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He has founded his city on the holy mountain. The Lord loves the gates of Zion more than all the other dwellings of Jacob. Glorious things are said of you, city of God. “I will record Rahab and Babylon among those who acknowledge me—Philistia too, and Tyre, along with Cush—and will say, ‘This one was born in Zion.’” Indeed it will be said of Zion it will be said, “This one and that one were born in her, and the Most High himself will establish her.” The Lord will write in the register of the peoples: “This one was born in Zion.” As they make music they will sing, “All my fountains are in you.” (Psalm 87)

One of the themes that has struck me over and over during the course of my seminary journey so far is that of the unity of the Church. Again this week I have been reflecting on the unity of the body of Christ. This psalm is a wonderful reflection of this theme.

The whole earth belongs to God (Ps 24:1), yet He holds Jerusalem in special regard. God’s foundation and the center of His redemptive work is in Jerusalem, the city of God. It is where David reigned, where the tabernacle of God found a permanent home in the temple that Solomon built, it is the place where Jesus died for our sins, was buried, and was resurrected. It is in Jerusalem that the day of Pentecost occurred. And these glorious things and many more were spoken about the city.

Yet…in verses 4-6 God speaks and doesn’t only invite the rival nations of Israel into the city to dwell, God claims them as His own. Wow! Rahab, or Egypt, was known for its strength and pride. Both Egypt and Babylon were deadly enemies to Jerusalem. Tyre inflated the importance of material prosperity and Cush was a distant land who knew little of the God of Israel. Yet God says that He will record all these nations as those who acknowledge him.

But not only that. God also says that people in these nations will be regarded as citizens of Jerusalem and be registered among the people of God. It will be as though they were born within the city. Foreign nations aren’t captives here, nor are they paying homage to Zion and its glory, but these nations are fully incorporated and registered, by a new birth, among the children of Jerusalem.

All Gentiles are welcome in to honour the God of Israel, not as outsiders, but as born-again citizens in God’s holy city. That’s us. We are born-again citizens of the city of Zion. No questions about our past, presuppositions about our future or prerequisites for entry into the city. We need simply come in faith in Jesus and we are joyfully welcomed by God. It is God who writes our names on the registry of His people. It is God who declares and records our citizenship and birthright.

The idea of being a citizen and being registered as a born citizen of Zion is also a spiritual concept. Hebrews 12:22-23 says, “But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven.”

In Jesus Christ, every believer can have the privilege of registration in Zion and of being a citizen of the heavenly city of God. This doesn’t eliminate the special regard God had, has, and will have for the physical land of Israel and Jerusalem. It surpasses it.

And so, our natural response is to praise God. In verse 7, this is done through song and dance. It’s God’s fountain and life spring that give us new life and new birth into an imperishable city. All who believe in Christ are welcome into this city. None who come in faith are excluded. In Christ we are fully united to God and with one another. What better reason is there to praise our Maker?