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The inspired singer had the ransomed Church in view, and his soul was stirred by a vision of the new Jerusalem, its regenerated myriads gathered from every nation, and its crucified King, when he broke forth into this eulogy.

I. There are glorious things with respect to THE ERECTION OF THE CITY.

1. The plan of its erection. Faultless, complete, wonderful for beauty and grandeur, worthy of its Divine Architect and of the end in view, viz. to rear a city for Him to dwell in.

2. The site. The sure decree, the Divine perfections, the promise of Him that cannot lie, and the incarnate Son Himself, are the holy mountains, whose summits are gloriously crowned by the city of the great King. There the city sits securely, beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth.

3. The date of its erection. It is older than any of the cities of the ancient world — Rome — Nineveh — Babylon; it reaches a higher antiquity than any of them all. It was standing before the flood; Noah, Enoch, Abel, dwelt in it. It is almost as old as the creation.

II. There are glorious things to tell of THE DEFENCES OF THE CITY. It is well fortified — encircled by the sleepless providence of Jehovah, girt about with the power of the Almighty. When its bulwarks were reared, He that made them "saw that they were good"; and He said, "No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper."

III. There are glorious things in connection with THE STORES AND SUPPLIES ON WHICH THE CITY DEPENDS.

1. The excellence of the city's supplies. It is little to say that there is the best of everything — the finest of wheat, honey from the rock, water clear as crystal. The bread, the water, the wine, the milk, and the pleasant fruits, are without a parallel.

2. The abundance of the city's supplies. There is enough for all the citizens. "He, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters," etc.

3. The source whence the supplies are derived.

(1) They do not come from without. Its well-springs are not in the world. The corn, and the wine, and the oil, are grown where the foe is without any power.

(2) There is a river that maketh glad the city of God. Yes, the city has a river — a pure river of the water of life, clear as crystal. But cannot Satan do to the river of our city as Cyrus did to the river of Babylon? The river is beyond his reach. The fountain whence it issues is within the city walls. The river-head, the perennial spring of the stream of life, is in the heart of the fortress, and in the very throne of the King.

(3) The windows of heaven are right above the city; and the windows of heaven are frequently opened, and manna and other celestial products showered down, till there is not room enough in the magazines of the city to receive them.

IV. There are glorious things respecting THE KING OF THE CITY.

1. He is glorious in Himself.

(1) His name — Wonderful. He is Adam, Jacob, David, Israel; Jesus, Immanuel, Shiloh, Christ; the Second Man, the Mighty God; the Lamb, the Shepherd, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah; the Branch, the Plant of Renown, the Rose of Sharon; the Morning Star, the Sun of Righteousness, the Word of God, the Alpha and the Omega, the Amen. And these are not the whole. There are many titles and appellations behind.

(2) His person — full of grace and dignity.

(3) His character.

2. There are glorious things respecting the King, when we consider Him in connection with the city.

(1) His choice of the city is one of these. He made choice of the city before the foundation of the world; yea, the city itself was not built when it became the object of His choice, He foreknew the city; raising the curtain of futurity in the past beginning, He saw the city, He fixed upon it His love, and resolved to be its King.

(2) The circumstance that He dwells in the city is glorious.

(3) His sufferings for the city are glorious.

(4) His victories for the city are glorious.

V. There are glorious things in connection with THE CITIZENS OF THE CITY.

1. The Dumber of the citizens. It was foretold long since that they of the city should flourish like grass of the earth, and that they should be like the stars of heaven for multitude. The population of the city is increasing accordingly. Sometimes its progress is greater, and sometimes it is less, but it is always advancing.

2. The rank of the citizens. All of them are princes — the King's own kinsmen. They are born of God, and the glorious King is their elder brother!

3. The circumstances of the citizens. In other places some are rich and some are poor. But here all the citizens are poor. "To this man will I look," says the King, "to him that is poor, and of a contrite spirit," etc.

4. The character of the citizens. All of them are on the way to perfection. They are being fashioned to the pattern of the character of the King. The climate in which they live, the atmosphere which they breathe, the diet on which they are fed, and the exercises they engage in, have a powerful tendency to produce a resemblance between them and Him, and to conform them to His image. The beauty of the Lord descends upon them more and more.

5. The employment of the citizens.

6. The privileges of the citizens.

(1)  They are served and protected by the King's attendants and guards.

(2)  They are permitted to eat fruit in the King's garden.

(3)  They may enter the King's palace, and approach His throne.

(Andrew Gray.)

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KJV: Glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God. Selah.

WEB: Glorious things are spoken about you, city of God. Selah.