Jerusalem - The Glorious City Psalm 87
Jerusalem - The glorious City Psalm 87
If someone were to describe you, what would be the descriptors? We would hope they would say something like caring, wise, compassionate, discerning; perhaps funny or considerate, encouraging, inspiring, generous, etc. While we all have other attributes that are less flattering, when someone describes us, we would hope that some of the things we desire to be would at least be on display, as people who know us well would describe us. Some of us are known by our characteristics, but others are recognized because of their birthright – Kate and Wills for example by birth are in line for the throne. Both have significance as they make up who we are and how we identify with the world.
The sons of Korah were among the tribe of Levi. They would write Psalms, keep the scriptures, teach as well as write and play music. It is in this last role that we see the Sons of Korah – this part of the tribe of Levi being used.
They begin by saying, “On the holy mount stands the city he founded;” This initially was the city of David. The original name of the city was Salem, but it has been known for Millenia as Jerusalem.
The earliest reference we can find of the city is around 1800BC when it was called Salem in the time of Abraham. At that time, it says Melchizedek ruled and reigned in the city. Abraham gave a tithe of all his spoil to this king. Jesus, of course, is God the Son. Comparing Jesus with Melchizedek David said, "You are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek." (Psalm 110:4)
Jesus, like Melchizedek, chose Jerusalem to enter and accept worship as the King of the Jews.
The city of Jerusalem has been exalted. The sons of Korah wrote, “Glorious things of you are spoken, O city of God.”
One commentator, David Guzik writes of Jerusalem that:
- There Abraham was willing to offer Isaac on the Mount of the Lord and where His perfect sacrifice would be provided.
- There David, Israel’s greatest earthly king, reigned and made it the kingdom’s capital.
- There the tabernacle of God found its fulfillment and permanence in the great temple which David designed and Solomon built. There the institutions of sacrifice, worship, and priestly service were established for centuries.
- There Jesus recognized, honored the city and observed the feasts and temple rituals.
- There Jesus died for our sins, was buried, and rose from the dead.
- There the church was born in a day at Pentecost.
- There the apostles served and sent out the Gospel.
- There God will establish the physical, geographic center of His ultimate kingdom upon earth.
The LORD loves the gates of Zion (Jerusalem): God has a special love for Jerusalem, regarding it more than the territory within Israel or the world. (Zechariah 2:12) The Lord has chosen Jerusalem for His presence and worship.
As we considered last week, the Lord has chosen the people of Israel and He has exalted Jerusalem above every other city, but look at what the Sons of Korah said here about the inhabitants and those who have their identity in this city. Even the enemies from other cities can be born in Jerusalem.
Consider this in verses 4-6. It says, “Among those who know me I mention Rahab and Babylon; … "This one was born there."
Rahab is Egypt – the place where Israel was held as slaves for 400 years. Babylon was where Israel would be taken captive. Philistia (where the Philistines lived) were constant antagonists against Israel. Tyre was the rich northern enemy, sometimes ally but not part of the children of Israel. Cush were distant Ethiopians – miles away and not related. But it says of the people that came from these places (verse 4), they are described as “this one was born there” – I.E in Jerusalem.
How can someone who was clearly born in another country and is identified as coming from that other country - even a country that was an enemy of Israel, then be said to be born in Jerusalem?
In the same way, when Jesus was speaking to Nicodemus in John 3 about being born again, Jesus said you must be born from above. You must be born of the Spirit. You must be born again.
A question. Have you been born in this city? Have you been born in the city where Jesus rules and reigns? Are you an inhabitant of Jerusalem? Have you been born again?
It doesn’t matter how you have been identified in the past. Maybe people love you, they think the world of you, maybe they appreciate you, but have you been born in the heavenly Jerusalem? Has your name been written on its walls by the finger of God? Are you inscribed on His hands?
Paul (who used the Greek version, the Septuagint which speaks of Jerusalem being a mother) said, “Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all.” (Galatians 4:26) Have you been set free by being born again in Christ? The Jerusalem above!
You may have a good inheritance coming to you, or maybe you have no earthly wealth to speak of or to hope for. But what does it profit you even if you gain the world’s wealth, but you lose your soul? Being born in the heavenly Jerusalem and being called by King Jesus means eternal riches without limit. Your soul is known by the creator of heaven and earth. You will rise if you trust in Him.
The Apostle John said that we will descend. (Revelations 21:2-4) “I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband…He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away." We are known by God and live with Him.
Look at how the sons of Korah finish their Psalm in verse 7. They said, “Singers and dancers alike say, "All my springs are in you." Jesus said to woman at the well in John 4 (herself a Samaritan woman and rejected by the Jews but not by Jesus), “whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." (John 4:14)
Jesus is the Spring of water that makes you overflow with His water of life. Like the rivers to the ocean, we receive from Him and flow back to Him. Jesus, while on the temple Mount a few days before His crucifixion said, “Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, 'Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.'" (John 7:38) We are those singers and dancers in Christ – the water of life flows over and out of us.