Born in Zion
"This one was born in Zion," Ps. 87:6.

Ps. 87 is perhaps the most overlooked psalm in the Bible. Church hymnals
often omit it, including the four major Lutheran hymnals in the United States. To
explore this overlooked psalm, let's start with two questions.

Question 1. Name at least one nation in each category below.

1. Large nations that threaten my homeland.
2. Small neighboring nations who battle with my country.
3. Wealthy nations I'm jealous of.
4. Distant nations I know little about.

Question 2. Does God really desire to save people from the nations I identified above?

Most Christians know they are supposed to answer 'yes' to Question 2 (1 Tim.
2:4). But some of us harbor reservations about having to share heaven with
"the likes of those people." Since such an exclusive attitude was present in
Old Testament times too, the Holy Spirit inspired the Sons of Korah to write
Ps. 87. It opens with patriotic praise of Jerusalem (also known as Zion).
Then comes a surprise:
Glorious things are said of you,
O city of God:
"I [the Lord] will record Rahab [a nickname for Egypt] and Babylon
among those who acknowledge Me--
Philistia too, and Tyre, along with Cush--
and will say, 'This one was born in Zion.'"
Indeed 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" (Ps. 87:3-6).

Surprise! Individuals from other nations will be accepted as "card-carrying"
citizens of Zion. The nations specifically mentioned are:

1. Egypt and Babylon, who oppressed the Jews;
2. Philistia, who battled against them;
3. Tyre, the wealthy Phoenician port north of Israel; and
4. Cush, a distant African nation.

It must have been difficult for patriotic Jews to sing this psalm. It would
be like an American Christian singing:
The Lord will record Russia and China
among those who acknowledge Me--
Cuba too, and Tokyo, along with Saudi Arabia--
and will say, 'This one was born in Zion.'

No wonder this psalm isn't in the Top 40 psalms! But it should be, because
Ps. 87 opens our near-sighted eyes to the vastness of God's grace. The
"glorious thing" about the city of God is not its typography or
architecture, but its multi-national citizens. The Lord promises to:

• Lead them to acknowledge His Son, Jesus, as Savior and Lord.
• Register them as citizens of the heavenly Jerusalem.
• Declare "This one was born in Zion!"

Picture the Lord recording YOUR name and noting beside it: "Born in Zion."
The ink is indelible red, the blood of Christ. Glance at the other names
registered in the book: Toshi, Rosalia, Muhammad, Igor, Ming Hua--all of us
accepted as native-born citizens of heaven.

Isn't it time we brought Ps. 87 out of obscurity?

1. What people do you know who find it difficult to accept the international vastness of God's grace?
2. Compare Ps. 87:6 to Rev. 3:12; 13:8; 21:27. Compare the phrase "born in Zion" to John 3:3-5 and 1 Peter 1:23.
3. Some people believe that all sincere people who try their best will be saved. Is that what this psalm teaches? Note in particular v. 5, "This one and that one."
4. Listen to Wayne Watson's song "Born in Zion."