PSALM Eighty Seven

Of the Sons of Korah. 

A psalm. 

A song. 

1 

He has founded his city on the holy mountain.

2 

The Lord loves the gates of Zion

    more than all the other dwellings of Jacob.

3 

Glorious things are said of you,

    city of God:

4 

‘I will record Rahab and Babylon

    among those who acknowledge me –

Philistia too, and Tyre, along with Cush –

    and will say, “This one was born in Zion.”’

5 

Indeed, of Zion it will be said,

    ‘This one and that one were born in her,

    and the Most High himself will establish her.’

6 

The Lord will write in the register of the peoples:

    ‘This one was born in Zion.’

7 

As they make music they will sing,

    ‘All my fountains are in you.’

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Word by Word Meditations 

by Fred Ursell

Psalm 87: “born” (vv.4, 5 & 6) 

This short Psalm speaks three times about being “born” (vv.4-6) in Zion. Places are sometimes made famous by outstanding individuals whose origin can be traced to them, or whose lifetime retains a firm connection with them, like William Shakespeare and Stratford-on-Avon. 

This is the sentiment expressed, “of Zion it will be said, ‘this one and that one were born in her’” (v.5). 

We learn of Zion’s symbolical meaning in Hebrews 12 v.22: “you have come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God.”  Born again, we’re citizens of heaven, and have life with a capital L!

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READINGS

PSALM 87

Read by Sir David Suchet

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OVERVIEW 

Psalms 

 - Overview -

The Bible Project 

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STUDY - LINKS

Psalms

David Pawson

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SONGS

Psalm 87 - Ian White

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PSALM Eighty Six

A prayer of David. 

1 

Hear me, Lord, and answer me,

    for I am poor and needy.

2 

Guard my life, for I am faithful to you;

    save your servant who trusts in you.

You are my God; 

3 

have mercy on me, Lord,

    for I call to you all day long.

4 

Bring joy to your servant, Lord,

    for I put my trust in you.

5 

You, Lord, are forgiving and good,

    abounding in love to all who call to you.

6 

Hear my prayer, Lord;

    listen to my cry for mercy.

7 

When I am in distress, I call to you,

    because you answer me.

8 

Among the gods there is none like you, Lord;

    no deeds can compare with yours.

9 

All the nations you have made

    will come and worship before you, Lord;

    they will bring glory to your name.

10 

For you are great and do marvellous deeds;

    you alone are God.

11 

Teach me your way, Lord,

    that I may rely on your faithfulness;

give me an undivided heart,

    that I may fear your name.

12 

I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart;

    I will glorify your name for ever.

13 

For great is your love towards me;

    you have delivered me from the depths,

    from the realm of the dead.

14 

Arrogant foes are attacking me, O God;

    ruthless people are trying to kill me –

    they have no regard for you.

15 

But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God,

    slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.

16 

Turn to me and have mercy on me;

    show your strength on behalf of your servant;

save me, because I serve you

    just as my mother did.

17 

Give me a sign of your goodness,

    that my enemies may see it and be put to shame,

    for you, Lord, have helped me and comforted me.

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Word by Word Meditations 

by Fred Ursell

Psalm 86: “undivided” (v.11)

Lots of people have a ‘heart’ problem, and don’t even realise it. The psalmist was all too conscious of his own frailty, and expressed the prayer, “give me an undivided heart” (v.11). 

It is a common failing. Our commitment to the Lord is partial, not total. There is an obvious snag in being so honest and self-aware – in qualifying and quantifying the measure of our loving loyalty. 

When our head deduces that our heart’s devotion is defective, we will react in one of two ways: either despair or learn to depend more fully.  

Don’t let your reservations about yourself defeat you.  Pray this prayer unreservedly!

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READINGS

PSALM 86

Read by Sir David Suchet

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OVERVIEW 

Psalms 

 - Overview -

The Bible Project 

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STUDY - LINKS

Psalms

David Pawson

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SONGS

Abounding In Love - Psalm 86

Psalm 86: Hear My Prayer

 (feat. April Galtieri)

Psalm 86 

"Bow Down Thine Ear, O Lord, and Hear Me”

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PSALM Eighty Five

For the director of music.  

