Out With The Old, In With The New

Psalm 87

Some calendars have had an interest for me over my years. This year, this day in particular is known as 123123, December 31, 2023 - 12 31 23. But a most interesting reference in the past was that the last day of the year is depicted as a decrepit old man with a cane for stabilization, greyheaded long grey beard, then New Year's Day as a new born baby. Maybe to technical (as I tend to be) is it seems to represent the lessons learned are also to be set aside. Though many of my lessons learned are surrounded by great hardship, embarrassment, and bitter tears I wouldn't give up those lessons for anything. But one thing a New Year represents, that new born baby is that there is a clean slate ahead never been written on and erased. Hopefully my hard learned lessons won't be found on that new slate on the next New Year's Eve.

Psalm 87 stands out as a very unique psalm, a very unique chapter in the Old Testament, even possibly forward looking beyond the pages of the New Testament, things predicted, not yet recorded.

A Psalm or song committed to the sons of Korah.

God laid his foundations among the holy mountains. The Lord loveth the gates of Zion above all the habitations of Jacob. Glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God. Selah.

Psalms 87:1 - 3 GNV

Moses in giving his farewell address to the children of Israel just before they would cross over Jordan to receive the land promised to Abraham referenced the place where the Lord God would choose to place His name (Deuteronomy 12). Even though it is first mentioned in Genesis 14 it wouldn't be that place known that God chose for fourteen generations (Matthew 1:17) when David became king, and the city we know today as Jerusalem.

The psalmist begins noting countries known as enemies of Israel, many even yet to be future enemies of Israel.

I will make mention of Rahab and Babel among them that know me: behold Palestina and Tyrus with Ethiopia, There is he born. And of Zion it shall be said, Many are born in her: and he, even the most High shall stablish her.

Psalms 87:4 - 5 GNV

Genealogists (my mother and one of my sons included) have quite a time learning where people were born and where they died, leaving a trail of life for others to know. Here it appears that many are proud of the national heritage they have. This man was born in Egypt (Rahab ). This man was born in Babylon (Babel). So also are named Philistia (part of the land inherited by Judah), Tyre (the great seaport of trade from the Grecian countries), and Ethiopia (countries beyond Egypt). Then in a way a collective of all these, this and that man was born in her. Remember here God's promise to Abram in Genesis 12, "in thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed” is that the countries and the regions the represent are named in Acts 2, that great day of Pentecost when peoples of these same specifically named regions stated: We hear these men speaking in our language, in our tongue. And what was the message preached?

"The highest himself shall establish her " Jesus Christ established on the cross there outside Jerusalem the means to that citizenship, the citizenship so many through the ages look forward to, that country, that city whose founder and maker is God (Hebrews11). John saw a vision of that city and recorded that he saw the New Jerusalem descending out of heaven " (Revelation 21). Two statements of interest have puzzled me in the past about that New Jerusalem.

And the people which are saved (those whose names are found in the Lamb's Book of Life), shall walk in the light of it: and the Kings of the earth shall bring their glory and honour unto it.

Revelation 21:24 GNV

In the midst of the street of it, and of either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and gave fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree served to heal the nations with.

Revelation 22:2 GNV

Wow! The kings of the earth shall bring their glory and honor unto it. And the tree of life is there bearing fruit each month, but you don't have to wait as the leaves are for the healing of the nations, many nations. This and that man may be born in many countries, but being born again (out with the old, in with the new), as Nicodemus learn (John 3) their birthplace is found at the foot of the cross where the highest Jesus Christ Himself established it. Because of that the Kings of the earth can bring their honor and glory with them into that New Jerusalem where all whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life are born there.