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ZION, O CITY OF GOD
PSALM 87
FOR SCRIPTURE READING IN CHINESE Please click PSALM 87
SCRIPTURE READING IN ENGLISH
1 A Psalm or Song for the sons of Korah.
His foundation is in the holy mountains.
2 The LORD loveth the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob.
3 Glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God. Selah.
4 I will make mention of Rahab and Babylon to them that know me: behold Philistia, and Tyre, with Ethiopia; this man was born there.
5 And of Zion it shall be said, This and that man was born in her: and the highest himself shall establish her.
6 The LORD shall count, when he writeth up the people, that this man was born there. Selah.
7 As well the singers as the players on instruments shall be there: all my springs are in thee.
Outline
(1) Where God is the foundation (v 1a )
(2) Whom God has set apart (v 1b )
(3) Most beloved of all His dwelling place (v 2 )
(4) Glorious City of God (v 3 )
(5) Remembering her citizens from all lands established by God Himself (v 4-5 )
(6) God makes count of every inhabitant born there (v 6 )
(7) Every inhabitant shall sing praises for all their life springs forth from Him. (v 7 )
This psalm is a beautiful picture of the flourishing inhabitants of God's city, Zion. The city's foundation is God Himself. And this city is set apart as sacred unto the LORD. God loves this city more than all the houses of His people. Indeed this city is most worthy of praise for all her inhabitants. The Glorious City of God. Her citizens come from many lands.
Rahab is the emblematic name of Egypt, the land of the south and Babylon, the land of the east. Philistia the land of the west and Tyre the land of the north. Ethopia is a distant land. In the day to come, all these lands shall know and acknowledge the living and true God dwelling in Zion.
God remember every one of His people who receive life from Him and they shall praise Him.
GLORIOUS THINGS OF THEE ARE SPOKEN
Text: John Newton, 1725-1807
Music: Croatian folk song; arr. by Franz Joseph Haydn
Tune: AUSTRIA, Meter: 87.87 D
1. Glorious things of thee are spoken,
Zion, city of our God;
God, whose word cannot be broken,
formed thee for his own abode.
On the Rock of Ages founded,
what can shake thy sure repose?
With salvation's walls surrounded,
thou mayst smile at all thy foes.
2. See, the streams of living waters,
springing from eternal love,
well supply thy sons and daughters,
and all fear of want remove.
Who can faint while such a river
ever will their thirst assuage?
Grace which like the Lord, the giver,
never fails from age to age.
3. Round each habitation hovering,
see the cloud and fire appear
for a glory and a covering,
showing that the Lord is near!
Thus deriving from our banner
light by night and shade by day,
safe we feed upon the manna
which God gives us when we pray.
4. Blest inhabitants of Zion,
washed in our Redeemer's blood;
Jesus, whom our souls rely on,
makes us monarchs, priests to God.
Us, by his great love, he raises,
rulers over self to reign,
and as priests his solemn praises
we for thankful offering bring.