Verse 1. “His foundation is in the holy mountains.” The foundation of the church, which is the mystical Jerusalem, is laid in the eternal, immutable, and invincible decrees of Jehovah. He wills that the church shall be, He settles all arrangements for her calling, her salvation, maintenance and perfection; and all His attributes, like the mountains round about Jerusalem, lend their strength for her support. Not on the sand of carnal policy, nor in the morass of human kingdoms has the Lord founded His church, but on His own power and Godhead, which are pledged for the establishment of His own beloved church, which is to Him the chief of all his works. What a theme for meditation is the founding of the church of God in the ancient covenant engagements of eternity; the abrupt character of this first verse indicates long consider-ation on the part of the writer, leading up to his bursting forth in won-der and admiration – “His foundation is in the holy mountains!”
Verse 2. “The Lord loveth the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob.” The Lord had His eye on every house and tent in the land of Israel where the descendants of Jacob lived as families or individuals to the praise of His name; but His special pleasure rested on the gathering together of His people for the worship of His name within “the gates of Zion.” So, says Mr Spurgeon. “God delights in the prayers and praises of Christian families and individuals, but He has a special eye to the assemblies of the faithful, and he has a special delight in their devotions in their church capacity.” As William Gurnall puts it, “A father is glad to see any one of his children, and makes him welcome when he visits him, but much more when they all come together; the greatest feast is when they all meet at his house. So, the public praises of the church are the emblem of heaven itself, where all the angels make but one concert.”
Verse 3. “Glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God.” The idea of the text presents the church as “the city of God;” let us touch on some of the “glorious things” that are spoken of it. There are glorious things with respect to the erection of the city. There is the plan of its erection: - there was never a plan so faultless, so complete, so wonderful for its beauty and grandeur. The gates, the walls, the buildings, the streets, the monuments, the fountains, the gardens, unite to proclaim it a masterpiece of skill. The Architect was He who built the skies. There is the date of the city’s erection. In a case like this, a halo and a glory attach to it on account of its great antiquity. It is a long time since the city was built: it was standing in the days of Paul – “Ye are come unto the city of the Living God.” (Hebrews 12:22). David, as he shows here, was well acquainted with it. It was standing before the flood. Noah, Enoch, and Abel dwelt in it. It is almost as old as the creation itself. There are glorious things to tell of the defences of the city. It has been besieged ever since it has been a city at all, and it is not taken to this hour. There are glorious things in connection with the stores and supplies on which the city depends: - there excellence, their abundance, their source. There are glorious things respecting the King of the city: His name, His person, His character. And there are glorious things in connection with the citizens of the city.
Verse 4. “I will make mention of Rahab and Babylon to them that know me: behold, Philistia, and Tyre, with Ethiopia; this man was born there.” “Rahab, “Philistia,” “tyre,” “Babylon,” “Ethiopia.” This is the glory of the church, that into her the fulness of the nations shall enter: - the proud from Egypt, who for her haughtiness is called Rahab; the worldly from Babylon, the city of confusion; the wrathful from Philistia so long the enemies of Israel; the covetous from Tyre, the rich city of the traders; and the slaves of ignorance from Cush and from the land of Ham. All these shall learn the love of Christ and confess His truth, and shall enter into that all-glorious city, and be admitted and acknowledged as citizens of the celestial Zion.
Verse 5. And of Zion it shall be said, This and that man was born in her … The Lord shall count, when he writeth up the people that this man was born there.” When events shall be traced to their sources at the last day, many a scene will come forth into prominence, which now is of little regard. Humble churches will then prove to have been the birthplace, and stately palaces the graves, of many an immortal soul.