Psalm 87:1-2, 6 (NIV)
He has founded his city on the holy mountain. The LORD loves the gates of Zion more than all the other dwellings of Jacob. The LORD will write in the register of the peoples: “This one was born in Zion.”
Do you know anyone who was born into a wealthy family? Born with a sliver spoon in their mouth? In recent years there have been numerous series on streaming channels about the British aristocracy as well as the British Royal Family…and they have been immensely popular. Perhaps they appeal to our fantasies about having been born with money, power, and prestige? So-called “Trust Fund Babies” litter social media with their extravagant lifestyles and the masses follow them by the tens of millions. I’m sure it would be nice to be born into wealth, but it’s far more valuable to be “born again” into the Family of God (Jn. 3:3).
Jerusalem was the pinnacle of Israel’s life on earth. It was the City of God, built on the Holy Mountain, and represented the unique placement and role of God’s chosen people on the earth. Being able to visit it was a coveted experience, but if you were born there? Well…that privilege was noted in today’s psalm: The LORD will write in the register of the peoples: “This one was born in Zion” (v.6). Can you imagine your place of birth being so special that God himself decides to fill out your birth certificate? What made Jerusalem so special, anyway? Her biblical resume is quite impressive, to say the least (from the Enduring Word Commentary):
- There Melchezidek, king and priest of God Most High, reigned and served.
- There Abraham was willing to offer Isaac and the mount of the Lord in which His perfect sacrifice would be provided.
- Israel’s greatest earthly king possessed and made it the kingdom’s capital.
- There the tabernacle of God found its fulfillment and permanence in the great temple David designed and Solomon built.
- There the institutions of sacrifice, worship, and priestly service were established for centuries.
- There Jesus recognized and honored the city and observed the feasts and temple rituals.
- There Jesus died for our sins, was buried, and rose from the dead.
- There the church was born in a day at Pentecost.
- There the apostles served and from which the Gospel went forth.
- There God has promised will be the physical center of His ultimate kingdom upon earth.
As much of an honor as it would be to have been born in such a city—back then or even today—it pales in comparison to having been born into the Eternal Family of God through faith in Jesus Christ. Pastor Robert Fudge notes that, “Unlike the arbitrary circumstances of our physical birth, this spiritual birth is not an accident or left to some degree of fate or even left to the will of God. Our spiritual birth is because of what God has done for us in Jesus Christ but it is our own decision to make. We must choose to be born again and we must choose to be his child.”
Have you been born again? If you are not sure, please visit the webpage I designed specifically to deal with this most critical subject:
