3 People say wonderful things about you, O city of God. Sudden passion is evil, but bursts of holy joy are most precious. The nature and glorious privileges of Zion and Jerusalem, Psalm 87:1-3. There the city sits securely, beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth. Verse 1. God has chosen to found his earthly temple upon the mountains; he might have selected other spots, but it was his pleasure to have his chosen abode upon Zion. PSALM 87 OVERVIEW. In contrast – Psalm 1:6 – God is personally acquainted and familiar with the way of the righteous. John Trapp Complete Commentary. What are these holy mountains? 1 Written by the Korahites; a psalm, a song. 1 (A Psalm or Song for the sons of Korah.) Hengstenberg. Psalm 8 Commentary: Psalm 8 is a reflective or meditative psalm. But, 1. 5 And of Zion it shall be said, This and that man was born in her: and the highest himself shall establish her. The two portions of Psalm 92 chosen by the lectionary each offer interesting possibilities for interpretation and connection to the life of the church, and interpreters may find it useful to focus on one or the other. This "Psalm or song" was either composed by the sons of Korah, or dedicated to them: as they kept the doors of the house of the Lord, they could use this beautiful composition as a Psalm within the doors, and as a song outside. God has chosen to found his earthly temple upon the mountains; he might have selected other spots, but it was his pleasure to have his chosen abode upon Zion. But from every other side, the ascent is perpetual; and, to the traveller approaching Jerusalem from the west or east, it must always have presented the appearance, beyond any other capital of the then known world -- we may add, beyond any important city that has ever existed on the earth -- of a mountain city; breathing, as compared with the sultry plains of the Jordan or of the coast, a mountain air; enthroned, as compared with Jericho or Damascus, Gaza or Tyre, on a mountain fastness. -- A Psalm or Song for the Sons of Korah. Lord from heaven, a much better state than he had lost. Holiness is the strength and firmness of the church. Either, 1. And this wild and fastness like character of Jerusalem was concentrated yet again in the fortress, the "stronghold" of Zion. The Lord's people are his hidden one; the world knows them not. What a theme for meditation is the founding of the church of God in the ancient covenant engagements of eternity; the abrupt character of this first verse indicates long consideration on the part of the writer, leading up to his bursting forth in wonder and adoration. Compare the notes at Psalm 48:1-2. "In the holy mountains" (Psalms 87:1). Psalm 87:1 NIV Psalm 87:1 NLT Psalm 87:1 ESV Psalm 87:1 NASB Psalm 87:1 KJV Psalm 87:1 Bible Apps Psalm 87:1 Parallel Psalm 87:1 Biblia Paralela Psalm 87:1 Chinese Bible Psalm 87:1 French Bible Psalm 87:1 German Bible Psalm 87:1 Commentaries Bible Hub Let us not be ashamed of the church of Christ in its meanest condition, nor of those that belong to it, since such glorious things are spoken of it. One popular theory about their origins is that they were recited in the Jerusalem temple during a New Year festival that … Continue reading "Commentary on Psalm 95:1-7a" What can they be but the eternal purpose of Jehovah -- the purpose out of which the being of the Church and the whole dispensation of Divine love have sprung? What but the everlasting covenant, "ordered in all things and sure" from which grace and salvation proceed? Among the gods there isnone like You, O Lord; Nor are there any workslike Your works. Interlude I will count Egypt and Babylon among those who know me— also Philistia and Tyre, and even distant Ethiopia. But being brought to a light sense of this, and finding himself stript of all the glory which the first Adam had in paradise, he has been led to seek the restoration of his nature, and has obtained of the second Adam, the. Mountains. His election made the mountains holy, they were by his determination ordained and set apart for the Lord's use. Psalm 87 Commentary. The LORD loveth the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob. No other city to be compared to this, Psalm 87:4. Psalm 87:1 Commentaries. Or he may use this word foundations in opposition to the tabernacle, which was movable, and without foundations, to note the stability and perpetuity of this building. Psalms 87:1 His foundation is in the holy mountains . ] God promised that even among the rivals there would be those who know Me– those who have true relationship with Him. Psalm 8 Commentary: Structure Body of Psalm … The Lord’s Favor of Israel (87:4-6). 