“Jerusalem” (Ps. 87:1-3)

 

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 5/13/2012 7:17:48 AM

 

My Worship Time                                                                                             Focus:  “Jerusalem”

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                       Reference:  Psalm 87:1-3

 

            Message of the verses:  We will begin today’s SD by looking at several introductions to Psalm 87 by different Bible commentators in order to help us have a better understanding of what the psalm is about and we pray that the Holy Spirit of God will teach us what He has for us this day from this section of Scripture.

 

“INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 87

A Psalm or Song for the sons of Korah:  Whether this psalm was composed by David, in a view of the temple to be built by his son Solomon; or whether by one that returned from the Babylonish captivity, who wrote it for the comfort of those that wept at the laying of the foundation of the second temple; it seems evident that the subject matter of it is the church of God in Gospel times, and especially in the latter day glory: the title in the Syriac version is, “concerning the redemption of Jerusalem.” (John Gill)

 

“This psalm describes the Lord’s love for Jerusalem and exalts this city as the religious center of the world in the coming messianic kingdom (cf. Psalm 48).  Though the nations of the world (even including some of Israel’s former enemies) will worship the Lord then, Israel will be the favored nation (cf. Isa. 2:2-4; 19:23-25; 45:22-25; 56:6-8; Zec. 8:20-23; 14:16-19)  (The John MacArthur Study Bible”

 

            “This is another psalm that extols the glory of Mount Zion (see 46-48, 76, 125, 129, 137).  The writer was not indulging in arrogant nationalism but only seeking to glorify the God of Israel and the blessings He bestows.  The psalm must be read on two levels.  It is a prophecy of the future kingdom when all nations will come to Jerusalem to worship (86:9; Isa 2:1-5), and it is also a picture of the heavenly Zion where the children of God have their spiritual citizenship (Luke 10:20; Gal. 4:21-31; Phil 3:20-21; Heb. 12:18-24).  God promised that Abraham would have an earthly family, like the sands of the sea, which is Israel, and a heavenly family like the stars of the heavens, which is the church (Gen. 13:16; 15:4-5).  The psalm was probably written in the time of King Hezekiah, after the Assyrian army had been defeated and Babylon was on the rise (Isa. 36-39).  Following this great victory, the neighboring nations, usually hostile to the Jews, honored Hezekiah and brought gifts to him as well as sacrifices to the Lord (2 Chron. 32:23). The psalmist shares three wonderful truths about the city of Jerusalem.  (Dr. Warren Wiersbe)

 

            The City Is Built by God (vv. 1-3):  “1 A Psalm of the sons of Korah. A Song: His foundation is in the holy mountains. 2 The LORD loves the gates of Zion More than all the other dwelling places of Jacob. 3 Glorious things are spoken of you, O city of God. Selah.”

            “1 A song. A psalm of the descendants of Korah: On the holy mountain stands the city founded by the LORD. 2 He loves the city of Jerusalem more than any other city in Israel. 3 O city of God, what glorious things are said of you!  Interlude” (NLT)            

In the 14^th chapter of the book of Genesis we see Abraham meeting the king-priest Melchizedek who was the king-priest of Salem, latter to become Jerusalem “city of peace.”  We know that according to Psalm 76:2 and Hebrews 7 that Melchizedek was a type of Jesus Christ who is our Priest-King who lives in heaven.  We will see three phases of Jerusalem as we read about in different parts of the Scriptures.  The Jerusalem that God chose to be His city and where Christ died for our sins, we see Jerusalem as the capital of the world in the Messianic Kingdom, and we see a “New Jerusalem” where the church will abide in the eternal kingdom.  Jerusalem is very important to God, the city that he has chosen, the city where His temple was built, the city where Jesus Christ died and rose again from the dead, the city where the Gospel of Jesus Christ was sent out from, the city where Jesus Christ will reign for 1000 years when He returns from heaven, and the city that is being built by God that will come down out of heaven which is described in the later chapter of the book of Revelations.  It is no wonder that the Lord loves the city of Jerusalem.

 

            We see today that the city of Jerusalem is a city in turmoil, “Zec. 12:2  Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem.”  It was in 1967 that Jerusalem became part of Israel for the first time in their hands since 586 BC.  The prophet Ezekiel spoke of this in chapters 36-37 and Israel became a nation again on May 15, 1948, and then in the seven day war Jerusalem went into the hands of Israel.  Many Bible Scholars of today believe that the stage is set for the return of Jesus Christ for His Church and then the beginning of the last seven years of history as we know it before the Lord Jesus Christ will again return to earth to set up His kingdom from the city of Jerusalem.  We read in Ezekiel 40-48 how the Lord will change the topology of Israel and set up His kingdom that will last for 1000 years.  Yes Jerusalem is important to God and much is written about it in His Word.

 

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  After I became of believer in Jesus Christ in January of 1974 the Lord put into my heart a deep, deep love for the nation of Israel, and that is no wonder for Jesus Christ is a Jew, a descendant of King David.  I love Israel and one day, God willing, I will be able to go there to walk where Jesus walked and to see for myself the great city of Jerusalem.

 

My Steps of Faith for Today:  Trust that the Lord will continue a work in my heart that He started last week in church.

 

5/13/2012 8:14:20 AM