PSALM LXXXVII _The nature and glorious privileges of Zion and Jerusalem_, 1-3. _No other city to be compared to this_, 4. _The privilege of being born in it_, 5, 6. _Its praises celebrated_, 7. NOTES ON PSALM LXXXVII The _title, A Psalm_ or _Song for the sons of Korah_, gives us no light into... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 87:2. _THE LORD LOVETH THE GATES OF ZION MORE THAN ALL THE_ _DWELLINGS OF JACOB._] That is, he preferred Zion for his habitation, to be the place of his temple and sanctuary, before any other place in the promised land. Mystically, the Lord prefers the Christian Church to the Jewish: th... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 87:3. _GLORIOUS THINGS ARE SPOKEN OF THEE_] Or, there are glorious words or doctrines in thee. Does this refer to the glorious doctrines of the Christian Church? These are glorious sayings indeed.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 87:4. _I WILL MAKE MENTION OF RAHAB_] The meaning seems to be, _Rahab_, i.e., _Egypt, Babylon, Tyre, Philistia_, and _Ethiopia_ are not so honourable as _Jerusalem_. To be born in any of them is no privilege when compared with being a native of Jerusalem: their cities are but heads of v... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 87:5. _THIS AND THAT MAN WAS BORN IN HER_] It will be an honour to any person to have been born in Zion. But how great is the honour to be _born from above_, and be a citizen of the Jerusalem that is from above! To be children of God, by faith in Christ Jesus! The _Targum_ has, "David t... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 87:6. _THE LORD SHALL COUNT, WHEN HE WRITETH UP THE PEOPLE_] בכתוב עמים _bichthob ammim_, in the register of the people. When he takes account of those who dwell in Jerusalem, he will particularly note those who were born in Zion. This has an easy spiritual meaning. When God takes an a... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 87:7. _AS WELL THE SINGERS, C._] Perhaps, this may mean no more than, The burden of the songs of all the singers and choristers shall be, "All my fountains (ancestors and posterity) are in thee" and consequently, entitled to all thy privileges and immunities. Instead of שרים _sharim_, ... [ Continue Reading ]