This divine foundation, typifying Christ as God’s unique foundation for the building up of His house, the church (1 Cor. 3:11), is built in the “holy mountains,” which typify the local churches. Jerusalem was built on these holy mountains, and among these mountains the highest peak is the one on which Zion was built, which typifies the overcomers in the church. See note Psa. 48:2^1b.

Gates are for coming in and going out, signifying fellowship. The fact that the New Jerusalem will have twelve gates (Rev. 21:12, 21) indicates that God’s holy city will be full of fellowship.

This psalm concerns the desire of God for Zion with Christ. In both the Old Testament and the New Testament, Zion implies God’s house and God’s city. Zion is a poetic title of the church in both the universal sense and the local sense (Heb. 12:22). The heavenly Zion is the final place of rest for the overcomers (Rev. 14:1). See note Psa. 48:2^1b.

I.e., Egypt.

I.e., Ethiopia.

The people from the five places mentioned in this verse represent all the people on earth. The people in these places boast of the famous persons born there.

This One in v. 6 (see note Psa. 87:6¹) and this one and that one in this verse indicate that Christ Himself and all the saints were born in the heavenly Zion (Matt. 1:20; Gal. 4:26-31; Heb. 12:22-23a). This is God’s counting, God’s record, concerning Zion (v. 6).

The unique One, Christ, who is the totality of all the saints (v. 5) as the One who is all the saints and in all the saints (Col. 3:11). This psalm unveils Christ with all the saints to be God’s house for God’s city and for God to gain the whole earth.

I.e., the city of God.