# Psalm 87 📖: Zion, City of God [[📚 Explore the Bible Books]] [[-Psalm Overview]] | [[Psalm 86]] | [[Psalm 88]] > [!info] Table of Contents > [[#📜 Scripture Text (NET)]] > [[#📖 Verse-by-Verse Commentary]] > [[#🤔 Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights]] > [[#🧠 Chapter Summary]] > [[#✝️ Christ in This Chapter]] > [[#🔎 Key Principles / 🛟 Life Application]] > [[#💬 Discussion Questions]] > [[#✍️ Key Verses to Remember]] > [[#🔗 Related Passages/Cross Reference]] > [[#🙏 Devotional Reflection]] > [[#📂 Internal Notes]] ## 📜 Scripture Text (NET) (The NET Bible: New English Translation. Biblical Studies Press, 2005) #### Written by the Korahites; a psalm, a song. [[#Verse 01.]] The Lord’s city is in the holy hills. [[#Verse 02.]] The Lord loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwelling places of Jacob. [[#Verse 03.]] People say wonderful things about you, O city of God. (Selah) [[#Verse 04.]] I mention Rahab and Babylon to my followers. Here are Philistia and Tyre, along with Ethiopia. It is said of them, “This one was born there.” [[#Verse 05.]] But it is said of Zion’s residents, “Each one of these was born in her, and the Most High makes her secure.” [[#Verse 06.]] The Lord writes in the census book of the nations, “This one was born there.” (Selah) [[#Verse 07.]] As for the singers, as well as the pipers— all of them sing within your walls. ## 📖 Verse-by-Verse Commentary ###### Overall. ###### Verse 01. ###### Verse 02. ###### Verse 03. ###### Verse 04. ###### Verse 05. ###### Verse 06. ###### Verse 07. ## 🤔 Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights 1. Psalm 87 is a psalm of the sons of Korah and one of the shortest songs of Zion. 2. "Rahab" (87:4) here is a poetic name for Egypt (Isaiah 30:7), not Rahab of Jericho. 3. The nations listed (Egypt, Babylon, Philistia, Tyre, and Cush) were some of Israel's greatest enemies and trading partners. 4. Cush (87:4) refers to the region south of Egypt, roughly ancient Nubia. 5. The idea of a citizens' register (87:6) reflects ancient census and enrollment lists. 6. The psalm says people will be "born" in Zion (87:5), a picture of being adopted as full citizens. 7. Selah appears twice (87:3, 6). 8. The closing line about springs (87:7) pictures Zion as the source of life and joy. 9. The hymn "Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken" by John Newton draws on 87:3. 10. Isaiah 19:24-25 shares this vision of Egypt and Assyria joining Israel as God's people. ## 🧠 Chapter Summary > [!note] 🌱 Still growing. This section is on its way. ## ✝️ Christ in This Chapter Christ is the One in whom people from every nation are registered as citizens of Zion (87:4-6). Through Him, Gentiles are no longer foreigners but fellow citizens with the saints (Ephesians 2:19), and the Jerusalem above is our mother (Galatians 4:26). ## 🔎 Key Principles / 🛟 Life Application > [!note] 🌱 Still growing. This section is on its way. ## 💬 Discussion Questions 1. God loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob (87:2). What does this show about the place where God chooses to dwell? 2. Former enemies like Egypt and Babylon are counted among those who know God (87:4). How does this challenge the way we see people far from God? 3. God Himself records who was born in Zion (87:6). What does it mean to you that God keeps the register of His people? ## ✍️ Key Verses to Remember - 📖 verse 2: The Lord loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob. - 📖 verse 4: Even Egypt and Babylon are counted among those who acknowledge the Lord. - 📖 verse 6: The Lord writes in the register of the nations that each one was born in Zion. ## 🔗 Related Passages/Cross Reference - 🔗 [[Isaiah 02#Verse 02.|Isaiah 2:2-3]] - All nations will stream to the mountain of the Lord. - 🔗 [[Isaiah 19#Verse 23.|Isaiah 19:23-25]] - Egypt and Assyria blessed with Israel. - 🔗 [[Galatians 04#Verse 26.|Galatians 4:26]] - The Jerusalem above is our mother. - 🔗 [[Ephesians 02#Verse 19.|Ephesians 2:19]] - Fellow citizens with the saints. - 🔗 [[Hebrews 12#Verse 22.|Hebrews 12:22-23]] - We have come to Mount Zion, the city of the living God. ## 🙏 Devotional Reflection 📝 SOAP: [[Psalm 87- SOAP|We are All Citizens of God’s Kingdom]] ## 📂 Internal Notes