3 Glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God. Glorious things are said of holiness ~ something that is very good; in Psalm 87, a place where God is. By David’s time it seems they served in the musical aspect of the temple worship (2 Chronicles 20:19). Selah. Many conceive that it was written at the founding of David's city of Zion, but does not the mention of Babylon imply a later date? What but those attributes of mercy, justice, holiness, and sovereignty, from the ineffable embrace and holy cooperation of which it comes to pass that his chosen people are redeemed? "God loveth the gates of Zion" (Psalms 87:2). The adjective “his” has been supposed by some to refer to the psalm itself, and this expression has been considered to be a part of the title to the psalm, meaning that the foundation of the psalm is the holy mountain where the praises of God were celebrated; that is Zion. It would seem to have been written after Jerusalem and the Temple had been built, and had enjoyed a history, of which glorious things could be spoken. Other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, even Jesus Christ. The psalmist wrote it to assure Israel that Yahweh would keep them safe through all trials IF they put their trust in him It may be significant that those three are The title prefixed is "A Psalm to be sung by the sons of Korah", i.e. Psalm 95 appears in a grouping of psalms that focus on the reign of God (Psalms 93, 95-99). Verses 1-4 The … Continue reading "Commentary on Psalm 92:1-4, 12-15" Selah. The writer celebrates the glory of the Church, as the means of spiritual blessing to the nation. Psalm 117, with two verses, is the only shorter psalm. Commentary on Psalm 18:29-50 (Read Psalm 18:29-50) When we praise for one mercy, we must observe the many more, with which we have been compassed all our days. It is a hymn of praise throughout, expressing wonder that Yahweh has made people “a little lower than God” (v. The Lord’s Love for Zion (87:1-3). “Rahab is Egypt, and so called for its strength and pride. This psalm is titled To the Chief Musician.A Psalm of the sons of Korah.These sons of Korah were Levites, from the family of Kohath. Commentary on Psalm 87:1-3 (Read Psalm 87:1-3) Christ himself is the Foundation of the church, which God has laid. Every such person is entitled to sing this sacred hymn, and he is called upon to do it. Among other marvels of God's love in its later history, it had been untouched by Sennacherib when other cities of Israel and Judah had fallen victims to his cruelty. Many things had contributed to David's advancement, and he owns the hand of God in them all, to teach us to do likewise. 87:1-3 Christ himself is the Foundation of the church, which God has laid. His election made the mountains holy, they were by his determination ordained and set apart for the Lord's use. Psalm 87:1, ESV: "A Psalm of the Sons of Korah. -- A Psalm or Song for the sons of Korah. Selah. His foundation is in the holy mountains. Barnes' Notes on the Bible. Psalm 87:1 His foundation is in the holy mountains. 6 The Lord shall count, when he writeth up the people, that this man was born there. Psalm 87Of the Sons of Korah. Verse 1. Psalms 85:1-13 God Never Gives Up On Us. But as we have no information, and the point is not important, we may leave it, and proceed to meditate upon the Psalm itself. On the holy mount stands the city he founded;" Psalm 87:1, KJV: "{A Psalm … The title, A Psalm or Song for the sons of Korah, gives us no light into the author or meaning of this Psalm. Psalms 87:4 I will make mention of Rahab and Babylon to them that know me: behold Philistia, and Tyre, with Ethiopia; this [man] was born there. He laid the foundation in ancient times of what He would bring fulfilling it through His Son, Jesus. this is the `mountain' which God desireth to dwell in" ...It was emphatically the lair of the lion of Judah, of "Ariel", the Lion of God. Psalms 87:1-7 Jerusalem – City of God. These psalms are sometimes categorized as “enthronement psalms” because of their focus on God’s eternal kingship. The foundation of the church, which is the mystical Jerusalem, is laid in the eternal, immutable, and invincible decrees of Jehovah. Yes, these are the holy mountains, whereon the city of God is built, and in which its deep and sure foundations are laid. --Andrew Gray. On the holy mountain stands the city founded by the LORD. Biblical Commentary (Bible study) Psalm 82 EXEGESIS: INTRODUCTION: This psalm has a great deal in common with the prophets, in that it pronounces judgment on those appointed by God to positions of power, who have "shown partiality to the wicked" (v. 2) and have failed to "defend the weak, the poor, and the fatherless" (v. 3). 