Psalm 87 is a wonderful Psalm. It’s about the city of God. Mount Zion, you know, the church. It says, "Glorious things of you are spoken, O city of God." What is this psalm talking about? We surely don’t hear many good things said day to day about the church. The world scorns us saying, "They’re closed minded, haters of men, just plain unfriendly, and not with the times." Even in the church we scoff at one another, "They’re too small, they do that, they invite those people, they just don’t do it my way." Where are these glorious things spoken?
They’re spoken by the angels in heaven. They rejoice at one sinner who turns from his wicked ways. Just imagine the rejoice that a whole church of sinners gets!!! They speak glorious things of the church. And so does Christ, the church is his bride – what earthly husband would speak ill of his wife, and so it is with Christ. The psalmist continues, "Among those who know me I mention Rahab and Babylon; behold, Philistia and Tyre, withCush—"This one was born there," they say. And of Zion it shall be said, "This one and that one were born in her"; for the Most High himself will establish her. The LORD records as he registers the peoples, This one was born there.""
Today it could be said this way. Eventually all at the Last Day, all nations will come before Jesus and have to confess the same thing. We would say it, "Among those who know me I mention America, Germany, China, Africa." These will all confess, "He or she was born there." We were all born in the church in Baptism. All the springs are within the church. Springs of living water flowing to eternal life. Springs of words flowing from Pastors mouth, and a spring of Christs body and blood going into our mouths. So Psalm 87 is a wonderful baptismal psalm. It tells us that no matter what anyone says about the church, that it contains the Baptized – those born in her. No more a glorious thing can be said of the church than "She holds the baptized." In the Name of Jesus. Amen.
Gracious Mercy Blog 