What does Psalm 87:3 mean?
Please see our chapter commentary on Psalm 87, verse-level content coming soon!Psalm 87:1–3 describes Jerusalem, the capital of Israel, which God established through the victories of David (2 Samuel 5:7). This "city of God" is the object of the Lord's special love. This is where the temple was built (Isaiah 2:3), where the ark of the covenant was kept (2 Samuel 6:12), and where Jesus performed much of His earthly ministry (John 5:1).
Jerusalem is the city established by David (2 Samuel 5:7), which became the capital city of Israel. Other nations will come to respect the city. These nations include Babylon, Philistia, Tyre, and Cush. "Rahab," in this context, is the nation of Egypt (Isaiah 30:7). The world will come to Jerusalem to be adopted into the family of God as if they were natural-born children of the city.