Psalms

This Psalm speaks of God's love for Jerusalem.  At this time Jerusalem was the worldwide center for praise and worship to the Lord God.  It will once again be that and more.  This city was originally settled in 4000 BC making it one of the oldest cities in the world.  It has been destroyed twice, besieged 23 times, attacked 52 times, and captured and recaptured 44 times.

This Psalm was probably written during the reign of Hezekiah after the defeat of Assyria and before the rise of Babylon.  Neighboring nations honored Hezekiah and Israel by coming to Jerusalem.

2 Chronicles 32 

²² Thus the LORD saved Hezekiah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem from the hand of Sennacherib the king of Assyria, and from the hand of all others, and guided them on every side. ²³ And many brought gifts to the LORD at Jerusalem, and presents to Hezekiah king of Judah, so that he was exalted in the sight of all nations thereafter.

This helps us understand the Psalm on a historic level.  However, we need to also read the Psalm on a prophetic level. 

A Psalm of the sons of Korah. A Song.

¹ His foundation is in the holy mountains.

This 'foundation' is a reference to Jerusalem.  There is no other city that means so much to so many.  The Jews hold onto it as their holy city, Christians have an attachment to it and Islam has made its claim.  But God alone establishes what is holy and He will have the final say in all matters about Jerusalem, as He always has.  Among the mountains that God calls holy, those set apart for His use, He names one in particular as His foundation.  In those days, this was the city where God established his temple.  It was the place where people came to meet God.

² The LORD loves the gates of Zion
More than all the dwellings of Jacob.
Mt. Zion or Zion is a spiritual name for Jerusalem.  When it is spoke of in special circumstances or purpose for God, it is often times referred to as Zion.  The gates refer to access.  The fact that there are gates implies that not all are received in.  The gates have a purpose.  For those who love the Lord, those gates are a welcome sight and welcome them in.  To those apart from God, those gates keep them at bay and represent their separation from the Holy One and their creator. 

The Lord loves the dwellings of Jacob.  The entire land of Israel was set aside for God's purpose in revealing Himself through these people.  God loved the land, but Israel was loved more.

³ Glorious things are spoken of you,
O city of God! Selah

This is the city of God.  No other city has their name so closely associated with God.  We might think Rome......but that's only for a time, to one religion.  Bethlehem?  Certainly an important city in the history of the world but Jerusalem is the center of the physical universe.

⁴ "I will make mention of Rahab and Babylon to those who know Me;
Behold, O Philistia and Tyre, with Ethiopia:
'This one was born there.' "
Someone once said the entire bible is the tale of two cities; Jerusalem and Babylon.  As Babylon speaks of the fallen world we live in, these other locations speak of one time superpowers of the world, whose descendents will one day join in the worship of God in the city of Jerusalem.

Rahab was a monster that came from ancient pagan mythology.  In the bible, Rahab is associated with Egypt.  We know the history of Babylon, but we also know there are prophecies regarding Babylon.  Is the prophetic Babylon an actual city or a representative way of life apart from God?  Philistia, Tyre and Ethiopia are all one time enemies of Jerusalem.  The descendants of all these nations will worship God in Jerusalem. 

Philippians 2

⁹ Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, ¹⁰ that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, ¹¹ and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Some will bow to the glory of God the father and receive everlasting life.  Others will bow when they come to the understanding of the eternal consequences of their sin.

⁵And of Zion it will be said,
"This one and that one were born in her;
And the Most High Himself shall establish her."
⁶ The LORD will record,
When He registers the peoples:
"This one was born there." Selah
The one born there is a special favor for the one born in Jerusalem.  This will be considered a special honor in the Messianic Kingdom (See Zechariah 8:20) as those born in her stand among the gathered throng of all nations.

This city already stands above all nations, yet that is nothing to what it will be like when Jesus sets up His millennial Kingdom.  He will sit on the throne of David and rule the world. 

⁷Both the singers and the players on instruments say,
"All my springs are in you."

The springs are the source of life and all blessings.  Our source of eternal blessing and hope comes from the work that Jesus Christ did in Jerusalem.  While we can never say we were born there and receive that special honor, we can say we were 'born again' and receive our kinship and crown of life from Jesus Christ.  See the water flowing from the temple in Ezekiel 47; Revelation 22.  See the living water in  John 7:37; Psalm 36:8-9; Psalm 89:6 and Psalm 46:4.