Psalm 87:2 The LORD loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob. I. THE LORD LOVES THE DWELLINGS OF JACOB — He loves those that are true Israelites. These are succeeded by the name Christian, for the Christian Church is now become the true Israel of God. He loves His saints on account of that image of Himself which they bear: He loves them on account of those graces which are infused into them when they are renewed by the Spirit; He loves them on account of the relation they stand in to Him as His people, and as His Church, who are qualified for the duties of the relation by that love of their Father, that reliance upon His care, that delight in His person, that enjoyment in His service which belongs to dutiful and affectionate children. II. HE LOVES THE GATES OF ZION MORE THAN ALL THE DWELLINGS OF JACOB — nothing in the dwellings of Jacob so much attracts His attention as the people of God connected together in a social capacity. He regards with peculiar complacency the worship of His saints — 1. On its own account, as a yielding to Him that which is His prerogative. 2. On account of that union of mind and consent of heart evinced in the assembling of His people together and constituting themselves into a Church. 3. On account of that deference to His authority which is evinced by maintaining and keeping up the practice of those institutes which rest entirely on that authority. III. CONSIDER HOW IT IS THAT GOD MANIFESTS THIS COMPLACENCY IN THE GATES OF ZION ABOVE THE DWELLINGS OF JACOB. 1. By making the assembly of the saints the grand means of conversion, 2. By continually maintaining in operation those gifts which are for the edification of the saints, and without which the union of the saints would be with difficulty maintained. 3. By that marvellous protection which is afforded to the interests of the Church of God; whereby, though weak, and frequently reduced to a handful of disciples yet they have been protected, and their society on earth continued. (R. Hall, M. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: The LORD loveth the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob.WEB: Yahweh loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob. |
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