Zion is a place that God loves, (Psalm 78:67-69)…..Moreover He rejected the tent of Joseph, and did not choose the tribe of Ephraim, 68 But chose the tribe of Judah, Mount Zion which He loved. 69 And He built His sanctuary like the heights, like the earth which He has established forever. The LORD loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob (87:2). It is through those gates that the worshiper can come to meet with their God. God has set His love upon His people, He delights in being our God, He draws near, He inhabits our praise (Zephaniah 3:14-17). Our LORD is in our midst, He is mighty to save, He rejoices over us with gladness, He quiets us with His love, and He rejoices over us with singing. It is amazing to think that God would save us by His mighty power, that He would bring us from death (that we deserved) to life and establish us on the sure promises of His Word. But God also loves us, and He desires us for His dwelling place (Psalm 132:13-14). Now it would be enough for God to establish us as His people, and love us as His people, but He is not finished, God has determined to make His people a praise (87:3). God has made us to be vessels of His mercy and grace. He has put us on display before a watching world that we would show forth His power. Power to change lives, power to bring light to darkness, power to raise the dead to new life.
It would be enough for God to establish us as His people, and love us as His people, and make us a praise among the people, but there is still more (87:4-6). God makes even His enemy to be His people – Rehab (Egypt) (Psalm 89:10) (Isaiah 30:7). Philistia, Tyre, Cush, these are gentile nations – for your study read (Isaiah 14) (Isaiah 18). Do you see what the psalmist is saying here? This is mind-blowing! This psalm is celebrating the conversion of God’s enemies, those who were once far off are now described as being born in Zion (Zechariah 2:10-11) (Isaiah 60:1-5)
The day that Isaiah and the prophets spoke of was fulfilled in Christ. Those who were once far off are now citizens of Zion, fellow heirs, of the same body, partakers of the promises that God gave to His people in Christ through the gospel (Ephesians 3:6). We who were far off are brought near (Ephesians 2:13).