Scripture Reading : Psalm 87
Theme : The Joy of the World
- The Glorious City of God (1–3). This psalm expands on the idea in Psalm 86:9, that all the nations will someday worship the Lord. Psalm 87 is a song about the glorious things said about Zion, the city of God, His worldwide headquarter. After depicting Zion as God’s glorious city, the psalmist described how the nations will gather to her as children, and how joyful are those who dwell there. The first verse stands as a single-line summary of the psalm’s theme: God has set His foundation on the holy mountain (cf. 43:3; 48:1; 99:9).
- The Nations Gathered to Zion (4–6). The psalmist listed some of the nations that will be gathered to Zion. They will be like children who were born in Zion. God’s purpose is to reconcile people to Himself. The five nations metonymously point to the whole world. They are Rahab/Egypt (Is. 30:7), Babylon, Philistia, Phoenicia, and Cush/Ethiopia. All nations in that day will look to Zion as the “mother city” (cf. Gal. 4:26, a popular heretic cult called Church of God abuses this verse and teaches there is God the Mother). God’s writing their names in a register figuratively describes His ensuring them a place in Zion.
- Joy in Zion (7). This verse is a brief glimpse of the rejoicing that the other believing nations will bring to Zion. The second line of the verse states the substance of their musical praise: All my fountains are in You. “Fountains” signifies that Zion will be the source of all blessing and pleasure, because of the Lord’s presence there.[1]
Praying the Scripture
O, what a glorious day it will be when God sets up His worldwide headquarter in Jerusalem. When all the nations will be at peace. The whole earth will return to paradise condition. There will be no natural disasters, no human trafficking, no slavery, no crimes and no wars. The human race will truly be one. No politician, no political ingenuity can accomplish what only God can accomplish through Jesus. Any political solution is just temporary and can only limit war and destruction. Our hope is not in politicians or any political process, our hope is only in the return of Jesus, the full restoration of the world. Until He returns, meditate one this hope and live out this hope by proclaiming the gospel (our highest duty), by loving all nations, praying and seeking justice whenever possible.
[1] The Bible Knowledge Commentary, 857.
经文：诗篇87
主题：世界的喜乐
- 神荣耀的城（1-3）。这首诗阐述诗篇86:9的主题，即万国有一天将前来敬拜耶和华。诗篇87是一首述说锡安之荣耀的歌；锡安即是神的城，是祂在世界的总部。在阐述锡安为神荣耀的城后，诗人也形容列国将如何像孩童一样到锡安聚集，而在那里居住的人有多喜乐。第一节就是诗篇主题的摘要：耶和华所立的根基在圣山上（参：43:3；48:1；99:9）。
- 万国积聚到锡安（4-6）。诗人也列出一些到集聚锡安的国家。她们有如在锡安出生的孩子。神的目的就是要让人与祂和好。这五个国家代表了全世界。他们是拉哈伯/埃及（赛30:7）、巴比伦、非利士、推罗和古实人。列国在那一天将仰望锡安为“母城”（参：加4:26，一个有名的异教（上帝教会）滥用了这一节来教导母神）。神记录他们的名代表他们在锡安有份。
- 锡安里的喜乐（7）。这一节让我们瞥见其他信神之国所带给锡安的喜乐，而后半节申明了他们歌颂的实体：我的泉源都在你这里。“泉源”表示锡安是所有祝福和享乐的源头，因为那里有耶和华的同在。[1]
用经文祷告
哦，当神在耶路撒冷建立祂的世界总部时，那将是何等荣耀的一天。列国将国泰民安。全世界将归回乐园般的状态。那里不再有天灾，不再有拐卖人口，不再有奴役、罪行或战争。全人类将成为真正的一体。无政治家或政治智慧可以完成只有神通过耶稣所能成就的事。所有政治方案只是暂时性的，其作用也只是限制战争和摧毁。我们的希望不在于政治家或政治策略，只在乎耶稣的再来，即世界的全然复兴。耶稣再来之前，我们要深思并活出这个希望，即传福音（我们最大的任务），尽量爱万国，祷告和寻求公义。
[1] The Bible Knowledge Commentary, 857.
