INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 87 A PSALM OR SONG FOR THE SONS OF KORAH. Whether this psalm was composed by David, in a view of the temple to be built by his son Solomon; or whether by one that returned from the Babylonish captivity, who wrote it for the comfort of those that wept at the laying of the found... [ Continue Reading ]
HIS FOUNDATION IS IN THE HOLY MOUNTAINS. 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 join... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LORD LOVETH THE GATES OF ZION,.... Which the Targum interprets of the schools, as preferable to the synagogues: the Lord loves Zion herself; that is, the church, and therefore has chosen it for his habitation, took up his rest and residence in it, has founded it, and set Christ as King over it,... [ Continue Reading ]
GLORIOUS THINGS ARE SPOKEN OF THEE, O CITY OF GOD.] Which is to be understood not of the city of Jerusalem literally, which was a magnificent city, compact together, full of inhabitants, and spacious houses, the metropolis of Judea, and seat of the kings of Judah; and what was most glorious of all t... [ Continue Reading ]
I WILL MAKE MENTION OF RAHAB,.... Not of Rahab the harlot, as Jerom and others of the ancients y interpret it; for the letters of both words are not the same in Hebrew; though mention is made of her in the Gospel, and Gospel times, in the genealogy of Christ, and by two of the apostles, Matthew 1:5,... [ Continue Reading ]
AND OF ZION IT SHALL BE SAID,.... The same with the city of God, the church before commended: THIS AND THAT MAN WAS BORN IN HER; this and that great man, in opposition to a mean person, in the preceding verse: "or a man and man" d; men of all sorts, and of different nations, Jews and Gentiles, and... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LORD SHALL COUNT WHEN HE WRITETH UP THE PEOPLE,]. Not in the Lamb's book of life for that was written from eternity, Revelation 13:8 but in the writing of the house of Israel, among the living in Jerusalem, and with his righteous ones; which is done at effectual calling, and when admitted member... [ Continue Reading ]
AS WELL THE SINGERS AS THE PLAYERS ON THE INSTRUMENTS SHALL BE THERE,.... In Zion, in the church; signifying that there should be great spiritual joy there when the above things should be accomplished; great joy in the churches, because of the conversion of Jews and Gentiles; and great joy in the pe... [ Continue Reading ]