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<TITLE>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible [Psalms LXXXVII].</TITLE>
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1710)
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>P S A L M S</B></FONT>
<BR>
<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>PSALM LXXXVII.</FONT>
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<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
The foregoing psalm was very plain and easy, but in this are things
dark and hard to be understood. It is an encomium of Zion, as a type
and figure of the gospel-church, to which what is here spoken is very
applicable. Zion, for the temple's sake, is here preferred,
I. Before the rest of the land of Canaan, as being crowned with special
tokens of God's favour,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+87:1-3">ver. 1-3</A>.
II. Before any other place or country whatsoever, as being replenished
with more eminent men and with a greater plenty of divine blessings,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+87:4-7">ver. 4-7</A>.
Some think it was penned to express the joy of God's people when Zion
was in a flourishing state; others think it was penned to encourage
their faith and hope when Zion was in ruins and was to be rebuilt after
the captivity. Though no man cared for her
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+30:17">Jer. xxx. 17</A>,
"This is Zion whom no man seeketh after"), yet God had done great
things for her, and spoken glorious things of her, which should all
have their perfection and accomplishment in the gospel-church; to that
therefore we must have an eye in singing this psalm.</P>
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<A NAME="Ps87_1"> </A>
<A NAME="Ps87_2"> </A>
<A NAME="Ps87_3"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Glory of Zion.</I></FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1> <! -- Date --> </FONT></TD></TR>
<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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<CENTER>
<P>A psalm <I>or</I> song for the sons of Korah.</P>
</CENTER>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
<FONT SIZE=+1>1 His foundation <I>is</I> in the holy mountains.
&nbsp; 2 The L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> loveth the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings
of Jacob.
&nbsp; 3 Glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God. Selah.
</FONT></P>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
Some make the first words of the psalm to be part of the title; it is a
psalm or song whose subject is the holy mountains--the temple built in
Zion upon Mount Moriah. This is the foundation of the argument, or
beginning of the psalm. Or we may suppose the psalmist had now the
tabernacle or temple in view and was contemplating the glories of it,
and at length he breaks out into this expression, which has reference,
though not to what he had written before, yet to what he had thought
of; every one knew what he meant when he said thus abruptly, <I>Its
foundation is in the holy mountains.</I> Three things are here
observed, in praise of the temple:--
1. That it was founded on the holy mountains,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+87:1"><I>v.</I> 1</A>.
The church has a foundation, so that it cannot sink or totter; Christ
himself is the foundation of it, which God has laid. The Jerusalem
above is a city that has foundations. The foundation is upon the
mountains. It is built high; the <I>mountain of the Lord's house is
established upon the top of the mountains,</I>
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+2:2">Isa. ii. 2</A>.
It is built firmly; the mountains are rocky, and on a rock the church
is built. The world is founded upon the seas
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+24:2">Ps. xxiv. 2</A>),
which are continually ebbing and flowing, and are a very weak
foundation; Babel was built in a plain, where the ground was rotten.
But the church is built upon the everlasting mountains and the
perpetual hills; for sooner shall the mountains depart, and the hills
be removed, than the covenant of God's peace shall be disannulled, and
on that the church is built,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+54:10">Isa. lxiv. 10</A>.
The foundation is upon the holy mountains. Holiness is the strength and
stability of the church: it is this that will support it and keep it
from sinking; not so much that it is built upon mountains as that it is
built upon holy mountains--upon the promise of God, for the confirming
of which he has sworn by his holiness, upon the sanctification of the
Spirit, which will secure the happiness of all the saints.
2. That God had expressed a particular affection for it
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+87:2"><I>v.</I> 2</A>):
<I>The Lord loveth the gates of Zion,</I> of the temple, of <I>the
houses of doctrine</I> (so the Chaldee), <I>more than all the dwellings
of Jacob,</I> whether in Jerusalem or any where else in the country.
