“His foundation is in the holy mountains. The LORD loveth the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob. Glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God. Selah” (Psalm 87:1–3).

The 87th Psalm was dedicated to the praise of Jerusalem as the chosen city of God, the site of His temple where He could dwell with His people. It is on this city that He focuses His continual attention. However, more of the great fathers of the chosen people—Abraham, Jacob, Moses, Joshua—were ever citizens of earthly Jerusalem, but they all “looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God” (Hebrews 11:10).

The Lord Jesus has gone “to prepare a place” (John 14:2) for us, and God “hath prepared for them a city” (Hebrews 11:16). This is “mount Sion . . . the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem” (Hebrews 12:22), the “Jerusalem which is above” (Galatians 4:26).

The day will come when this beautiful city of God will rest on “a great and high mountain . . . descending out of heaven from God, having the glory of God” (Revelation 21:10,11). There on the new Earth (Revelation 21:1,2) it may indeed rest on foundations extending to the center of the earth, for it will be 1,400 miles high, wide, and long (Revelation 21:16). Inscribed on its beautiful foundations are the names of the twelve apostles, but the sure foundation must be none other than Christ Himself (Ephesians 2:20; I Corinthians 3:11). “Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are His” (II Timothy 2:19).

“Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of His holiness. Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King” (Psalm 48:1,2). HMM