'this one was born here'

 Psalm 87:1–7 (ESV):  

1  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— 

“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.” 

This psalm tells of the significance and beauty of Jerusalem as not only favoured by God, but founded by Him. A place where there is great protection and access to those who enter, for the ‘Lord loves the gates of Zion’. This gives a sense of openness and welcome from God Himself, a place where people can come and enjoy the kingdom that God has founded and loves so anyone can find a place there. Who wouldn’t want to be in this city where ‘Glorious things’ are spoken?! It is not only a place God has founded, built and delights in, but is the place that God has chosen to dwell, ‘the city of God’.

Although this psalm refers to Jerusalem, the physical place that has known the favour of God through the ages, it is also a prophetic picture of the city of God to come where ALL people are welcome if they choose to enter into God’s presence. in verses 4-5 the non-Jewish surrounding nations are mentioned as knowing God and even being born there. Therefore we can see that this is a glimpse of what was to come through Jesus - all people, even if not physically of the nation of Israel, can be born again into the kingdom of God. What a promise! Any person that believes and follows God is born into His kingdom, a place of knowing and dwelling with God. 

The phrase ‘this one was born here’ is repeated in this short psalm to demonstrate the call, connection and establishment of each person who is born into God’s kingdom. You do not need to be Jewish, from Israel or even have been to Jerusalem to be recorded as one who knows God and has been born into His kingdom. Every person from every nation has that opportunity no matter what. God himself establishes each believer in His family (v5), He even ‘records as he registers the peoples’. Just as seriously and solemnly as a child’s earthly birth is recorded in legal documents, so too does God do so for all who choose to enter His kingdom. He changes their citizenship and their birth right as they decide to belong to the city of God. 

Yet this sense of belonging doesn't stop there, but God also counts believers as, ‘those that know me’. The Hebrew word in v4 translated as ‘know’ actually means to have intimate knowledge, experience, and understanding of. God has allowed himself to be revealed in such a way through Jesus and the Holy Spirit that you and i, and every other individual on Earth can have this depth of understanding of who God is. You can know Him intimately as He has invited you into the gates of His dwelling place - you can literally get to know Him as you get up each morning, experience God throughout your day and can understand something of His glorious might, love and creativity! That is pretty epic! You get to understand things about God that those outside the kingdom do not because you live with Him, in His presence and in His home. Maybe you have an assurance, certainty, peace in situations that others don’t because you understand the goodness and love of God. How privileged are we who are ‘born there’! 

The gates are open for you to enter and enjoy the presence of God if you choose to. You can be adopted into God’s family, legally made His own through accepting the truth that Jesus died for your sins. Are you counted as one who has been 'born there'?