Zion's Glories

T. Spurgeon.

Psalm 87:3

Glorious things are spoken of you, O city of God. Selah.

I. First on the catalogue is the fact of God's INTIMATE CONNECTION WITH THE CHURCH. "His foundation in the holy mountains." God and His people cannot be separated. The Spirit dwells within the Church, aye, and tabernacles within the very body of each believer.

II. The second glory is found in the fact that GOD HIMSELF HAS ESTABLISHED THE CHURCH. The Divine attributes and perfections are as the foundations of the city.

III. An equally glorious fact is to be found in THE SPECIAL FAVOUR GOD HAS TOWARDS HIS CHURCH.

IV. The most glorious thing of all is THE PROMISE OF INCREASE, AND THE FULFILMENT OF THAT PROMISE. Certain nations are spoken of here. "I will make mention of Rahab and Babylon to them that know me: behold Philistia, and Tyre, with Ethiopia; this man was born there." Whole nations, you see! Yes, for a nation shall be born in a day, and men shall come to Christ as doves fly to their windows. The character of the people is here indicated. These are heathen nations, Rahab, Babylon, Philistia, Tyre and Ethiopia. Thank God for the missionary work at home and abroad, for home missionaries and city missionaries, as well as for foreign missionaries, since the heathen are at our very doors. But though nations are made mention of, it is very evident that individuals are dealt with. "This man was born there," "This and that man was born there." Yes, salvation is an individual matter after all. You cannot be saved with the crowd, though you can be saved in a crowd. It must be God's own Spirit working on heart and causing it to be new-born. Praise the Lord for this individual work among the people.

(T. Spurgeon.)