God delights to include all people in His divine city.
“The LORD will count when He registers the peoples, ‘This one was born there.’ Selah.” (v.6) describes a moment where God Himself is pictured recording the citizens of Zion. In the immediate context of Psalm 87, Zion (another name for Jerusalem) is portrayed as a city uniquely cherished by God, the place He loves and has chosen as His dwelling. Jerusalem is located in the Judean hills and was historically the center of Israel’s worship through the Temple built under King Solomon. Psalm 87 celebrates how people from many nations will be identified as belonging to this sacred place. God’s act of “counting” and “registering” underscores His attentive care and the divine right to name and embrace citizens of His kingdom. It echoes the theme in Scripture that the LORD’s love for Zion is unwavering, as also noted in other passages concerning His protection of Jerusalem.
In the ancient world, having one’s name recorded in a register signified full rights within the community. Psalm 87:6 shows the LORD gladly bestowing this recognition on peoples from every background who become linked to Zion, effectively erasing barriers of nationality. Through this act, those once considered outsiders are welcomed under God’s covenant blessings. Zion itself, often called the City of David, gained importance around 1000 BC when David established his throne there. In time, it stood as the focal point of Israel’s identity and worship, symbolizing the place where God’s presence rested in a special way.
From a New Testament perspective, this foreshadows the promise that all who put their faith in Christ gain citizenship in the heavenly Jerusalem. In Hebrews, believers are said to come “to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God,” indicating that every tribe and tongue is invited to be part of God’s family. The very act of the LORD taking a census and declaring “This one was born there” speaks to the heart of the gospel message: it is God’s prerogative to grant spiritual birth and inclusion to all who respond to His gracious call in Jesus. Zion’s registry becomes an image of the Lamb’s Book of Life, where every believer is known and cherished by name.
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Psalms 87:6 meaning
“The LORD will count when He registers the peoples, ‘This one was born there.’ Selah.” (v.6) describes a moment where God Himself is pictured recording the citizens of Zion. In the immediate context of Psalm 87, Zion (another name for Jerusalem) is portrayed as a city uniquely cherished by God, the place He loves and has chosen as His dwelling. Jerusalem is located in the Judean hills and was historically the center of Israel’s worship through the Temple built under King Solomon. Psalm 87 celebrates how people from many nations will be identified as belonging to this sacred place. God’s act of “counting” and “registering” underscores His attentive care and the divine right to name and embrace citizens of His kingdom. It echoes the theme in Scripture that the LORD’s love for Zion is unwavering, as also noted in other passages concerning His protection of Jerusalem.
In the ancient world, having one’s name recorded in a register signified full rights within the community. Psalm 87:6 shows the LORD gladly bestowing this recognition on peoples from every background who become linked to Zion, effectively erasing barriers of nationality. Through this act, those once considered outsiders are welcomed under God’s covenant blessings. Zion itself, often called the City of David, gained importance around 1000 BC when David established his throne there. In time, it stood as the focal point of Israel’s identity and worship, symbolizing the place where God’s presence rested in a special way.
From a New Testament perspective, this foreshadows the promise that all who put their faith in Christ gain citizenship in the heavenly Jerusalem. In Hebrews, believers are said to come “to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God,” indicating that every tribe and tongue is invited to be part of God’s family. The very act of the LORD taking a census and declaring “This one was born there” speaks to the heart of the gospel message: it is God’s prerogative to grant spiritual birth and inclusion to all who respond to His gracious call in Jesus. Zion’s registry becomes an image of the Lamb’s Book of Life, where every believer is known and cherished by name.