Psalm 87

The Glories of the City of God: “His foundation is in the holy mountains. The Lord loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob. Glorious things are spoken of you, O city of God! – Selah”  Psalm 87:1-3 (NKJV)

There are many beautiful cities in the world, and throughout my time in the touring music business, I have had the privilege of visiting many of them.  I suppose you can rank cities with several measures: Food, Art, Culture, Parks, Transportation, Natural Attractions, Architecture, Cleanliness, etc.  But of all the cities I have visited, Jerusalem is a city without equal.  Perhaps, that is why it is the most disputed and conquered city in history.  While not everything that happens within its walls is God-honoring, Jerusalem is truly the City of God!  

Today’s psalm is extolling Jerusalem and comparing it to other cities.  There is no doubt that the psalmist is picturing (either from a first-hand account or from memory) the Temple, where the people worship the Lord, and He honors their pilgrimage with His presence. Typically, whenever a building project is underway, nobody drives by the construction site and gets excited about the pouring of the concrete foundation.  We like to see girders and walls and roofs.  But without a firm foundation, nothing built, no matter how magnificent the architecture, can stand the test of the elements over time.

“Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.” Matthew 7:24-27 (NKJV)

Notice how Jerusalem is not simply built on a mountain, as many other cities are also built on mountains.  It is built on a HOLY mountain, a mountain set apart by God.  Similarly, our faith cannot be built on persuasive spiritual words.  It must be built on God’s Word!

“According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. For no other foundation can anyone other than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 3:10-11 (NKJV)

So, what is our takeaway?  The Lord delights in the city, community, church or life that is built on the foundation of the Word of God thru Jesus (the Word, made flesh).  And He blesses our “gates,” our comings and goings.  Can you declare, as the old hymn, that your hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness?