God’s city is singled out for praise, set apart by His sovereign presence, and promised a grand future of redeemed worship and divine fellowship.
In this psalm, the psalmist declares, “Glorious things are spoken of you, O city of God.” (v.3) By referring to Jerusalem as God’s city, the psalm underscores the special sanctity and honor that the Lord has bestowed upon His people. Traditionally, Mount Zion in southeastern Jerusalem is called “the city of God” because it is one of the hills on which the capital of Judah was built, the place where God’s presence dwelled among His covenant people. This sense of God’s dwelling invests the city with a status unlike any other, reminding believers that the Lord chooses specific places and people through whom He reveals His glory. In the New Testament, believers experience this “city of God” spiritually when they become citizens of a heavenly kingdom, awaiting the day when Christ will renew and restore all things.
The psalm’s emphasis on “glorious things” also evokes the notion that God’s city is destined for divine blessing and worldwide significance. Though Jerusalem has been destroyed more than once in history, the Scriptures promise a future vindication and renewal of the city, as God gathers people from every nation to worship Him. In Christ, the concept of a holy city extends to believers who long for the fullness of God’s presence, when they will dwell in complete fellowship with Him, as seen in the image of the New Jerusalem descending from heaven in Revelation. Just as Jerusalem was exalted in ancient times for being the seat of divine favor, so believers today look forward to a time when every tear and sorrow is removed, and the “city of God” becomes a reality in God’s eternal kingdom.
Set to dark mode
Psalms 87:3 meaning
In this psalm, the psalmist declares, “Glorious things are spoken of you, O city of God.” (v.3) By referring to Jerusalem as God’s city, the psalm underscores the special sanctity and honor that the Lord has bestowed upon His people. Traditionally, Mount Zion in southeastern Jerusalem is called “the city of God” because it is one of the hills on which the capital of Judah was built, the place where God’s presence dwelled among His covenant people. This sense of God’s dwelling invests the city with a status unlike any other, reminding believers that the Lord chooses specific places and people through whom He reveals His glory. In the New Testament, believers experience this “city of God” spiritually when they become citizens of a heavenly kingdom, awaiting the day when Christ will renew and restore all things.
The psalm’s emphasis on “glorious things” also evokes the notion that God’s city is destined for divine blessing and worldwide significance. Though Jerusalem has been destroyed more than once in history, the Scriptures promise a future vindication and renewal of the city, as God gathers people from every nation to worship Him. In Christ, the concept of a holy city extends to believers who long for the fullness of God’s presence, when they will dwell in complete fellowship with Him, as seen in the image of the New Jerusalem descending from heaven in Revelation. Just as Jerusalem was exalted in ancient times for being the seat of divine favor, so believers today look forward to a time when every tear and sorrow is removed, and the “city of God” becomes a reality in God’s eternal kingdom.