When my children were growing up in Pakistan, they related to a number of different people from various nationalities – Pakistanis (obviously), Indians, Canadians, British, Americans, New Zealanders, Europeans, etc. It was healthy and gave our children a positive understanding of the similarities and differences between the cultures.
A generation later, my grandchildren go to schools in Australia which are far more multicultural that the community we mixed with in Pakistan, and I’m not sure they even notice it. At any given birthday party which includes their school friends a majority will have been born overseas or at least their parents were.
As we continue to consider Psalm 87, we see something really interesting. That is, the inclusion of a group of nations who “will acknowledge me as God.” (verse 4). It says:
4 “I will record Rahab and Babylon
among those who acknowledge me—
Philistia too, and Tyre, along with Cush—
and will say, ‘This one was born in Zion.’”
5 Indeed, of Zion it will be said,
“This one and that one were born in her,
and the Most High himself will establish her.”
6 The Lord will write in the register of the peoples:
“This one was born in Zion.”
So, what does this all mean? Well, a similar thing is prophesied by Zechariah when he says:
“Shout and be glad, Daughter Zion. For I am coming, and will live among you”, declares the Lord. “Many nations will be joined with the Lord in that day and will become my people. I will live among you and you will know that the Lord Almighty as sent me to you.” (Zechariah 2:10-11)
“Zechariah presents us with a vision of a huge cosmopolitan, multiracial population living in the ‘holy land’ under Christ’s future kingly rule.” (SU notes)
Wilcock comments:
“Three things are said about [the nations described in Psalm 87] in verse 4… The Lord will record them, that is, as verse 6 explains, he will write them down in the register of the peoples… [and note]they will be recorded there as belonging with those who acknowledge me. Acknowledging the Lord means knowing him personally, the special privilege of his people Israel… They will be registered as having been born in Zion. Again verse 6 repeats an amazing fact: they will be reckoned not just as citizens but as natives of the city of God, whatever their race or nationality or religious background.
It cannot escape our notice that to know God, to acquire a second, spiritual, citizenship, and to be born-again, are all New Testament descriptions of a profound change in the human heart [John 3:3,7]. None, Jew or Gentile, who has refused to be saved by grace through faith, can expect admission to the city of God. But all, of any race, in whom his grace does bring about that change, will be welcomed there.” (# 5)
And on that day, the psalmist says:
7 As they make music they will sing,
“All my fountains are in you.”
What an amazing choir that will be!
Thank you, Father, that you are drawing people to yourself from every nation and one day we will sing all together in complete unity and harmony that all we need is found in you. Amen.
Tehilim (Psalms) - "songs of praise". 