Psalms 87:4
I will make mention of Rahab and Babylon to them that know me: behold Philistia, and Tyre, with Ethiopia; this man was born there. I will make mention of Rahab and Babylon to them that know me: behold Philistia, and Tyre, with Ethiopia; this man was born there.
Rahab is Egypt, and the verse names Egypt, Babylon, Philistia, Tyre, and Ethiopia as lands of birth whose peoples are counted among those who know God. Its citizens come from far beyond Israel, for people of many nations are joined to Zion and reckoned as born there. To be described as born there is to be born from above through yielding to Jesus Christ, established by God as a citizen of the holy city with a name written there. That new birth in the heavenly Zion is a person's deepest belonging and honor, far above national origin, since earthly birth and its treasures perish while those born in Zion live on among God's recorded people. God names each person's birthplace and surroundings as He records lives and judges them, remembering conditions, influences, abilities, and light received in His final reckoning of faithfulness and service.
Words and Historical Setting
Rahab is Egypt. The verse names Egypt, Babylon, Philistia, Tyre, and Ethiopia as places where people were born, with the declaration that this or that person was born in one of those places. Those same peoples are spoken of as knowing God, and they include lands whose greatness might be a source of national pride.
The verse belongs to a group of psalms associated with the return of the Jews from captivity in Babylon. That group reflects the mixed joy, sorrow, and anxiety of the returning exiles. It refers to the rebuilding and dedication of the second temple and its associated triumphs.
Citizens Born in Zion
Zion's citizens come from beyond Israel, for Rahab, that is Egypt, and Babylon, Philistia, Tyre and Ethiopia are named as peoples who know God and are associated with Zion, while the surrounding words declare of them that this one was born there in Zion. People from many nations are thus counted as born in Zion, God's holy city which the Most High establishes, and their names are written there. In the reckoning God counts people from many nations among those who know Him, recording the peoples and where they belong, so that a person's identity and place among God's people are taken into account.
Birth in those countries is set against being born in Zion, for even lands whose greatness might feed national pride confer no deeper honor than earthly birthplace. A person's deepest belonging and honor come not from national origin but from being born again into the heavenly Zion. Earthly nationality, though remembered as having been born in this or that land, gives no life beyond this world, unlike the lasting belonging of those born in Zion whom God establishes and records among His people.
A name recorded where a person is born illustrates mere earthly birth, and those born of the earth, with hearts and hopes fixed here, perish with their earthly treasures. By contrast, this man was born there describes those born from above by yielding themselves to Jesus Christ. God establishes them, counts them as citizens of the holy city, and writes their names there.
Judgment Record and Accountability
God names the birthplaces of peoples — Rahab, Babylon, Philistia, Tyre, and Ethiopia — as He takes account of them in judgment. When He establishes His people in His kingdom, they will be recognized by name, and their places of birth will be remembered and counted, for it is written of each that this man was born there. The reckoning reaches from the third through the sixth verses, showing both the naming of the nations that know Him and the counting of those born in Zion.
A person's place of birth is known and recorded, and in the judgment God takes account of each one's birth together with surroundings and training. Birthplace and surroundings stand in the heavenly record of the life alongside deeds, words, thoughts, and motives. In that recording God counts people from many nations among those who know Him, noting where they belong, with some counted as born in Zion which the Most High establishes. Place of birth and circumstances are thus included in what God weighs when assessing faithfulness and service, together with abilities, environment, opportunities, and light received.
Whether one was born in Zion, Babylon, Palestina, or Tyre, the Lord knows the conditions and influences surrounding each person when He counts the people. Each is held responsible for the good influences received, while parents bear responsibility for creating a helpful environment for growth. The Lord's recording and counting of His people is also connected with His choosing a few faithful workers from among a much larger company.