Weekly Devotional 15th of March, 2024
by Bruce Billington
Sunday Devotional – 15th March 2024
We are continuing to explore the knowledge of God as expressed in the Psalms. This week we look at some more verses from Psalm 87 – a prayer of the sons of Korah.
Psalm 87:5-7 “But of Zion it shall be said, “This one and that one were born in her”; And the Most High Himself will establish her. The LORD will count when He registers the people, “This one was born there.” Selah. Then those who sing as well as those who play the flutes shall say, “All my springs of joy are in you.”
Although we are speaking about nations in a general sense here, note that this verse (5), turns to individuals. God is going to number us one by one as individuals, or citizens of the New Jerusalem (i.e. the Kingdom of God) and we shall be counted, and our names publicly declared. No individual in Christ will be lost as we are so precious in His sight.
In the New Covenant, the people discussed here are declared by God to be A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God’s OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvellous light; (1 Peter 2:9).
According to Spurgeon that makes us “the true aristocracy, the imperial race of men.” Despite the criticism and opposition, we may face we have no reason to be ashamed. God Himself, will call us forth as He undertakes the task of building His church (Matthew 16:18-19). Ultimately, through the strength of His power and perseverance, we will have great reason to rejoice, as we will see good triumph over evil.
As we read the Old Testament, we notice that the focus is on Zion, but the psalmist here looks beyond the present population of Jerusalem to a time when the city’s rolls would be enlarged to include people of all nations. The future of Zion was far greater than her past. God would offer everyone the privilege of being a citizen of Jerusalem. The City of God would become the capital of a global kingdom and the forerunner of heaven on earth.
The psalmist sang of a time when Jerusalem’s citizens would include many others besides the Jews (v4). All who truly know God, regardless of race or nationality, will be registered as citizens of the City of God. To know (Hebrew – yada) does not mean to know of or to be acquainted with. It means to know personally and intimately. It refers to those who have a personal relationship with God. Even believers among Israel’s enemies will be among those whom the Lord makes mention of or counts as the people of Zion at the end of the age.
The psalmist is describing a worship festival on earth that will far exceed anything the world has ever seen. The singers and instrumentalists will lead all the citizens—people of every nation, tribe, and tongue—in singing praise to God. The congregation of the redeemed will sing “all my springs are in You,” a song celebrating the Lord as the fountain of every blessing, the wellspring of overflowing joy, and the source of eternal life.
Central to all of this will be the reign of Christ when people of all nations will flock to Him to worship. At the same time, the Psalmist considered the completion of the Kingdom of God. The earthly Jerusalem, God’s city, is a picture of the New Jerusalem, the heavenly capital of the new heaven and the new earth (Isaiah 65:17–25; Revelation 21:1–22:6) as they become one.
Make sure you are going to be there. The Lord’s writing the names of those born in Zion in a registry of its citizens is a picture of God’s writing believers’ names in the Book of Life (Psalm 69:28; Daniel 7:10; 12:1–2; Malachi 3:16; Luke 10:20; Revelation 13:8). The citizens of the heavenly Jerusalem—Christ’s eternal kingdom—are the genuine believers of all nations and all ages. The song described by the psalmist is their eternal song of praise to God (V7).
What a time it will be. Make sure your name is in this book by being a true follower of the Lord Jesus Christ.
God bless you.
Bruce Billington