God had said concerning Zion, <I>This is my rest for ever; here will I
dwell.</I> There he met his people, and conversed with them, received
their homage, and showed them the tokens of his favour, and therefore
we may conclude how well he loves those gates. Note,
(1.) God has a love for the dwellings of Jacob, has a gracious regard
to religious families and accepts their family-worship.
(2.) Yet he loves the gates of Zion better, not only better than any,
but better than all, of the dwellings of Jacob. God was worshipped in
the dwellings of Jacob, and family-worship is family-duty, which must
by no means be neglected; yet, when they come in competition, public
worship (<I>c&aelig;teris paribus--other things being equal</I>) is to
be preferred before private.
3. That there was much said concerning it in the word of God
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+87:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>):
<I>Glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God!</I> We are to
judge of things and persons by the figure they make and the estimate
put upon them in and by the scripture. Many base things were spoken of
the city of God by the enemies of it, to render it mean and odious; but
by him whose judgment we are sure is according to truth glorious things
are spoken of it. God said of the temple, <I>My eyes and my heart shall
be there perpetually; I have sanctified this house, that my name may be
there for ever,</I>
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+7:16">2 Chron. vii. 16</A>.
<I>Beautiful for situation is Mount Zion,</I>
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+48:2">Ps. xlviii. 2</A>.
These are glorious things. Yet more glorious things are spoken of the
gospel-church. It is the spouse of Christ, the purchase of his blood;
it is a <I>peculiar people, a holy nation, a royal priesthood,</I> and
the <I>gates of hell shall not prevail against it.</I> Let us not be
ashamed of the church of Christ in its meanest condition, nor of any
that belong to it, nor disown our relation to it, though it be turned
ever so much to our reproach, since such glorious things are spoken of
it, and not on iota or tittle of what is said shall fall to the
ground.</P>
<A NAME="Ps87_4"> </A>
<A NAME="Ps87_5"> </A>
<A NAME="Ps87_6"> </A>
<A NAME="Ps87_7"> </A>
<A NAME="Sec2"> </A>
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Glory of Zion.</I></FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1> <! -- Date --> </FONT></TD></TR>
<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
</TABLE>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
<FONT SIZE=+1>4 I will make mention of Rahab and Babylon to them that know
me: behold Philistia, and Tyre, with Ethiopia; this <I>man</I> was
born there.
&nbsp; 5 And of Zion it shall be said, This and that man was born in
her: and the highest himself shall establish her.
&nbsp; 6 The L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> shall count, when he writeth up the people, <I>that</I>
this <I>man</I> was born there. Selah.
&nbsp; 7 As well the singers as the players on instruments <I>shall be
there:</I> all my springs <I>are</I> in thee.
</FONT></P>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
Zion is here compared with other places, and preferred before them; the
church of Christ is more glorious and excellent than the nations of the
earth.
1. It is owned that other places have their glories
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+87:4"><I>v.</I> 4</A>):
"<I>I will make mention of Rahab</I>" (that is, <I>Egypt) "and Babylon,
to those that know me</I> and are about me, and with whom I discourse
about public affairs; <I>behold Philistia and Tyre, with Ethiopia</I>"
(or rather Arabia), "we will observe that <I>this man was born
there;</I> here and there one famous man, eminent for knowledge and
virtue, may be produced, that was a native of these countries; here and
there one that becomes a proselyte and worshipper of the true God." But
some give another sense of it, supposing that it is a prophecy or
promise of bringing the Gentiles into the church and of uniting them in
one body with the Jews. God says, "<I>I will reckon Egypt and Babylon
with those that know me.</I> I will reckon them my people as much as
Israel when they shall receive the gospel of Christ, and own them as
born in Zion, born again there, and admitted to the privileges of Zion
as freely as a true-born Israelite." Those that were strangers and
foreigners became <I>fellow-citizens with the saints,</I>
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eph+2:19">Eph. ii. 19</A>.
A Gentile convert shall stand upon a level with a native Jew; compare
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+19:23-25">Isa. xix. 23-25</A>.
