Table of Contents
Background and Context
Psalm 87 is a short but breathtakingly beautiful “Song of Zion,” written by the Sons of Korah, the guild of temple musicians. This psalm is one of the most remarkable missionary and prophetic psalms in the Old Testament. It looks forward with stunning clarity to a day when the city of God, Jerusalem (Zion), will be the spiritual birthplace and mother city not just for the people of Israel, but for people from all over the world, including Israel’s most hated enemies.
The psalm is a series of glorious declarations about the city that God has chosen. In a world where identity and citizenship were defined strictly by bloodline and birthplace, Psalm 87 presents a radical new vision: true citizenship is determined by a spiritual rebirth into the family of the God of Zion. It is a prophetic jewel that finds its ultimate fulfillment in the New Testament church, which is comprised of people from every nation, tribe, and tongue.
Theological Themes
This concise psalm contains some of the most expansive and gracious theological ideas in the Old Testament.
God’s Sovereign Love for Zion: The psalm begins by grounding everything in God’s choice and His love. He has set His foundation on the holy mountain, and He “loves the gates of Zion more than all the other dwellings of Jacob” (verse 2). Zion’s significance does not come from its geographical size or political power, but from the fact that it is the object of God’s special, elective love. It is the place He has chosen to make His name dwell.
A Radical Vision of Global Inclusion: The most stunning theme is the universal scope of God’s kingdom. The psalmist, speaking for God, names a list of Gentile nations, including historic enemies and oppressors like Rahab (a poetic name for Egypt) and Babylon. He declares that people from these nations will be counted among those who know the Lord. This is a radical vision of grace that breaks down all national and ethnic barriers.
Spiritual Rebirth and Heavenly Citizenship: The central, repeated declaration of the psalm is “This one was born in Zion” (verses 4, 5, 6). This is a profound Old Testament picture of spiritual regeneration or being “born again.” A person’s true identity is no longer defined by their earthly birthplace (Egypt, Babylon, etc.) but by their new, spiritual birthplace in God’s holy city. The Lord Himself acts as the registrar, writing the names of these new citizens in His heavenly book.
Zion as the Source of All Blessing: The psalm ends with a joyful celebration. Singers and dancers declare that all their “fountains are in you” (verse 7). Zion, as the city of God’s presence, is the source of all life-giving springs, all joy, all hope, and all blessing for all the peoples of the earth.
Literary Structure and Genre
Psalm 87 is a Song of Zion. Its structure is not a lament or a narrative, but a series of glorious, prophetic pronouncements, almost like a town crier making a series of incredible announcements about the city.
- Verses 1-3: An introduction to the glory of Zion, the city God loves.
- Verses 4-6: The central prophecy: the announcement that foreign peoples will be granted native-born citizenship in Zion.
- Verse 7: The concluding celebration: a song of joy declaring Zion as the source of all life.
Verse by Verse Commentary on Psalm 87
Verses 1-3: The City God Loves
“He has set his foundation on the holy mountain; the LORD loves the gates of Zion more than all the other dwellings of Jacob. Glorious things are said of you, city of God.”
The psalm opens by declaring that the city’s origin and stability are from God Himself. He has set its foundation. It is a holy mountain, set apart by His presence. Verse 2 contains a statement of God’s special affection. While He loves all the dwellings of His people, He has a particular love for the gates of Zion, the public center of the city where His temple stands. Because of this divine love and choice, the psalmist can declare that “Glorious things are said of you.” This sets the stage for the glorious announcements that are to follow.
Verses 4-6: The Universal Citizenship of Zion
“I will record Rahab and Babylon among those who acknowledge me—Philistia too, and Tyre, along with Cush—and will say, ‘This one was born in Zion.’ Indeed, of Zion it will be said, ‘This one and that one were born in her, and the Most High himself will establish her.’ The LORD will write in the register of the peoples: ‘This one was born in Zio1n.'”
This is the stunning heart of the psalm. God Himself is now speaking. He declares that He will “record” or “mention” some of Israel’s most formidable enemies among the list of His worshipers. Rahab is a poetic name for Egypt, the first great oppressor. Babylon was the future great oppressor. Philistia, Tyre, and Cush (ancient Ethiopia/Sudan) were other historic adversaries or distant pagan nations.
God’s declaration about them is shocking: He will say of individuals from these enemy nations, “This one was born in Zion.” Their spiritual identity will completely supersede their national identity. They will be granted full, native-born citizenship in God’s holy city.
The psalmist reflects on this in verse 5. It will become Zion’s greatest boast that her citizens come from all over the world. Her security is not in walls, but in the fact that the “Most High himself will establish her.“
Verse 6 repeats the divine promise in a new way. The LORD will conduct a census, and as He writes in the official register of the peoples, He will note of the Egyptian, the Babylonian, the Philistine: “This one was born in Zion.” This is a divine, legal declaration of their new birth and new citizenship in the kingdom of God.
Verse 7: The Fountain of All Joy
“As they make music they will sing, ‘All my fountains are in you.'”
The psalm ends with a short but vibrant picture of joyful celebration in this new, international city of God. There are singers and dancers (“they make music”). Their song is a declaration of Zion’s supreme worth. “All my fountains are in you.” A fountain, or a spring, in a dry land is the very source of life, refreshment, and joy. For the new, universal people of God, all that is life-giving, all that is refreshing, and all that brings joy is found in the city of God—in God Himself.
Practical Lessons for Today
God’s Love is for All Nations: Psalm 87 is a powerful Old Testament antidote to racism, nationalism, and ethnic prejudice. It shows that from the beginning, God’s heart has been for people from every nation, including those who were once His enemies. The ground is level at the foot of the cross.
Our True Citizenship is in Heaven: The psalm’s message that our spiritual birthplace is more important than our earthly one is a core New Testament truth. As believers, we are “fellow citizens with God’s people” (Ephesians 2:19), and our “citizenship is in heaven” (Philippians 3:20). Our primary identity is no longer defined by our nation or ethnicity, but by the fact that we have been “born again” into God’s family.
God Can Turn Enemies into Family: The inclusion of Egypt and Babylon in the list of Zion’s future citizens is a radical statement of God’s redemptive power. It gives us hope that no person and no nation is beyond the reach of God’s grace. He can take those who are hostile to Him and make them His own children.
All Our Springs are in Him: The final verse is a call to find our ultimate joy and satisfaction in God alone. While we may enjoy many sources of refreshment in this life, we must recognize that every one of them is a gift from the one true Fountain of living water. Our deepest and most lasting joy is found only in His presence.
Cross References
Isaiah 2:2-3: “In the last days the mountain of the LORD’s temple will be established as the highest of the mountains… and all nations will stream to it… The law will go out from Zion, the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.” The prophet Isaiah shares the same vision as the psalmist of Zion becoming the spiritual center of the world, drawing all nations to worship the one true God.
Isaiah 19:24-25: “In that day Israel will be the third, along with Egypt and Assyria, a blessing on the earth. The LORD Almighty will bless them, saying, ‘Blessed be Egypt my people, Assyria my handiwork, and Israel my inheritance2.'” This is another stunning prophecy of a day when Israel’s greatest enemies (Egypt and Assyria/Babylon) will be united with them as the people of God.
Galatians 3:28: “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” The Apostle Paul explains the fulfillment of Psalm 87’s vision. In Christ, all the old ethnic and social distinctions that divided humanity are erased.
Ephesians 2:19: “Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household.” Paul’s letter to the Gentile believers in Ephesus is a perfect commentary on Psalm 87. He tells them that through Christ, they who were once far off have been brought near and are now full citizens in God’s kingdom.