Zion, God’s Beloved City, and the Nations Counted as Citizens by His Grace Psalm 87 celebrates Zion as the city
Behold, I stand at the door, and knock if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
Jesus Christ.
John 1:17
Sandor Viczian
Zion, God’s Beloved City, and the Nations Counted as Citizens by His Grace
Psalm 87 celebrates Zion as the city founded and loved by the LORD, set apart by His choosing and presence. It declares that “glorious things” are spoken of God’s city, because God Himself establishes it. In a surprising turn, the psalm lists nations once known as enemies (Rahab/Egypt, Babylon, Philistia, Tyre, Ethiopia) and speaks of them as being counted among those who belong—“this man was born there.” The message is not that nations save themselves, but that God’s grace and rule are so great that He can register people from afar as citizens of Zion. The chapter ends with joyful worship: all true springs of life and blessing are found in the LORD’s city, because God is the source.
Psalms 87:1 – 87:7
1 A Psalm [or] Song for the sons of Korah. His foundation [is] in the holy mountains.
2 The Lord loveth the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob.
3 Glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God. Selah.
4 I will make mention of Rahab and Babylon to them that know me: behold Philistia, and Tyre, with Ethiopia; this [man] was born there.
5 And of Zion it shall be said, This and that man was born in her: and the highest himself shall establish her.
6 The Lord shall count, when he writeth up the people, [that] this [man] was born there. Selah.
7 As well the singers as the players on instruments [shall be there]: all my springs [are] in thee.
STATEMENT OF FAITH
We Believe…
In one God, eternally existent in three persons – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit;
In the absolute deity and full humanity of our Lord Jesus Christ, God the Son, His virgin birth, His sinless life, His miracles, His substitutionary and atoning death for all through His shed blood, His bodily resurrection, His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and His personal return in power and glory to judge the living and the dead;
In the present ministry of the Holy Spirit, by whose indwelling the Christian is empowered to live a holy life, to witness and work for the Lord Jesus Christ;
In the divine inspiration of all 66 books of the Old and New Testaments as originally given, guaranteeing their infallibility, entire trustworthiness, and supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct;
That all people are sinners and cannot save themselves. Salvation is received as a free gift of God’s grace, apart from works, through repentance and personal faith in the redemptive work of Christ and the regenerating power of the Holy Spirit;
In the bodily resurrection of both the saved and the lost, the eternal blessedness of the saved, and the eternal punishment of the lost;
In the spiritual unity of believers in our Lord Jesus Christ who are thus members of His Body, the Church, whose work is the worship of God, perfecting the saints, and evangelization of the world.
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