Psalms 87

The Prophets speaketh in this Psalm of the Gods Church: together with growth and spreading thereof among the heathen, through the coming Christ.

1. A Psalm, an hymn for the children of Korah: [See Psalms 48:1.] His foundation of the Temple, which was erected upon Mount Moria, joining to mount Zion, 2 Chron.3.v.1. some do understand by the word his, or of it; this very Psalm, whose ground, foundation or argument is, to speak of the Church of Christ, which met together in the Temple, for to praise the LORD] is upon the mountains of holiness.

2. The LORD doth love the gates of Zion, above all the dwellings of Jacob: [i.e. of the Israelites.]

3. Very glorious things are spoken of thee, [i.e. concerning thee, others in thee: See Isa chap.40.41,42. See likewise Job 27.on v.11.] O City of God, [i.e. Jerusalem, which God had hallowed to himself, there to erect his worship, and to take up his habitation as it were. Of the glorious things spoken of this City; See Isa.ch.54.60,62,65. Revel.21. and 22. And here the next following verse, Gods own Words of the Church] Sela! [See Psal.3.3.]

4. I shall make mention of Rahab and Babel, among those that know me: [For their good namely; that is, they shall likewise in due time be brought to the knowledge of God, by the preaching of the Gospel. By Rahab is understood Egypt, as it is likewise called, Psalms 89:11. Isa.38.7. and 51.9. so that the sence of these words is, that time shall come, when God shall count the Egyptians and Babylonians among his people, imparting his knowledge unto them, whereof they were strangers formerly, going about to oppress Gods people: See Isai.19.19, 21,25. Egypt is called Rahab, by reason of its pride and haughtiness, signified by that word; or from some place or other of great strength and fame among them. Among the names mentioned in this v. We are to understand all kind of people and Nations: See Acts 2:9.10. Eph.2.12. Col.3.11.] Behold the Philistines, [Heb. Philistea] and the Tyrian [Heb. Tyrus; of the Tyrians coversion: See Psal.45.13.] with the Moor, [Heb. Chus; of the Moors conversion to Christ; See Psalm 68.38. and 72.10. Acts 8:27.] this same is born there: [as if he said: The time shall come, that it shall be said of the Philistines, Tyrians and Moores, that they are born at Jerusalem (which is the mother of us all), Gal.4.26. that is in the Church of God: i.e. that they do belong to the Church of God, and to the heavenly Jerusalem.]

5. And of Zion it shall be said, [i.e. of the City of Jerusalem, Lying at Mount Zion, meaning the Christian Church:] This man, and that man; [Heb. Man and man, i.e. this man and that man, i.e. men and people of all sorts and Nations: See Acts 2:9,10,11.] is born therein; [viz. In Jerusalem, or the Church of God, through the preaching of the holy Gospel, and by the holy Ghost] and the most High himself shall establish it; [i.e. the most High shall so secure and fence the Church, that the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it, Matthew 16:18.]

6. The LORD shall count them, [Those namely, which shall repair to the Christian Church] in the registering, writing down of the folks (or Nations:) [a kind of speech by way of similitude taken from Magistrates, keeping certain books or registers of the inhabitants of their Cities, so to distinguish and difference between the foreigners and the Natives: See Psalms 22:31.] (saying,) This is born there. [viz. At Jerusalem, or, in Zion: that is, he belongeth to the Lord: See above, verse 4.]

7. And the singers, as the players (together with) all my fountains shall be within thee: [Others, therefore do all my fountains sing and leap: i.e. God shall be praised with great-rejoicing in his Church, which is to be gathered as well of the Gentiles as of the Jews: A kind of expression taken from the custom of the Church in the old Testament, where God was usually praised with musical instruments; 1 Chron.9.33. and 25.1,2. By all his fountains, he understands all the affections and inmost thoughts and bents of his heart, which are like fountains or well-springs, whence all words and works do issue: See Psalms 103:1. also there may be understood by the fountains here, the manifold gifts and graces of the holy ghost shall be within thee, or from thee, of thee, Zion namely: Here is foretold what joy and rejoicing there should be in the world, by reason of the conversion of the Gentiles unto Christ.]