Rahab and Babylon - Psalms 87:4

In Psalms eighty seven the Psalmist said, “The LORD loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob. Glorious things are spoken of you, O city of God. Selah” and in chapter eighty seven and verse four of Psalms the Psalmist said, “I will make mention of Rahab and Babylon” where we read,

I will make mention of Rahab and Babylon to them that know me:

behold Philistia, and Tyre, with Ethiopia; this man was born there.

The verse begins, “I will make mention of Rahab and Babylon to them that know me:” The Psalmist began with the words, “I will make mention” or “I, the Psalmist, shall remember, recall and call to mind” “of Rahab” which means “pertaining to Rahab whose name means breadth and was an epithet of Egypt” “and Babylon” or “and Babylon whose name means confusion and was the ancient site or capital of Babylonia (modern Hillah) situated on the Euphrates” “to them that know me” which means “toward them, the people, who perceive, discern, discriminate and distinguish me, the Psalmist”. The Psalmist recalled and spoke of “Rahab and Babylon” to the people who knew him.

The verse goes on to say, “behold Philistia, and Tyre, with Ethiopia; this man was born there.” The Psalmist continued with the words, “behold Philistia” or “lo, look, see and consider Philistia whose name means land of sojourners and was the general territory on the west coast of Canaan or the entire country of Palestine” “and Tyre” which means “and Tyre whose name means a rock and was known as Tyrus and the Phoenician city on the Mediterranean coast”, “with Ethiopia” or “alongside Ethiopia or Cush whose name means black and was the peoples descended from Cush”; “this man” which means “the people” “was born there” or “were birthed in the city of Jerusalem”. The Psalmist instructed his readers and listeners to observe “Philistia, Tyre and Ethiopia” as he referred to the people who were birthed in the city of Jerusalem.

When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we see how the Psalmist made reference to other countries who were aware of Jerusalem. The people of “Egypt, Babylon, Philistia, Tyre and Ethiopia” were familiar with Jerusalem, and they were to become as citizens there. God loves the city of Jerusalem, and it became a focus for the people of the world. God used this location as the place where His Son Jesus would be crucified for the sins of all mankind. The idea was to have this central city to be the place where everyone would come to know Jesus the Messiah. When we believe and trust in Jesus as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and allow us to become part of “the city of the great King” forever and ever. (See Psalm 48:2; Revelation 3:12; 21:2)

Next time the Psalmist says, “of Zion it shall be said, This and that man was born in her”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".