Psalm 87:1-7 “A Psalm by the sons of Korah; a Song. His foundation is in the holy mountains. The LORD loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob. Glorious things are spoken about you, city of God. Selah. I will record Rahab and Babylon amongst those who acknowledge me. Behold, Philistia, Tyre, and also Ethiopia: ‘This one was born there.’ Yes, of Zion it will be said, ‘This one and that one was born in her;’ the Most High himself will establish her. The LORD will count, when he writes up the peoples, ‘This one was born there.’ Selah. Those who sing as well as those who dance say, ‘All my springs are in you.’ “

What is most incredible about this passage is not that God loves Jerusalem. After all, that’s where His temple is! What’s incredible is that people from Gentile nations will be declared citizens of the holy city and counted as those who acknowledge God! This passage clearly anticipates what will happen because of Jesus Christ, and those who serve in the temple rejoice and recognize that He is the source of life and joy.

Ephesians 3:1-6 “For this cause I, Paul, am the prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles, if it is so that you have heard of the administration of that grace of God which was given me towards you, how that by revelation the mystery was made known to me, as I wrote before in few words, by which, when you read, you can perceive my understanding in the mystery of Christ, which in other generations was not made known to the children of men, as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit, that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of his promise in Christ Jesus through the Good News…”

For additional worship: Behold the Mountain of the Lord (Joe Stout)