The Morning Devotional: Psalm 87
Season 11 | Edition 58
June 23, 2026
SUMMARY: Psalm 87 presents the church as the eternal city of God, exalted above all earthly places and beloved by the Lord for its divine origin and purpose. Rooted in the covenantal history of Zion, the psalm portrays the church not as a human institution but as a divine creation, established by God Himself and sustained by His power, where the redeemed from every nation—symbolized by Rahab, Babylon, Philistia, and Cush—are spiritually born. Though the church bears imperfections and struggles, it remains the bride of Christ, worthy of reverence and protection, not because of its perfection but because of God’s redemptive love and the life-giving work of the gospel within it. The psalm concludes with a profound declaration of spiritual dependence: all true joy, hope, and sustenance flow from the church, which is the source of new life and the means through which God fulfills His eternal purposes. This vision calls believers to cherish, uphold, and faithfully serve the church as the living expression of God’s glory and grace.
On the holy mount stands the city he founded;
2 the Lord loves the gates of Zion
more than all the dwelling places of Jacob.
3 Glorious things of you are spoken,
O city of God. Selah
4 Among those who know me I mention Rahab and Babylon;
behold, Philistia and Tyre, with Cush[a]—
“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.”
(Psalm 87:1-7, ESV)