The LORD shall count, when he writeth up the people, that this man was born there. Selah.
When the Lord writes up the people He makes a register and record of those who belong among His people. To be counted as born there is to be born again and born from above, with hope and heart set on God's city. Those who yield themselves to Jesus are counted as citizens of Zion, with their names written there in the Lamb's Book of Life in the final enumeration. In that reckoning He takes into account each person's birth, origins, surroundings, training and influences, and holds each responsible for the good influences available to them. Those who respond faithfully to the light God gives them are counted as belonging to Zion, even if they have never heard the name of Jesus.
Recorded Birth in Zion
Psalm 87 belongs to a group of psalms presumed to have been written when the Jews returned from Babylonian captivity under Cyrus king of Persia, reflecting the returning exiles' mixed joy, sorrow and anxiety over the building and dedication of the second temple and its triumphs. When the Lord writes up the people He makes a register and record of those who belong among His people, counting as born in Zion those recognized as belonging there. This writing up shows that records are kept before God, with belonging to God's people recorded by God as birth in the holy city.
To be counted as born there is to be born again and born from above, with hopes and heart set on God's city, and to belong to the heavenly Zion rather than claiming credit for an earthly birthplace or nation. God establishes such a person with His people, and records the people as born in Zion, the city of God. Earthly countries may claim their citizens, but that birth gives no life beyond the earthly, while the Most High establishes Zion, whose citizens belong to an everlasting kingdom. This marks a destiny of life everlasting, in contrast to those whose hearts are fixed on the earth and who perish with it.
Those who yield themselves to Jesus are born from above and are counted as citizens of the holy city, which is the people's true homeland, with their names written there in the Lamb's Book of Life. This is the final census or enumeration, when people will be counted with the host of Israel, which raises the question of what conditions are necessary to be included in that number. In the Lord's final reckoning, people are counted as belonging to Zion — born there — when they respond faithfully to the light God gives them, even if they have never heard the name of Jesus or the gospel.
Judgment Weighs Life Circumstances
The verse shows that when God enrolls His people in His kingdom He writes down where each one was born, treating them not as an undifferentiated multitude but as identifiable individuals whose birth in Zion is entered in the record. That counting of birthplace means that origins and life circumstances are taken into account in the judgment.
In the judgment the Lord records who are counted as born in Zion, and that standing is weighed in the decision. The heavenly record includes where a person was born together with birth, surroundings, training, environment, influences, and the circumstances that shaped life. When the Lord writes up people for judgment He notes where each was born, and those circumstances are entered into the impartial record and given a hearing. Each person is held answerable for the good influences placed within reach, and parents are held answerable for providing a helpful environment for growth.
The writing up of the people is the book of life. That book is examined in the judgment before the saints are delivered. The same heavenly enrollment will make known who suffered martyrdom during the Dark Ages.
When the Lord writes up the people He makes a register and record of those who belong among His people. To be counted as born there is to be born again and born from above, with hope and heart set on God's city. Those who yield themselves to Jesus are counted as citizens of Zion, with their names written there in the Lamb's Book of Life in the final enumeration. In that reckoning He takes into account each person's birth, origins, surroundings, training and influences, and holds each responsible for the good influences available to them. Those who respond faithfully to the light God gives them are counted as belonging to Zion, even if they have never heard the name of Jesus.
Recorded Birth in Zion
Psalm 87 belongs to a group of psalms presumed to have been written when the Jews returned from Babylonian captivity under Cyrus king of Persia, reflecting the returning exiles' mixed joy, sorrow and anxiety over the building and dedication of the second temple and its triumphs. When the Lord writes up the people He makes a register and record of those who belong among His people, counting as born in Zion those recognized as belonging there. This writing up shows that records are kept before God, with belonging to God's people recorded by God as birth in the holy city.
To be counted as born there is to be born again and born from above, with hopes and heart set on God's city, and to belong to the heavenly Zion rather than claiming credit for an earthly birthplace or nation. God establishes such a person with His people, and records the people as born in Zion, the city of God. Earthly countries may claim their citizens, but that birth gives no life beyond the earthly, while the Most High establishes Zion, whose citizens belong to an everlasting kingdom. This marks a destiny of life everlasting, in contrast to those whose hearts are fixed on the earth and who perish with it.
Those who yield themselves to Jesus are born from above and are counted as citizens of the holy city, which is the people's true homeland, with their names written there in the Lamb's Book of Life. This is the final census or enumeration, when people will be counted with the host of Israel, which raises the question of what conditions are necessary to be included in that number. In the Lord's final reckoning, people are counted as belonging to Zion — born there — when they respond faithfully to the light God gives them, even if they have never heard the name of Jesus or the gospel.
Judgment Weighs Life Circumstances
The verse shows that when God enrolls His people in His kingdom He writes down where each one was born, treating them not as an undifferentiated multitude but as identifiable individuals whose birth in Zion is entered in the record. That counting of birthplace means that origins and life circumstances are taken into account in the judgment.
In the judgment the Lord records who are counted as born in Zion, and that standing is weighed in the decision. The heavenly record includes where a person was born together with birth, surroundings, training, environment, influences, and the circumstances that shaped life. When the Lord writes up people for judgment He notes where each was born, and those circumstances are entered into the impartial record and given a hearing. Each person is held answerable for the good influences placed within reach, and parents are held answerable for providing a helpful environment for growth.
The writing up of the people is the book of life. That book is examined in the judgment before the saints are delivered. The same heavenly enrollment will make known who suffered martyrdom during the Dark Ages.