October 31st

Psalm 87

We Are All Adopted

‘Glorious things of Thee are spoken, Zion, city of our God.’

 In 1779, John Newton, former slave-trader, now a minister, published a book of hymns – Olney Hymns – which featured ‘Glorious things of Thee are spoken’ which finds its inspiration in Psalm 87.

Our psalmist begins with joy; seeing the city shining on the mountain brought joy and excitement to the pilgrim for this is a city founded by YHWH.  YHWH loves the city – not its walls and gates and bars of course – but its people.  YHWH wants the city to be a place of welcome, love, and compassion.

Way back in Israel’s scriptures (Genesis 12.3) God promised Abraham and Sarah that through their family all the nations of the earth would be blessed.  Listen now to the radical message of this psalm in vs.4:

⁴ I count Rahab and Babel among those who know me;
    also Philistia and Tyre, along with Cush—
    each of these was born there.       

Really?  These are people traditionally the enemies of Israel.  They too are God’s people?  Rahab, shorthand for Egypt, enslavers of Israel.  Babel - the Babylonians who deported the Jews and ruined the land; and closer to home, the Philistines, Tyre, and Cush (Ethiopia).  Israel had believed that God would use her to be God’s instrument of mission to the world, and the psalmist sees that great vision.  In the future people from many nations will have a birth/covenant certificate saying ‘I am a citizen of Zion.’ 

The Psalm forsees a future time of healing and peace …

²³ On that day, there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria. The Assyrians will come to Egypt, and the Egyptians to Assyria; and the Egyptians will worship with the Assyrians.

²⁴ On that day, Israel will be the third along with Egypt and Assyria, a blessing at the center of the world. ²⁵ The Lord of heavenly forces will pronounce this blessing: Bless Egypt my people, and Assyria my handiwork, and Israel my inheritance.   [Isaiah 19.23-25]

In view of Psalm 87 it is not surprising that Jews, Christians, and Muslims hold Jerusalem sacred.  But sadly, this has led to enmity rather than fraternity.  It is difficult to believe this vision in these dark days of tragic violence in the Middle East. 

To take this psalm seriously would have a profound impact on the international policy of the nations of our world.  The dehumanization of other people – a tactic that feeds hostility and warfare – cannot claim God’s approval. 

 ‘Each one was born there,’ YHWH says.  The statement recurs three times (vs.4,5,6).  They were not literally born in Zion but they will come to be counted as adopted citizens of the city.  (the verb ‘born’ can also mean ‘adopted’). 

This can be good news for the current church.  We who fear shriveling congregations, hostility and indifference from the larger culture, wars and rumors of wars, can we see God’s great vision for the world.  Can our vision be as large?  

The embodiment of the psalmist’s vision was carried out in the early church by the welcoming of all nations:

        -Acts 1.8; Matt. 28.19-20; Luke 24.47; Eph. 2.14

Let us continue to pray for peace, justice, and healing for the wounded and bleeding Holy Land.  God loves all God’s many people.

https://youtu.be/SNQOcpECk4A  -  ’Glorious things of Thee are spoken’