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Commentary on Psalms 87 verses 1–3
Some make the first words of the psalm to be part of the title; it is a psalm or song whose subject is the holy mountains - the temple built in Zion upon Mount Moriah. This is the foundation of the argument, or beginning of the psalm. Or we may suppose the psalmist had now the tabernacle or temple in view and was contemplating the glories of it, and at length he breaks out into this expression, which has reference, though not to what he had written before, yet to what he had thought of; every one knew what he meant when he said thus abruptly, Its foundation is in the holy mountains. Three things are here observed, in praise of the temple: - 1. That it was founded on the holy mountains, Psa 87:1. The church has a foundation, so that it cannot sink or totter; Christ himself is the foundation of it, which God has laid. The Jerusalem above is a city that has foundations. The foundation is upon the mountains. It is built high; the mountain of the Lord's house is established upon the top of the mountains, Isa 2:2. It is built firmly; the mountains are rocky, and on a rock the church is built. The world is founded upon the seas (Psa 24:2), which are continually ebbing and flowing, and are a very weak foundation; Babel was built in a plain, where the ground was rotten. But the church is built upon the everlasting mountains and the perpetual hills; for sooner shall the mountains depart, and the hills be removed, than the covenant of God's peace shall be disannulled, and on that the church is built, Isa 54:10. The foundation is upon the holy mountains. Holiness is the strength and stability of the church: it is this that will support it and keep it from sinking; not so much that it is built upon mountains as that it is built upon holy mountains - upon the promise of God, for the confirming of which he has sworn by his holiness, upon the sanctification of the Spirit, which will secure the happiness of all the saints. 2. That God had expressed a particular affection for it (Psa 87:2): The Lord loveth the gates of Zion, of the temple, of the houses of doctrine (so the Chaldee), more than all the dwellings of Jacob, whether in Jerusalem or any where else in the country. God had said concerning Zion, This is my rest for ever; here will I dwell. There he met his people, and conversed with them, received their homage, and showed them the tokens of his favour, and therefore we may conclude how well he loves those gates. Note, (1.) God has a love for the dwellings of Jacob, has a gracious regard to religious families and accepts their family-worship. (2.) Yet he loves the gates of Zion better, not only better than any, but better than all, of the dwellings of Jacob. God was worshipped in the dwellings of Jacob, and family-worship is family-duty, which must by no means be neglected; yet, when they come in competition, public worship (caeteris paribus - other things being equal) is to be preferred before private. 3. That there was much said concerning it in the word of God (Psa 87:3): Glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God! We are to judge of things and persons by the figure they make and the estimate put upon them in and by the scripture. Many base things were spoken of the city of God by the enemies of it, to render it mean and odious; but by him whose judgment we are sure is according to truth glorious things are spoken of it. God said of the temple, My eyes and my heart shall be there perpetually; I have sanctified this house, that my name may be there for ever, Ch2 7:16. Beautiful for situation is Mount Zion, Psa 48:2. These are glorious things. Yet more glorious things are spoken of the gospel-church. It is the spouse of Christ, the purchase of his blood; it is a peculiar people, a holy nation, a royal priesthood, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Let us not be ashamed of the church of Christ in its meanest condition, nor of any that belong to it, nor disown our relation to it, though it be turned ever so much to our reproach, since such glorious things are spoken of it, and not on iota or tittle of what is said shall fall to the ground.
"Her foundations are upon the holy hills" [Psalm 87:1]. The Psalm had as yet said nothing of the city: it begins thus, and says, "Her foundations are upon the holy hills." Whose? There can be no doubt that foundations, especially among the hills, belong to some city. Thus filled with the Holy Spirit, and with many thoughts of love and longing for that city, as if after long internal meditation, that citizen bursts out, "Her foundations are upon the holy hills;" as if he had already said something concerning it. And how could he have said nothing on a subject, respecting which in his heart he had never been silent? For how could "her foundations" have been written, of which nothing had been said before? But, as I said, after long and silent travailing in contemplation of that city in his mind, crying to God, he bursts out into the ears of men thus: "Her foundations are upon the holy hills." And, supposing persons who heard to enquire of what city he spoke he adds, "the Lord loves the gates of Sion." Behold, then, a city whose foundations are upon the holy hills, a city called Sion, whose gates the Lord loves, as he adds, "above all the dwellings of Jacob." But what does this mean, "her foundations on the holy hills"? What are the holy hills upon which this city is built? Another citizen tells us this more explicitly, the Apostle Paul: of this was the Prophet a citizen, of this the Apostle citizen: and they spoke to exhort the other citizens. But how are these, I mean the Prophets and Apostles, citizens? Perhaps in this sense; that they are themselves the hills, upon which are the foundations of this city, whose gates the Lord loves. Let then another citizen state this clearly, that I may not seem to guess. Speaking to the Gentiles, and telling them how they were returning, and being, as it were, framed together into the holy structure, "built," he says, "upon the foundations of the Apostles and Prophets:" and because neither the Apostles nor Prophets, upon whom the foundations of that city rest, could stand by their own power, he adds, "Jesus Christ Himself being the head comer stone." [Ephesians 2:20] That the Gentiles, therefore, might not think they had no relation to Sion: for Sion was a certain city of this world, which bore a typical resemblance as a shadow to that Sion of which he presently speaks, that Heavenly Jerusalem, of which the Apostle says, "which is the mother of us all;" [Galatians 4:26] they might not be said to bear no relation to Sion, on the ground that they did not belong to the Jewish people, he addresses them thus: "Now therefore you are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God, and are built upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets." [Ephesians 2:19-20] You see the structure of so great a city: yet whereon does all that edifice repose, where does it rest, that it may never fall? "Jesus Christ Himself," he says, "being the head corner stone."
