The City of God
Notes
Transcript
It is good to be back with you all. (Personal Reflection)
Reading Comic Books on vacation - Avengers, earth’s mightiest Hero’s run. The unfolding of the story explained the details in full scope not just applicable for the moment. We come to a Psalm today that left by itself is a glorious telling of God and His people in the OT but what we will see is how God has established and filled a city for His Glory, not just for a moment but for Eternity.
A Psalm of the Sons of Korah. A Song. 1 On the holy mount stands the city he founded; 2 the Lord loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwelling places of Jacob. 3 Glorious things of you are spoken, O city of God. Selah 4 Among those who know me I mention Rahab and Babylon; behold, Philistia and Tyre, with Cush— “This one was born there,” they say. 5 And of Zion it shall be said, “This one and that one were born in her”; for the Most High himself will establish her. 6 The Lord records as he registers the peoples, “This one was born there.” Selah 7 Singers and dancers alike say, “All my springs are in you.”
1. The Established City (vs. 1-3)
All through the Bible the place called Zion has pointed to:
A Hill
The Davidic Line
The Temple
The City of Jerusalem
In the Psalms we see an added component to the understanding of Zion as Psalm 2:4-6 informs us. It is a place of God’s Power and Authority amongst His People.
So when we read the first three verses of Psalm 87 we see that this is no ordinary city.
Settlers in America - towns that don’t make sense
Zion is not a city like that, God founded and established it for an eternal purpose. How do we know this?
Established - only place in the Bible this word is used. Not a finished work but an ongoing establishment.
He didn’t just establish the city that he loves, He also,
2. The Filled City (vs. 4-6)
4 Among those who know me I mention Rahab and Babylon; behold, Philistia and Tyre, with Cush— “This one was born there,” they say. 5 And of Zion it shall be said, “This one and that one were born in her”; for the Most High himself will establish her. 6 The Lord records as he registers the peoples, “This one was born there.” Selah
Birth Certificate Required to show you were born in the US.
Rahab = Egypt - Captivity
Babylon - Exile
Philistia, Tyre, Cush - Surrounding enemy states
God says there are some people who live in these enemy lands that know Him and are identified as citizens there because of being born in that place. So who are these people?
Could it be that some Jews left Israel and lived in these places so God is speaking about them? Maybe.
Could it be that due to the times of the Jews being in those places some had come to be God fearers and so God is speaking about them? Maybe.
In fact these could be the best explanations for the OT reader to see that God will establish His city with people who are scattered abroad so it does not matter their location of birth, they are counted as being born in Jerusalem, in Zion.
If this is all it is, this is great news but I believe verse six points us to an even better news.
6 The Lord records as he registers the peoples, “This one was born there.” Selah
God is recording a people as born in the city of Zion though they were not. He is saying these are my people. They are citizens of Zion. I am making them Children, not strangers. How does God do that? I believe Jesus conversation with Nicodemus gives us some insight into this.
3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” 5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
Jesus is saying there is a way to be born again, there is a way for your citizenship to be moved so you are counted as a citizen of Zion.
12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
GOSPEL
Jesus not only established His City, he filled it by His work on the cross and rising from the dead.
This is glorious thought about our future!
1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” 5 And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” 6 And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. 7 The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son.
This city that God established is an eternal city and it is filled with eternal citizens where there is no more pain, sorrow, or hurt. What an amazing thought. That Psalm 87 tells us the glory of the gospel and assures us of our future. If this Psalm did just that it would be amazing but there is one more verse we cannot miss.
3. The Glorious City (vs. 7)
7 Singers and dancers alike say, “All my springs are in you.”
German Common Language Version
“All dance for joy and sing, ‘Zion, in you we are at home!’ ”
This glorious city God has established and filled cause us to praise now. To see that our home is in the true Zion, Jesus Christ. The source of our strength, our security, and our firm future is in now.
When we look at Psalm 87 in light of all of God’s Word we sing, dance, and shout, I have an eternal home now in Christ Jesus!
Applications
1. Be a people of praise now.
Not downcast but of rejoicing always because of Jesus.
2. Be a people of security now.
Not Cynical because of worldly things but confident because of Jesus.
3. Be a people of mission now.
Sharing the Gospel with those who need it. People from all over.
Pastors
Missionaries