Psalms 87 · The Lantern

Her foundations are upon the holy hills: the Lord loveth the gates of Sion more than all the dwellings of Jacob.

Very excellent things are spoken of thee: thou city of God.

I will think upon Rahab and Babylon: with them that know me.

Pass now, pray, to the others who were saved by repentance. Perhaps even among the women someone will say, "I have committed fornication and adultery. I have defiled my body with every excess. Can there be salvation for me?" Fix your eyes, woman, on Rahab, and look for salvation for yourself too.

Glorious things are spoken of you, O city of God. Therefore that which was said, Its foundations are in the holy mountains, we can also say of God. But we can also say this. Glorious things are spoken of you, O city of God. What is this city? Where were glorious things spoken? In all the prophets it was spoken of this city.

"Very excellent things are said of thee, thou city of God" (ver. 3). He was, as it were, contemplating that city of Jerusalem on earth: for consider what city he alludes to, of which certain very excellent things are spoken.

Behold ye the Philistines also: and they of Tyre, with the Morians; lo, there was he born.

And of Sion it shall be reported that he was born in her: and the most High shall stablish her.

Will a man say to Zion, and a man is born in her? The Seventy translators rendered it thus: Will a man say to Zion? Many, then, expected, and did not understand what μήτη Σιὼν is: and they added a ρ, and they read μήτηρ Σιὼν ἐρεῖ ἄνθρωπος (mother Zion will a man say).

Listen now to a deep mystery. Rahab is there through Him, through whom also is Babylon, now no longer Babylon, but beginning to be Jerusalem.

The Church had to be founded: therefore it was necessary to lay the foundations, namely the commandments of God, and it was necessary that they be placed in some person. This could not be except in the glorious Virgin; as the Psalm says: "His foundations are in the holy mountains: a man is born in her, and the Most High himself has founded her."

The Lord shall rehearse it when he writeth up the people: that he was born there.

The singers also and trumpeters shall he rehearse: All my fresh springs shall be in thee.

Psalms87