April 20, 2011

Psalm 87 (Click to see scripture)

Bible in One Year Passages:
Mark 6:45-56, 1 Corinthians 11:17-34, Judges 12-13

Journal Entry

Scripture

4 Among those who know me I mention Rahab and Babylon;
 behold, Philistia and Tyre, with Cush
 “This one was born there,” they say.


5 And of Zion it shall be said,
“This one and that one were born in her”; 
for the Most High himself will establish her.


6 The Lord records as he registers the peoples,
 “This one was born there.” Selah

7 Singers and dancers alike say,
 “All my springs are in you.”

Observation

I had to refer to several commentaries to understand the meaning of these verses.  Wow, how rich and prophetic they are once I understood them. The Psalm begins recognizing the "original" City of God, Jerusalem (or Zion).  But then transitions into the new Jerusalem beginning verse 4. According to the commentaries I read, the new Jerusalem is the present day Church. It is not limited to a particular location, but made up of believers world-wide. The references to Rahab (Egypt), Babylon and other surrounding cities is significant because the historical enemies of God’s people are not just reconciled to God but allowed into His Kingdom. The enemies of God and the enemies of God’s people united together in worship.

This passage reminds me of Jesus’ encounter with the Samaritan woman in John 43. Verses 21-26 provides:

Jesus said to her [Samaritan woman], “Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him.  God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”  The woman said to him, “I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things.” Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am he.”

Application

How am I participating in building the City of God like prophesied in this Psalm or explicitly exemplified by Jesus?  As we remember this week, we all know that it cost Jesus his life. What is my attitude to those outside our church walls, those who look a different, act a little different, talk a little different, and think a little different. These are people that I may label as “enemies,” “feared” or even worse simply "ignored" rather than loved and accepted.  

As I struggle in this tension, I pray God's truth will be revealed in my innermost being and transform me inside out.

Prayer

Lord, thank you for loving me. I was truly once your enemy and a dead one at that. Yet, you have reconciled me to You and given me life in You. Help me Father to love with your love and how to do so practically and daily. Thank you for our faithful leaders and volunteers of the Love Ministries (Love LA, Love South Park, and Love Lincoln Heights) who exemplify this love for me by befriending the homeless and caring for the precious young ones in our neighborhood.

--jyim