Glorious things of you are spoken, O city of God.
Selah
The Lord records as He registers the peoples, “This one was born there.”
Selah
Psalm 87:3, 6

“Selah” was a musical notation in Hebrew that means, “At this point, you should pause while the music continues to play, and meditate on the words we just sang.”

First the Lord draws our attention to the statement, “Glorious things are spoken of you, O City of God.” 

The City of God meant Jerusalem, and especially Mount Zion, the heart of that city, where David’s fortress and the Temple stood, representing security centered on the presence of God dwelling with His people.

For us the City of God is much more than that:. It’s a spiritual city, inhabited by His people. The city of God is His Kingdom, His Church, where God dwells among us and we find security in His presence.

Then He draws our attention to the next statement: “The Lord records as He registers the peoples, ‘This one was born there.’”

The only way to become a citizen of the City of God is to be born there. God records in His registry of the human race (and yes, He has one), each one who was born into citizenship in His City.

The Bible says that we’re born again, born of the Spirit, when we come to faith in the Lord Jesus. When that happens, He dwells in us and we dwell in Him. We’re part of His Kingdom on earth and live securely with Him at the center of our life. Glorious things are spoken in God’s Word about life in that City.

Lord Jesus, thank You for letting me be born into the citizenship of Your glorious City. Help me to live today in the secure awareness of Your presence at the center of my life. Amen.

Pastor Dan Giles