Hope for peace

Psalm 87 is a song of hope for peace. The peace that will be established when God is going to register people as citizens of Jerusalem. In many ways: a NEM Psalm.  

Verse 1: 'His foundation': some rabbis see a reference to the foundation of the world in this verse. The cornerstone from which God created the world is Mount Zion. However we believe this verse mainly refers to the great deeds of God in history. God spoke on Mount Zion. It's the place where Heaven touched earth on more than one occasion! 

Verse 3: 'Glorious things are said of the city of God'. The word for 'glorious' in Hebrew is 'kavod', meaning 'heavy, that which makes an impact or leaves an impression'. Important things happened on Zion which left an impression of God's presence in that place. People were convinced: God is here. Abraham experienced God's presence in His provision. Israel experienced God's presence when the temple was built. And eventually it was the place where Israel's Messiah died on the cross for the sins of the world.  

Verse 4: Israel's enemies are mentioned: Rahab is a synonym for Egypt (see Isaiah 30:7). The word Rahab means 'arrogant, haughty, proud'. Next are Babylon, Philistia, Tyre, and Ethiopia. They all will come to know the LORD (= JHWH = the God of Israel). Not in a negative way! The Hebrew word speaks of acknowledging Him, having communion with Him. They are even said to have been born in Zion! In Biblical times the place of birth meant above all that one had the privileges of citizenship. The fact that these enemies of Israel will in the future acknowledge the God of Israel and gain citizenship of Jerusalem, has everything to do with the hardening of Israel through which the gospel has come to the nations. Read Romans 11:11. The words of John 1:12, 13 proclaim the way in which this revolution will take place: 'Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God - children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.' 

Verse 5: 'will establish her' - we find the same word in Psalm 48:8 and Isaiah 62:7. This verse was beautifully applied by Rabbi Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld. During the time of the British mandate at the beginning of the last century, there was a set limit to the number of immigrants. Exemption was made for Jews born in Eretz Israel (Palestine). Now this Rabbi gave official documents declaring birth in Eretz Israel to Jews who requested one, even if they had not actually been born there. His reason for this: 'The Talmud teaches us that the man who was born in Zion, as well as the one who longs to live there, both have the right to be called children of Zion.' 

Verse 7: a beautiful Jewish interpretation of this verse says: 'My whole life is dedicated to searching Your ways.' Another: 'My heart constantly overflows with songs of music for You.'