Salmos 87
Bob Utley · You Can Understand the Bible
Salmos 87
CONTEXTUAL INSIGHTS This Psalm is difficult to understand The New Oxford Annotated Bible (NRSV) says, "The text of this Psalm is damaged and disarranged," p. 749 (OT). The JPSOA says, "the meaning of many passages in this Psalm is uncertain," p. 137 This Psalm praises YHWH's choice of a people to reveal and represent Himself to the other nations. SPECIAL TOPIC: YHWH'S ETERNAL REDEMPTIVE PLAN YHWH set the boundaries of all the nations (cf. LXX, Deut. 2:5,9,19; 32:8). He is in control of geography and history. The covenant nation was made up of descendants of Abraham (cf. Gen. 12:1-3; Deut. 7:6-8) descendants of the Patriarchs (Isaac, Jacob/Israel) a special land, Canaan a special city, Jerusalem a special mountain, Moriah (i.e., the temple, cf. Deut. 12:5,11,21; 14:23,24; 16:2,6,11, etc.) This special nation (cf. Exod. 19:5-6) is crucial for reaching all nations SPECIAL TOPIC: YHWH's Eternal Redemptive Plan As I read this Psalm I ask myself, "Is Jerusalem still God's special place?" I struggle with this; please take a moment and read the SPECIAL TOPIC: OT PREDICTIONS OF THE FUTURE vs. NT PREDICTIONS. The NT has universalized the OT promises to the world. The gospel, not Israel, is the full revelation of YHWH! I do not think the modern nation of Israel is the Israel of prophecy. It is a modern secular state, not a nation obedient to the Mosaic Law. Only about 5% regularly attend synagogue worship. Psalm 87:4 implies an eschatological period where all people are part of God's people (i.e., Isa. 2:2-4; 12:4-5; 25:6-9; 42:6-12; 45:22-23; 49:5-6; 51:4-5; 60:1-3; 66:23). The UBS Handbook, p. 757, brings up the question of who the speaker is in Ps. 87:4 and 5. It suggests, and I agree, that Ps. 87:4 must be God (because Deity is mentioned in the FIRST PERSON, "Me"), while Ps. 87:5 is the psalmist (because Deity is mentioned in the THIRD PERSON, also Ps. 87:6).
Salmos 87:1-7
87:1 "foundation" This Hebrew root (BDB 414) has several connotations. used in Ezra 7:9 as the beginning of something foundation of a city ‒ Ps. 137:7; Lam. 4:11; Micah 1:6 laying a foundation in a figurative sense ‒ Isa. 28:16 creation of the earth ‒ 2 Sam. 22:16; Ps. 18:16; 78:69; 82:5; Isa. 24:18; 40:21; Jer. 31:37 imagery related to mountains ‒ Deut. 32:22; Ps. 18:7 from the day of the foundation of the temple ‒ 2 Chr. 8:16 or its side chambers ‒ Ezek. 41:8 ▣ "the holy mountains" Mountains symbolize permanence stability closeness to God (Ps. 121:1) pillars of the earth In this context it obviously is imagery connected to Jerusalem/Zion (cf. Ps. 2:6; 48:1) the temple the covenant people The PLURAL may relate to the fact that Jerusalem was built on seven hills. YHWH is linked to several mountains. Mt. Sinai/Horeb (Exodus 19-20) Mt. Seir/Paran (Deut. 33:2; Hab. 3:3) Mt. Moriah (Genesis 22; Ezek. 20:40) a mountain in the north (cf. Ps. 48:2; Isa. 14:13; Ezek. 28:14,16) SPECIAL TOPIC: MORIAH, SALEM, JEBUS, ZION, JERUSALEM 87:2 This refers to Jerusalem/Zion and Judah (cf. Ps. 78:67-68). Judah was to be the tribe of the Messiah (cf. Gen. 49:8-12). "Jacob" refers to all the tribes that descended from Jacob/Israel. It became a collective term for the covenant people. ▣ "The Lord loves" YHWH's love for Jerusalem is also specifically stated in Ps. 78:68. It is His chosen place (cf. Deut. 2:5,11,14; Ps. 132:13). 87:3 "city of God" This refers to Jerusalem (cf. Ps. 46:4; 48:8; Heb. 11:10). This phrase is the source of Augustine's famous book. SPECIAL TOPIC: JERUSALEM ▣ "Selah" This term seems to close a literary unit, see Ps. 87:6. For full note on the suggested meanings see Ps. 3:2. 87:4 "I shall mention" This VERB (BDB 289, KB 269, Hiphil IMPERFECT) can be understood as "record" (BDB 271, #4, as the title of a public officer who records (cf. 2 Sam. 8:16; 20:24; 1 Kgs. 4:3; 2 Kgs. 18:18,37; 1 Chr. 18:15; 2 Chr. 34:8; Isa. 36:3,22), thereby linking it to the idea of a city registry (Ps. 87:5-6). ▣ "Rahab" This refers to Egypt (cf. Job 9:13; 26:12; Ps. 89:10; Isa. 19:23-25; 30:7; 51:9). SPECIAL TOPIC: LEVIATHAN ▣ "among those who know Me" This implies that Gentiles from these countries have become believers and followers of YHWH (i.e., Isa. 19:23-25). They are now citizens of the new eschatological city of God, "New Jerusalem" (cf. Revelation 21). SPECIAL TOPIC: KNOW SPECIAL TOPIC: THE TWO "CITIES" OF ISAIAH 87:4-5 The psalmist lists several nations. Rahab (i.e., Egypt, cf. Ps. 89:10; Isa. 30:7) Babylon (one wonders why Assyria is not mentioned, possibly giving an indication of the date of the Psalm's composition) Philistia Tyre (i.e., Phoenicia) Ethiopia (i.e., Cush) The purpose of their being mentioned is to compare their origins. In a sense all the nations came from God's sovereignty (cf. LXX, 2:5,11,14; Deut. 32:8), but Israel was His special people (cf. Exod. 19:5-6; Rom. 9:4-5). 87:4 "This one was born there" This concept of one's national origin occurs three times. v. 4c v. 5a v 6b There are two ways to see this imagery. there are faithful descendants of Abraham in every nation of the ANE (mostly by exile) the descendants of Abraham are special but all humans are welcome to faith in YHWH 87:5 The first line of Ps. 87:5 is difficult but in context of the universal emphasis of Ps. 87:4, I think it refers to believers in YHWH having their citizenship transferred to God's holy city—Zion. ▣ the Most High" See SPECIAL TOPIC: NAMES FOR DEITY, B. 87:6 "registers" The imagery is that of the list of citizens kept by ANE cities. In a symbolic way it will show Israel was from Zion, God's special city, the unique place of the worship of YHWH (cf. Ps. 87:7). SPECIAL TOPIC: THE TWO BOOKS OF GOD 87:7 "springs" The term (BDB 745, KB 612) is used in the figurative sense of origins or the source of God's people (cf. Deut. 33:28).