Of the Sons of Korah. 

A psalm.

1 

You, Lord, showed favour to your land;

    you restored the fortunes of Jacob.

2 

You forgave the iniquity of your people

    and covered all their sins.

3 

You set aside all your wrath

    and turned from your fierce anger.

4 

Restore us again, God our Saviour,

    and put away your displeasure towards us.

5 

Will you be angry with us for ever?

    Will you prolong your anger through all generations?

6 

Will you not revive us again,

    that your people may rejoice in you?

7 

Show us your unfailing love, Lord,

    and grant us your salvation.

8 

I will listen to what God the Lord says;

    he promises peace to his people, his faithful servants –

    but let them not turn to folly.

9 

Surely his salvation is near those who fear him,

    that his glory may dwell in our land.

10 

Love and faithfulness meet together;

    righteousness and peace kiss each other.

11 

Faithfulness springs forth from the earth,

    and righteousness looks down from heaven.

12 

The Lord will indeed give what is good,

    and our land will yield its harvest.

13 

Righteousness goes before him

    and prepares the way for his steps.

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Word by Word Meditations 

by Fred Ursell

Psalm 85: “revive?” (v.6)

Are you feeling jaded, that everything is a drag? You must be the only person in the whole world who is floundering emotionally! No! Of course not! It’s very human, even as one of Jesus’ followers, to be down in the dumps rather than jumping for joy. 

This Psalm starts as a wrestling sort of prayer, with a transition from “restore us again” (v.4) to a high point of expectation, “will you not revive us again?” (v.6). 

It’s a negative question that expresses a positive hope. For God to “restore” is good (it means he puts us back where we were); to “revive” us means to put new life into us. That’s better still!

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READINGS

PSALM 85

Read by Sir David Suchet

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OVERVIEW 

Psalms 

 - Overview -

The Bible Project 

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STUDY - LINKS

Psalms

David Pawson

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SONGS

Restore Us O God

Restore Us Again (Healing Balm)

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PSALM Eighty Four

For the director of music. 

According to gittith. 

Of the Sons of Korah. 

A psalm.

1 

How lovely is your dwelling-place,

    Lord Almighty!

2 

My soul yearns, even faints,

    for the courts of the Lord;

my heart and my flesh cry out

    for the living God.

3 

Even the sparrow has found a home,

    and the swallow a nest for herself,

    where she may have her young –

a place near your altar,

    Lord Almighty, my King and my God.

4 

Blessed are those who dwell in your house;

    they are ever praising you.

5 

Blessed are those whose strength is in you,

    whose hearts are set on pilgrimage.

6 

As they pass through the Valley of Baka,

    they make it a place of springs;

    the autumn rains also cover it with pools.

7 

They go from strength to strength,

    till each appears before God in Zion.

8 

Hear my prayer, Lord God Almighty;

    listen to me, God of Jacob.

9 

Look on our shield, O God;

    look with favour on your anointed one.

10 

Better is one day in your courts

    than a thousand elsewhere;

I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God

    than dwell in the tents of the wicked.

11 

For the Lord God is a sun and shield;

    the Lord bestows favour and honour;

no good thing does he withhold

    from those whose way of life is blameless.

12 

Lord Almighty,

    blessed is the one who trusts in you.

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Word by Word Meditations 

by Fred Ursell

Psalm 84: “doorkeeper” (v.10)

Do you have a position in your church? Do you even have somewhere you think of as ‘your church’?    

Not all church fellowships could be described as “lovely” (v.1); we’re not talking about the building, but the people who meet there. However, if our focus is on the folk, we’re off track; what matters most is “my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God” (v.2). 

When you relish his blessing you’ll feel, “better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked” (v.10).  

That’s how to enjoy church!

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READINGS

PSALM 84

Read by Sir David Suchet

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OVERVIEW 

Psalms 

 - Overview -

The Bible Project 

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STUDY - LINKS

Psalms

David Pawson

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Psalm 84: Valley of Baca (Weeping) 

- Derek Prince -

Pain Into Pilgrimage: Psalm 84

Michael Lloyd, Principal of Wycliffe Hall, 

University of Oxford - Gordon College Chapel

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SONGS

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