And of Zion it shall be said, This and that man was born in her: and the highest himself shall establish her.
To be born in Zion is to be born from above by new birth in Jesus, not by earthly nationality, and to be so counted outweighs birth in any celebrated earthly country. Those so born are counted as citizens of a glorious city and everlasting kingdom, their true homeland and promised eternal home, while earthly lands and cities give no life beyond this world. That the Highest himself shall establish her means that God himself secures Zion and those who belong to her, giving assurance of her permanence. When he writes up the peoples the Lord himself records and counts who was born in Zion in the heavenly book of record, and his counting decides, not merely claiming a place in his army. In that reckoning he takes account of each person's birth, surroundings and training, holding each responsible for the good influences given them, yet counting those from among the nations who respond in heart to whatever light he gives them, even without having heard the name of Jesus, as born in Zion unto life everlasting.
Zion's Birth and Establishment
The psalm is by the sons of Korah, singers of Israel, and stands within a collection that is a treasure of comfort and consolation for God's children. It belongs with those reflecting the return from captivity in Babylon, expressing the mixed joy, sorrow and anxiety of the returning exiles over the rebuilding and dedication of the second temple and its triumphs.
To be born in Zion is to be born from above through new birth in Jesus, not a matter of earthly nationality. God counts those so born among His own when He records His people, and their destiny is life everlasting. To be counted as born in Zion outweighs being born in any celebrated earthly country. Those so born are counted as citizens of a glorious city to which people long to belong. Unlike earthly lands and cities, which give no life beyond this world, Zion belongs to an everlasting kingdom. It is the true homeland and promised eternal home to which the redeemed look forward to returning.
The Highest Himself establishing her means that God Himself secures Zion, and establishes those who belong to His people. Her security rests on God's own action, giving assurance of her permanence. Belonging there will be openly recognized, for it shall be said and known of each one that this and that man was born in her. God's people will thus be established in Zion the kingdom as distinct persons whose identity is preserved in the heavenly kingdom.
Heavenly Record and Judgment
When the peoples are written up the Lord himself records and counts who was born in Zion, and this writing up is a heavenly book of record of people. Those counted as born in Zion belong to the people whom the Highest establishes, and the Lord notes each one as born among them when He makes up His reckoning. The Lord Himself determines whom He counts among Zion's people, and merely claiming membership in His army does not decide the matter.
The place of a person's birth and the circumstances shaping life are recorded in heaven, for God takes account of origin and of the characteristics formed by life and establishes Zion. He takes account of where each was born, whether in Zion, Babylon, Palestina or Tyre, and knows the influences surrounding that person. At the judgment the merciful Judge takes each individual's birth, surroundings and training into account. Each person is held responsible for the good influences available to him, and parents are held responsible for creating a helpful environment.
People from among the nations can be counted as born in Zion when they respond in heart to whatever light God gives them, even if they have never heard the name of Jesus or the gospel, and they will be saved in God's kingdom. Being born there is birth from above, by which God counts such people among His own when He records His people, and their destiny is life everlasting. This stands in contrast to those whose hearts and hopes are fixed on the earth, who perish with their earthly treasures.
To be born in Zion is to be born from above by new birth in Jesus, not by earthly nationality, and to be so counted outweighs birth in any celebrated earthly country. Those so born are counted as citizens of a glorious city and everlasting kingdom, their true homeland and promised eternal home, while earthly lands and cities give no life beyond this world. That the Highest himself shall establish her means that God himself secures Zion and those who belong to her, giving assurance of her permanence. When he writes up the peoples the Lord himself records and counts who was born in Zion in the heavenly book of record, and his counting decides, not merely claiming a place in his army. In that reckoning he takes account of each person's birth, surroundings and training, holding each responsible for the good influences given them, yet counting those from among the nations who respond in heart to whatever light he gives them, even without having heard the name of Jesus, as born in Zion unto life everlasting.
Zion's Birth and Establishment
The psalm is by the sons of Korah, singers of Israel, and stands within a collection that is a treasure of comfort and consolation for God's children. It belongs with those reflecting the return from captivity in Babylon, expressing the mixed joy, sorrow and anxiety of the returning exiles over the rebuilding and dedication of the second temple and its triumphs.
To be born in Zion is to be born from above through new birth in Jesus, not a matter of earthly nationality. God counts those so born among His own when He records His people, and their destiny is life everlasting. To be counted as born in Zion outweighs being born in any celebrated earthly country. Those so born are counted as citizens of a glorious city to which people long to belong. Unlike earthly lands and cities, which give no life beyond this world, Zion belongs to an everlasting kingdom. It is the true homeland and promised eternal home to which the redeemed look forward to returning.
The Highest Himself establishing her means that God Himself secures Zion, and establishes those who belong to His people. Her security rests on God's own action, giving assurance of her permanence. Belonging there will be openly recognized, for it shall be said and known of each one that this and that man was born in her. God's people will thus be established in Zion the kingdom as distinct persons whose identity is preserved in the heavenly kingdom.
Heavenly Record and Judgment
When the peoples are written up the Lord himself records and counts who was born in Zion, and this writing up is a heavenly book of record of people. Those counted as born in Zion belong to the people whom the Highest establishes, and the Lord notes each one as born among them when He makes up His reckoning. The Lord Himself determines whom He counts among Zion's people, and merely claiming membership in His army does not decide the matter.
The place of a person's birth and the circumstances shaping life are recorded in heaven, for God takes account of origin and of the characteristics formed by life and establishes Zion. He takes account of where each was born, whether in Zion, Babylon, Palestina or Tyre, and knows the influences surrounding that person. At the judgment the merciful Judge takes each individual's birth, surroundings and training into account. Each person is held responsible for the good influences available to him, and parents are held responsible for creating a helpful environment.
People from among the nations can be counted as born in Zion when they respond in heart to whatever light God gives them, even if they have never heard the name of Jesus or the gospel, and they will be saved in God's kingdom. Being born there is birth from above, by which God counts such people among His own when He records His people, and their destiny is life everlasting. This stands in contrast to those whose hearts and hopes are fixed on the earth, who perish with their earthly treasures.