The Privileges of Citizenship in Zion.
A Psalm of the sons of Korah. A Song.
87 His foundation is in the holy mountains.
2 The Lord loves the gates of Zion
More than all the other dwelling places of Jacob.
3 Glorious things are spoken of you,
O city of God. [a]Selah.
4 “I shall mention [b]Rahab and Babylon [c]among those who know Me;
Behold, Philistia and Tyre with [d]Ethiopia:
‘This one was born there.’”
5 But of Zion it shall be said, “This one and that one were born in her”;
And the Most High Himself will establish her.
6 The Lord will count when He registers the peoples,
“This one was born there.” Selah.
7 Then those who sing as well as those who [e]play the flutes shall say,
“All my springs of joy are in you.”
At first glance (and perhaps the second, third…) this seems all about Israel, and very little about us today. Zion was often another name for Jerusalem, but also means “parched place”, and usually referred to the “old city” or the place where the temple was located. As we continue through the psalm, we find that God isn’t only interested in Zion though.
He lists “foreigners” like Rahab, Babylon, even Philistia, Tyre, and Ethiopia (Cush/Egypt) “among those who know Him”. And why not, since Abraham’s seed was to be a blessing to the whole world, not just a single nation. And really, it makes little sense to emphasize those who were born in a single city.
But when we look at this in a different light, and see Zion as the dwelling of God, who will “The Lord count when He registers the peoples?” Those would be all those who belong to Him, who have called upon His name and put their faith in Him. The wording reminds me of the census that would take place during the birth of Jesus. In that day, everyone went back to their birth place or home town to be registered.
Ultimately, in verse 7 our “springs of joy” are not found in a physical location. Rather, we find our joy in God alone, as citizens of His kingdom. As other scriptures state, this earth is not our home, our “birth place” or “home” is with God, in His dwelling place. And in a bit of a twist, He dwells within those who commit their lives to Him, and calls our hearts His home, and the “temple” of the Spirit of God.
I don’t want you to get too lost in the weeds there, but that’s a unique privilege, and one not to be taken lightly. Does God dwell in earthly tents? As Paul told the people of Athens, most definitely not! He cannot be contained by any earthly structure, and yet God chooses to dwell in us… wow!
He knows each of us by name, even knows how many hairs are on our head (even if that’s not very many), and loves each of us with an infinite love. Embrace that today, and live each day as if God was right there with you, because He is. Not that we live in fear, but in reverence, that His joy and peace are quite literally within us at all times. Let His praise be continually on our lips (Ps. 34) as we live every day for Him.