of citizenship in Zion.

LORD records; peoples registered; born there. Belonging is written by God.

Those who sing as well as those who dance say, “All my springs are in you.” Wesley: Singers—rejoicing for Gentile conversion; evangelical worship under legal phrases; In thee—springs of mercy, grace, glory.

Let worship name its source. All desires and delights flow only through the city of God.

Calvin: singers and players; all my springs in thee—metaphor of joy and sources; Zion is the fountain-place of the people's gladness.

Singers and dancers; all springs in you. Trace every spring of grace to God's dwelling with his people.