Glorious Things are Spoken of the City of God in Psalm 87

“On the holy mount stands the city he founded; the Lord loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwelling places of Jacob.” Psalm 87:1-2

I love the hymn, “The Church’s One Foundation,” by Samuel John Stone. Interestingly, it was inspired by events in South Africa when errant theological assertions brought division to the church. Stone’s lyrics deliver a corrective arrow into the division:

“The church’s one Foundation is Jesus Christ her Lord; she is His new creation, by water and the Word; from heav’n He came and sought her to be His holy bride; with His own blood He bought her, and for her life He died.” Samuel John Stone, “The Church’s One Foundation”

The holy mount stands, and the Lord loves the gates of his people, his church. His people were founded not on their own reputation but upon his righteousness. These are incredible words for God’s people.

“Glorious things of you are spoken, O city of God.” Psalm 87:3

Revelation 19:7 says, “Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready…” There are glorious things said about the city of God. Jesus himself, the Bridegroom, is ready for his beloved bride. These words are glorious, indeed!

“Glorious things of thee are spoken, Zion, city of our God; he whose word cannot be broken formed thee for his own abode; on the Rock of Ages founded, what can shake thy sure repose?” John Newton, “Glorious Things of Thee are Spoken”

God’s people are prized among the peoples of the earth. The Lord Most High has established his people. And yet, they are not to be self-focused. Their beauty is to equip them to love the nations.

“Among those who know me I mention Rahab and Babylon; behold, Philistia and Tyre, with Cush—’this one was born there,’ they say. And of Zion it shall be said, ‘This one and that one were born in her;’ for the Most High himself will establish her.” Psalm 86:4-5

Charles Spurgeon says of God’s people, “…her old foes are newborn and have become her friends, worshipping in the temple…” He goes on to explain that the psalmist is reporting that he “…anticipates the conversion of the two great rival nations and speaks of it with exultation.”

“Elect from ev’ry nation, yet one o’er all the earth, her charter of salvation, one Lord, one faith, one birth; one holy Name she blesses, partakes one holy food, and to one hope she presses, with ev’ry grace endued.” Samuel John Stone, “The Church’s One Foundation”

Allow this truth to pour over you if you’re facing the pain of loss: Foes will be made friends. If he can redeem those adversarial relationships he will, indeed, make all things new. Redemption, even reversal, is at hand for every form of brokenness.

“…who can faint while such a river ever flows their thirst t’assuage? Grace, which like the Lord, the giver, never fails from age to age.” John Newton, “Glorious Things of Thee are Spoken”

Our origination point does not matter. What is of utmost importance is where we are sojourning—our destination. The City of God. The Lord will record those in a future church, noting from which language, people, tribe, or nation they came. But they are all his possession. Inhabiting his city. Psalm 2:8 states, “Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession.”

The celebration of God’s people will erupt in singing and dancing. Every good and perfect gift springs forth from the Father of lights (James 1:17). Everything that springs forth is from the Lord. We are promised—and we can trust—even bad circumstances will be made to bring good (Romans 8:28).

“Singers and dancers alike say, ‘All my springs are in you.’” Psalm 87:7