Albert Barnes Commentary Psalms 87:3

"Glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God. Selah" — Psalms 87:3 (ASV)

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.