Psalms 87:6

The LORD shall count, when he writeth up the people, that this man was born there. Selah. THE LORD SHALL COUNT, WHEN HE WRITETH UP THE PEOPLE - rather, as Hebrew, 'the peoples.' THAT THIS (MAN) WAS BORN THERE - rather, 'that this people (taken from the previous peoples) was born there.' 'When He writeth up the peoples' means 'in the noting of them down' in the roll of citizens. When 'numbering' the spiritual citizens of the heavenly city, the Lord, the presiding Judge, in assigning the reason why He counts each nation as in the list, declares, This people was born there - i:e., in Jerusalem. The same image of a citizen-roll appears, ; ; . Small and insignificant as the roll now is, the...

6_The Lord will recount, when he writeth the peoples. _The meaning is, that Zion will acquire such renown as to excite all men with the greatest earnestness to desire to be admitted into the number and rank of her citizens. It is a highly honorable condition which is spoken of, the language implying, that when God shall take a census of the people on whom he will be graciously pleased to confer the highest honor, he will write them as belonging to Zion, rather than to Babylon or any other cities; for to be one of the common people among the citizens of Zion, will be a greater distinction than to be invested with the highest rank anywhere else. We are, at the same time, taught that the cause to which we are to trace the sudden elevation of these aliens to so great honor, is the favor of God. Those who are the bondslaves of Satan and of sin will assuredly never be able to obtain, by any ef...

4-7 The church of Christ is more glorious and excellent than the nations of the earth. In the records of heaven, the meanest of those who are born again stand registered. When God renders to every man according to his works, he shall observe who enjoyed the privileges of his sanctuary. To them much was given, and of them much will be required. Let those that dwell in Zion, mark this, and live up to their profession. Zion's songs shall be sung with joy and triumph. The springs of the joy of a carnal worldling are in wealth and pleasure; but of a gracious soul, in the word of God and prayer. All grace and consolation are derived from Christ, through his ordinances, to the souls of believers...

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 account of all _professing Christians_, he will set apart those for inhabitants of the New Jerusalem who were born in Zion, who were born again, received a new nature, and were fitted for heaven....

THE LORD SHALL COUNT - That is, God himself will honor those who are so born. In the previous verse, the effect of such a birth was described as securing honor from human beings. Here a higher honor is adverted to - that which will be derived from God himself. WHEN HE WRITETH UP THE PEOPLE ... - The word rendered “people” here is in the plural number. At the time of making an enrollment of the people, or taking an account or a census of the nations, he would mark, or cause to be marked, with special honor the man that had his birth in Zion. Out of such would his own people be taken, and those thus born would have an honor which no one else would receive from him. He would not mark with any special approbation those who had been born in Egypt, in Babylon, or in Tyre, but he would mark with special interest those who had been born in Zion. The practical truth suggested here is, that God wi...

EXPOSITION THIS short psalm, opening with the praise of Zion, or of the Jewish Church (Psalms 87:1), passes into a glorification of the Church universal, when all the nations have come into it (Psalms 87:4). The glorification falls under two heads—God's acknowledgment of those who flock into his Church (Psalms 87:4), and their acknowledgment of the blessings which they receive through it. The two "selahs" divide the psalm into two stanzas, each of three verses, and a short epode consisting of a single verse. PSALMS 87:1 The praises of Zion. (1) She is bui

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 members of Gospel churches, whereby they openly appear to be the children of God, and are taken into the list and catalogue of saints; see Ezekiel 13:9 or in the last day, when the Lord will take the number of his people, AND CAUSE THEM AGAIN TO PASS UNDER THE ROD OF HIM THAT TELLETH THEM; and will make up his jewels, complete the number of them in conversion, and collect them all together; and his counting and writing them may denote his exact knowledge of them, and his care that he lose none;

Psalms 87 Zion and Its Coming Glories Another Korah Psalm. Zion is the object of Jehovah's love where He will manifest His glory. Glorious things are spoken of the city of God. This we learn from many visions of the prophets. When these prophecies are fulfilled and the glory has come, then Rahab (pride--Egypt) and Babylon shall know, as well as Philistia, Tyre and Cush. Nations will be born again and turn to the Lord and share the blessings of the kingdom. Then the singers will sing “All my springs are in Thee,” in Him who dwelleth in Zion. The Christian believer gives now this testimony and knows its blessed truth, that Christ is all and in Him we have all our resources. But what will it be when nations with Zion shall know this!...

LXXXVII. ZION THE MOTHER OF ALL YAHWEH'S PEOPLE. When this Ps. was written, the Jews were scattered everywhere in the known world. But every true Jew recognised Jerusalem as his mother city. The glory of Zion was due to the establishment there of David's court and to the great principle of the Deuteronomic reform, one Yahweh and one altar, viz. at Jerusalem. Attempt was made by interpolation in ancient records (see Genesis 14:18 * and Genesis 22:2 *) to carry the consecration of Jerusalem back into patriarchal times. PSALMS 87:3. ARE SPOKEN: read, he speaketh. Psalms 87:4_ a._ A short speech by Yahweh. Render

WRITETH UP. enrolleth. PEOPLE. peoples. THAT. Instead of _"That",_ supply "[and say] this one", &c. SELAH. Connecting the last repetition of the alternation, and completing the Structure. Thus, both the Selahs in this Psalm are structural....