<I>The Lord shall say, Blessed be Egypt my people, and Assyria the work
of my hands, and Israel my inheritance.</I>
2. It is proved that the glory of Zion outshines them all, upon many
accounts; for,
(1.) Zion shall produce many great and good men that shall be famous in
their generation,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+87:5"><I>v.</I> 5</A>.
Of Zion it shall be said by all her neighbours that <I>this and that
man were born in her,</I> many men of renown for wisdom and piety, and
especially for acquaintance with the words of God and the visions of
the Almighty--many prophets and kings, who should be greater favourites
of heaven, and greater blessings to the earth, than ever were bred in
Egypt or Babylon. The worthies of the church far exceed those of
heathen nations, and their names will shine brighter than in perpetual
records. <I>A man, a man was born in her,</I> by which some understand
Christ, that man, that son of man, who is fairer than the children of
men; he was born at Bethlehem near Zion, and was the glory of his
people Israel. The greatest honour that ever was put upon the Jewish
nation was, that of them, <I>as concerning the flesh, Christ came,</I>
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+9:5">Rom. ix. 5</A>.
Or this also may be applied to the conversion of the Gentiles. Of Zion
it shall be said that the law which went forth out of Zion, the gospel
of Christ, shall be an instrument to beget many souls to God, and the
Jerusalem that is from above shall be acknowledged the mother of them
all.
(2.) Zion's interest shall be strengthened and settled by an almighty
power. <I>The Highest himself shall</I> undertake to <I>establish
her,</I> who can do it effectually; the accession of proselytes out of
various nations shall be so far from occasioning discord and division
that it shall contribute greatly to Zion's strength; for, God himself
having founded her upon an everlasting foundation, whatever convulsions
and revolutions there are of states and kingdoms, and however heaven
and earth may be shaken, these are things which cannot be shaken, but
must remain.
(3.) Zion's sons shall be registered with honour
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+87:6"><I>v.</I> 6</A>):
"<I>The Lord shall count, when he writes up the people,</I> and takes a
catalogue of his subjects, <I>that this man was born there,</I> and so
is a subject by birth, by the first birth, being born in his house--by
the second birth, being born again of his Spirit." When God comes to
reckon with the children of men, that he may render to every man
according to his works, he will observe who was born in Zion, and
consequently enjoyed the privileges of God's sanctuary, to whom
pertained the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the
service of God,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+9:4,Ro+3:1,2">Rom. ix. 4; iii. 1, 2</A>.
For to them much was given, and therefore of them much will be
required, and the account will be accordingly; five talents must be
improved by those that were entrusted with five. <I>I know thy works,
and where thou dwellest,</I> and where thou was born. <I>Selah.</I> Let
those that dwell in Zion <I>mark this,</I> and live up to their
profession.
(4.) Zion's songs shall be sung with joy and triumph: <I>As well the
singers as the players on instruments shall be there</I> to praise God,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+87:7"><I>v.</I> 7</A>.
It was much to the honour of Zion, and is to the honour of the
gospel-church, that there God is served and worshipped with rejoicing:
his work is done, and done cheerfully; see
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+68:25">Ps. lxviii. 25</A>.
<I>All my springs are in thee,</I> O Zion! So God says; he has
deposited treasures of grace in his holy ordinances; there are the
springs from which those streams take rise <I>which make glad the city
of our God,</I>
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+46:4">Ps. xlvi. 4</A>.
So the psalmist says, reckoning the springs from which his dry soul
must be watered to lie in the sanctuary, in the word and ordinances,
and in the communion of saints. The springs of the joy of a carnal
worldling lie in wealth and pleasure; but the springs of the joy of a
gracious soul lie in the word of God and prayer. Christ is the true
temple; all our springs are in him, and from him all our streams flow.
<I>It pleased the Father,</I> and all believers are well pleased with
it too, <I>that in him should all fulness dwell.</I></P>
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