Psalms 87:3

Glorious things are spoketh of thee, O city of God - Jerusalem, called the “city of God” as being the place of his unique home on earth. The word rendered “are spoken” may mean either “have been spoken,” or “are to be spoken;” that is, either, such things have been said, or they may be said. They have been placed on record; or, they may now be put on record concerning thee. Probably the former is the true meaning; and the language would embrace such points as these:

(1) Those things which had been spoken as to its beauty of situation; its magnificence and splendor. Compare Psalms 48:2, notes; Psalms 48:12, notes.

(2) Such things as had been spoken or recorded in regard to its future prosperity, its triumphs, and its influence in the world; the promises which had been made in reference to the prosperity of Zion, and the spread of the true religion from that point as a center.

Compare the notes at Isaiah 2:3. The Old Testament abounds with promises concerning the future glory of Zion - the “glorious things” that are spoken respecting the final triumph of religion in the world. Of this the statement here is to be mainly understood, where Zion is referred to as the seat of the true religion, and as therefore the representative of the true church on earth. It is that of which the real record has been made, and not merely of Jerusalem or Zion as a city. That might pass away; the church, of which that was the representative, will endure forever. Compare Isaiah 54:1; Isaiah 60; Revelation 21:2.