1. Psalms 90:1-17 The Book of Psalms Commentary by A. R. FAUSSET PSALM 87 Psa 87:1-7.This triumphal song was probably occasioned by the same event as the forty-sixth [see on JF & B for Ps 46:1, title].The writer celebrates the glory of the Church, as the means of spiritual blessing to the nation. Salem Media Group. of Not on the sand of carnal policy, nor in the morass of human kingdoms, has the Lord founded his church, but on his own power and godhead, which are pledged for the establishment of his beloved church, which is to him the chief of all his works. In the holy mountains; or, among or within the holy mountains, to wit, in Jerusalem, which was encompassed with mountains, Psalm 125:2, and in which were two famous mountains, to wit, Zion and Moriah. We have no need to divide so brief a song. In this respect it concentrated in itself the character of the whole country of which it was to be the capital -- the "mountain throne", the "mountain sanctuary", of God. This triumphal song was probably occasioned by the same event as the forty-sixth [see on [618]Ps 46:1, title]. --Arthur Penrhyn Stanley. Article Images Copyright © 2020 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. by Hank Workman. "The `mount' of God is as the `mount' of Bashan; an high mount as the mount of Bashan. What but these things, and Christ himself, the Rock of Ages, on which rock we know that the Church is so firmly founded, that the gates of hell cannot prevail against her? (Selah) 4 I mention Rahab and Babylon to my followers. Or the plural number is here put for the singular, whereof we have seen examples formerly; and mountains are put for the mountain; either for Mount Moriah, upon which the temple stood; or for Mount Zion, which is mentioned in the next verse; which is often taken in a large and comprehensive sense, so as to include Moriah, in which sense the temple is said to be in Zion, Psalm 74:2 76:2 Isaiah 8:18. Psalm 87 - A song. God's foundation - the city which he has founded - is "in the holy mountains;" i.e. When he left God and turned to his own ways, he became like the trees of the field in winter, from which the genial warmth of the sun is withdrawn, or like the head, which by the abating of the natural heat and rigour is left naked and bald. -- His foundation is in the holy mountains. The city of our God – Jerusalem is the place where God set forth His redemptive work. He has founded his city on the holy mountain. S. Conway. All wicked people are God's enemies, especially wicked persecutors. 4 I will make mention of Rahab and Babylon to them that know me: behold Philistia, and Tyre, with Ethiopia; this man was born there. The Psalm begins abruptly, the poet's heart was full, and it gained vent on a sudden. With regard to the plural, mountains, it is probably only poetical, though geographically it is correct to speak of Jerusalem as situated on hills. The Jewish writers connect these words with the title of the psalm, and make the sense to be this; "the foundation" or argument "of it", the psalm, "is concerning the holy mountains" of Zion and Jerusalem; so Aben Ezra, Jarchi, and Kimchi; and the Targum joins them together thus, He wills that the church shall be, he settles all arrangements for her calling, salvation, maintenance and perfection, and all his attributes, like the mountains round about Jerusalem, lend their strength for her support. III. I am one whom thou favourest, hast set apart for … Verse 1. Title. continued...THE ARGUMENT This Psalm was doubtless composed after the building of the temple; and, as learned men think, and it seems probable, when the people were newly returned out of Babylon, and laboured under many discouragements about the return of most of their brethren, and the difficulties which they met with in the rebuilding of their temple and city. The best self-preservation is to commit ourselves to God's keeping. beharree kodesh, the mountains of holiness; gave himself for his church, that he might sanctify and cleanse it; Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers, Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament. A psalm of the descendants of Korah. The word foundations may possibly be emphatical, because this Psalm might probably be composed when the foundations of the second temple were newly laid, and the old men who had seen the glory of the former house were dejected at the sight of this, of which see Ezra 3:11,12. 7. Title. Hebrew ~ the language that the *Jews spoke when they wrote the Psalms of David. Glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God. His foundation - This is an abrupt commencement of the psalm. Jerusalem is surrounded by hills, and within the city itself there were the hills of Zion, Moriah, Acra, and Bezethah; See the notes at Matthew 2:1. 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