Jamieson, Fausset and Brown on Psalms 87

PSALM 87

Psa 87:1-7. This triumphal song was probably occasioned by the same event as the forty-sixth [see on Psa 46:1, title]. The writer celebrates the glory of the Church, as the means of spiritual blessing to the nation.

1. His--that is, God's

foundation--or, what He has founded, that is, Zion (Is 14:32).

is in the holy mountains--the location of Zion, in the wide sense, for the capital, or Jerusalem, being on several hills.

2. gates--for the enclosures, or city to which they opened (Psa 9:14; 122:2; compare Psa 132:13, 14).

3. spoken of thee--or, "in thee," that is, the city of God (Psa 46:4; 48:2).

4. This is what is spoken by God.

to them ... me--literally, "for My knowers," they are true worshippers (Psa 36:10; Is 19:21). These are mentioned as specimens.

this--that is, nation

was born there--Of each it is said, "This was born," or is a native of Zion, spiritually.

5. The writer resumes--

This and that man--literally, "man and man," or many (Ge 14:10; Ex 8:10, 14), or all (Is 44:5; Ga 3:28).

the highest ... her--God is her protector.

6. The same idea is set forth under the figure of a register made by God (compare Is 4:3).

7. As in a great procession of those thus written up, or registered, seeking Zion (Is 2:3; Jr 50:5), "the singers" and "players," or pipers, shall precede.

all my springs--So each shall say, "All my sources of spiritual joy are in Thee" (Psa 46:4; 84:6).