Albert Barnes Commentary Psalms 87

His foundation - This is an abrupt beginning of the psalm. The adjective “his” has been supposed by some to refer to the psalm itself, and this expression has been considered to be a part of the title to the psalm, meaning that the foundation of the psalm is the holy mountain where the praises of God were celebrated; that is Zion. This, however, is a forced and unnatural interpretation. The most obvious explanation is to refer it to God, and the meaning is, that his “foundation,” or that which he had founded and established, namely, the place for his worship, or for the institutions of religion, was in the holy mountains of Jerusalem.

It would seem that the psalmist was contemplating the city—looking on its walls, and its palaces, and especially on the place which had been built for the worship of God, and that he breaks out in this abrupt manner, by saying that this was what God had founded; that here he had established his home; that here was the place where he was worshipped, and where he dwelt; that this was the place which he loved more than all the other places where the descendants of Jacob dwelt.

Is in the holy mountains - The mountains of Jerusalem. Jerusalem is surrounded by hills, and within the city itself there were the hills of Zion, Moriah, Acra, and Bezethah; see the notes at Matthew 2:1. These sacred hills God had selected as the place of his solemn worship—of his own abode. Compare the notes at Psalms 48:1-2.

The Lord loveth the gates of Zion - . The gates of a city were the places of assembly; where business was transacted; where courts were held. The particular allusion here seems to be to the thronging multitudes pressing into the city for public worship—the numbers that gathered together at the great feasts and festivals of the nation; and the meaning is, that he looked with more pleasure on such multitudes as they thronged the gates, pressing in that they might worship him, than on any other scene in the land.

More than all the dwellings of Jacob - Than any of the places where the descendants of Jacob, or where his people, dwell. Much as he might be pleased with their quiet dwelling places, with their peace, prosperity, and order, and with the fact that his worship was daily celebrated in those happy families, yet he had superior pleasure in the multitudes that crowded the ways to the place where they would publicly acknowledge him as their God.

Glorious things are spoken of you, O city of God—Jerusalem, called the “city of God” as being the place of His unique home on earth. The word rendered “are spoken” may mean either “have been spoken” or “are to be spoken;” that is, either such things have been said, or they may be said. They have been placed on record, or they may now be put on record concerning you. Probably the former is the true meaning, and the language would embrace such points as these:

1. Those things which had been spoken concerning its beauty of situation; its magnificence and splendor. Compare the notes on Psalm 48:2-3 and Psalm 48:12-13.
2. Such things as had been spoken or recorded regarding its future prosperity, its triumphs, and its influence in the world; the promises which had been made concerning the prosperity of Zion, and the spread of the true religion from that point as a center.

Compare the notes at Isaiah 2:3. The Old Testament abounds with promises concerning the future glory of Zion—the “glorious things” that are spoken regarding the final triumph of religion in the world.

This statement is to be mainly understood in this context, where Zion is referred to as the seat of the true religion and therefore as the representative of the true church on earth.

The real record is about this true church, not merely about Jerusalem or Zion as a city. That city might pass away, but the church, which it represented, will endure forever. Compare Isaiah 54:1-3;Isaiah 60:0; Revelation 21:2–4.

I will make mention of Rahab and Babylon ... - The word Rahab here refers to Egypt. See Isaiah 51:9. It is also applied to Egypt in Psalms 89:10. The reason why the name was given to Egypt is not certainly known.

The Hebrew word properly means fierceness, insolence, pride; and it may have been given to Egypt by the Hebrews on account of its haughtiness, pride, and insolence. It has been supposed by some (Jablonski, Opusc. i. 228) that the name is of Egyptian origin, but this has not been clearly made out. (Gesenius, Lexicon)

Egypt, Babylon, Philistia, Tyre, and Ethiopia are mentioned here as among the best-known nations and cities of the world; as places where it would commonly be regarded as an honor to have been born.

The meaning is, “I will refer to these as places well-known and distinguished; I will refer to the honor of having been born there. But great as such an honor is, the honor of having been born in Zion is far above that; it conveys the idea of a much higher distinction; it should be more sacredly cherished as among those things on which people value themselves.”

The word “I” here seems to refer to the psalmist, not to God. The psalmist is mentioning what to him would seem to have a claim to the highest honor.

Philistia - The western portion of Palestine, from which the whole country was later named. See the notes at Psalms 60:8; compare Psalms 108:9; Isaiah 14:29, Isaiah 14:31. And Tyre. See Psalms 45:12, note; Isaiah 23:1, note.

With Ethiopia - Hebrew, Cush. The reference here is probably to the southern portion of Arabia. See Psalms 68:31, note; Isaiah 18:1, note.

This man was born there - That is, it would be said of individuals that they were born in one of those places, and it would be regarded as an honor thus to have been born. People would pride themselves on the fact that they were born there, and the world would hold them in esteem on that account.

This refers to a very natural and very common feeling among people. We can, of course, claim no credit and deserve no real honor on account of the place where we happen to have been born; but the fact that one has been born in a place distinguished for its advantages and its fame—in a place where liberty, religion, and the arts have flourished, in a place renowned for its public spirit and for producing illustrious people—may be properly regarded as an occasion for gratitude, and as a stimulus to high and honorable efforts, and may thus be made an important aid to virtue, patriotism, and piety.

And of Zion it shall be said – In respect to Zion, or in honor of Zion. People shall regard it as a privilege to have been born in Zion. They shall speak of such a birth as a marked and honored distinction. This and that man, etc. Designating them, or pointing them out, as having been born there.

Those in a crowd, those passing along, or those brought to notice in any way, will be spoken of in reference to their birth in Zion. They will be treated with a degree of favor and esteem arising from their birth there, corresponding to what those receive who are born in Egypt, Babylon, or Tyre. They will not be shunned and avoided on account of their birth as if it were ignoble, but they will be honored for it.

And the Highest himself shall establish her – He will establish Zion, or will give it prosperity and perpetuity. This, too, is what would be said concerning Zion by those who would speak of those born there; and it indicates:

1. Their conviction that it would be permanent; and
2. Their desire that it might be: that a place so honored and distinguished might be perpetuated.

The practical truths suggested by this verse, as applied to the church, are:

1. That it is a privilege to have been born in connection with the Christian church, to have had Christian parents, and to have been dedicated to God early in life;
2. That the time will come when this will be a reason for commendation, or when it will be spoken of as an honor, or when it will be regarded as presumptive evidence of a claim to esteem in the eyes of the world, that one was born in the church, was devoted to God early in life, and was brought up under the influences of religion;
3. That the character of those who are born and brought up in this way will constitute, in the world's view, evidence of the church's stability and proof that God regards it with favor. It has not always been considered an honor, or a passport to favor, to have been born in the church, but the time will come when this will be universally true. And, even now, no child can fully appreciate the honor and the real advantage of having been born into a family where God is served, and of having been consecrated to God early in life by parental purpose, by prayer, and by Christian baptism.