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SUMMARY
Psalms 87:1 serves as a profound declaration of God's sovereign establishment of Zion (Jerusalem) upon the sacred mountains. This foundational verse immediately sets the theological stage for the entire psalm, celebrating the unique status, divine origin, and spiritual significance of God's chosen dwelling place on earth, anticipating its pivotal role in God's redemptive plan for all nations.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Psalm 87:1 employs several literary devices to convey its profound message. Personification is subtly present as Zion is implicitly given a "foundation," akin to a living entity being established by a divine builder. Symbolism is prominent, with "mountains" symbolizing strength, permanence, and elevation, and "foundation" symbolizing stability, divine establishment, and security. The "holy mountains" function as metonymy, where the physical location stands for the entire city of Jerusalem/Zion, emphasizing its sacred geography as the source of its unique identity and significance. Furthermore, the language itself contributes to an overall tone of exaltation and veneration, elevating Jerusalem to a status of unparalleled importance and divine favor.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalm 87:1 profoundly asserts that Jerusalem's significance is rooted in God's sovereign choice and active establishment. This is not merely a statement about geography or architecture, but a theological declaration about God's faithfulness to His covenant promises and His unfolding plan for humanity. The city's foundation on "holy mountains" signifies that its sanctity and security derive directly from God's presence and purpose, making it a unique locus of divine activity and revelation. This divine establishment of Zion foreshadows God's ultimate intention to create a dwelling place for Himself among His people, a place where His glory would be revealed and from which His salvation would extend to all nations.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
While Psalm 87:1 speaks of a literal city, its spiritual implications extend deeply to God's dwelling place today: the Church. Just as God meticulously established Zion, He has also established His spiritual kingdom and the community of believers. This verse serves as a powerful reminder that our ultimate foundation is not in human institutions, fleeting earthly powers, or our own efforts, but in the divine, unshakeable work of God. As believers, we are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the chief cornerstone, ensuring our spiritual security and permanence. Moreover, where God's presence resides, there is holiness; thus, as individual believers and as the collective Church, we are called to embody this holiness, reflecting the divine presence within us. In a world characterized by instability and change, the spiritual "foundation" laid by God in Christ provides ultimate peace and security, knowing that His kingdom is eternal and unshakeable.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
What is the significance of the "sons of Korah" in this psalm?
Answer: The "sons of Korah" were a prominent family of Levites, specifically designated as Temple musicians and gatekeepers (see 1 Chronicles 9:19). Their association with this psalm indicates its likely liturgical purpose, composed or collected for use in public worship and Temple services. The psalms attributed to the Korahites often express deep spiritual longing for God's presence, trust in His sovereignty, and profound praise for His dwelling place, aligning perfectly with the themes of Zion's divine establishment and glory in Psalm 87.
How can a physical location like Jerusalem be "holy"?
Answer: Holiness is primarily an attribute of God Himself. A place, object, or person becomes "holy" not by its inherent nature but by being set apart by God for His divine purposes and by His presence. For Jerusalem, its holiness stems from God's explicit choice to establish His Temple there and to dwell among His people (as seen in Exodus 29:43). It was consecrated by divine election and presence, making it a sacred space distinct from all other places.
Does this verse imply that Jerusalem is superior to other cities?
Answer: Psalm 87:1 certainly exalts Jerusalem as uniquely chosen and established by God for His dwelling and as a center for His redemptive plan. It highlights its special status as the place where God chose to reveal Himself and gather His people. However, the subsequent verses of Psalm 87 broaden this perspective significantly, proclaiming that all nations will ultimately be "born" in Zion (see Psalm 87:4-6). This suggests that while Jerusalem holds a unique place in God's plan, its ultimate purpose is not exclusive superiority but universal inclusion, serving as the spiritual birthplace for people from every nation who come to acknowledge God.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalm 87:1, with its declaration of Zion's divine foundation on "holy mountains," finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in Jesus Christ and the New Testament Church. While the earthly Zion was God's chosen dwelling place, it was but a shadow of the true spiritual reality. Jesus Christ Himself is the ultimate and unshakeable foundation upon which God's eternal kingdom is built, as the Apostle Paul declares that "no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ" (1 Corinthians 3:11). The Church, comprised of all believers, is now the spiritual "holy mountain," the living temple of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus as the chief cornerstone (Ephesians 2:20-22). We, as individual believers, are living stones being built into a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ (1 Peter 2:5). The vision of all nations being "born" in Zion (Psalm 87:4-6) is gloriously fulfilled in Christ's Great Commission, where disciples are made from all nations (Matthew 28:19), bringing them into the spiritual citizenship of the heavenly Jerusalem, the true Mount Zion, where countless angels and the assembly of the firstborn are gathered (Hebrews 12:22-24). Thus, the security, holiness, and universal scope envisioned for Zion in Psalm 87:1 are fully realized in the person and work of Christ and His global Church.