Go! And Rejoice in Your Heavenly Citizenship - Psalm 87
A Gospel-Centred Call to Know Where You Belong
Introduction – Where Do You Truly Belong?
Imagine arriving at Heathrow Airport with no passport. You walk up to the immigration desk, smile, and say, “Trust me, I belong here.” The officer looks at you, unimpressed, and says, “Without proof of citizenship, you can’t come in.”
Now imagine standing before the gates of Heaven one day. Will you present your own works, your own goodness, your church attendance? Or will you have the one passport that Heaven recognises — your name written in the Lamb’s Book of Life, purchased by the blood of Jesus Christ?
Psalm 87 is a song about belonging — not to a nation on earth, but to the City of God. It’s about true citizenship, not of Britain or any other earthly country, but of the Kingdom of Heaven.
Today we will see in Psalm 87 how God exalts His city, how He welcomes people from every nation, and how our true joy and identity are found in Christ alone.
Psalm 87 (NLT):
1 On the holy mountain
stands the city founded by the Lord.
2 He loves the city of Jerusalem
more than any other city in Israel.
3 O city of God,
what glorious things are said of you!
4 I will count Egypt and Babylon among those who know me—
also Philistia and Tyre, and even distant Ethiopia.
They have all become citizens of Jerusalem!
5 Regarding Jerusalem it will be said,
“Everyone enjoys the rights of citizenship there.”
And the Most High will personally bless this city.
6 When the Lord registers the nations, he will say,
“They have all become citizens of Jerusalem.”
7 The people will play flutes and sing,
“The source of my life springs from Jerusalem!”
Point 1 – God’s City Is Established by God Himself (vv. 1–3)
The Psalm begins: “On the holy mountain stands the city founded by the Lord.”
Historically, this is referring to Mount Zion in Jerusalem, the place God chose for His dwelling (cf. 2 Chronicles 6:6). The Hebrew verb ????? (yasad) means “to lay a foundation” — reminding us that this city is not the result of human ambition, but of divine choice.
In the Old Testament, Jerusalem was where the temple stood — the meeting place between God and His people. In the New Testament, the city points forward to the New Jerusalem — the eternal dwelling of God with His people (Revelation 21:2–3).
Charles Stanley once wrote: “God’s purposes are built on His foundations, not ours. When we rest in His plans, we find stability no storm can shake.”
Our lives must be built on the same principle. Jesus said in Matthew 7:24–25 that the wise man builds on the rock — and that rock is Christ Himself. If your life is not founded on Jesus, every success will one day crumble.
In London, some of the oldest buildings have survived centuries of weather and war — not because they’re beautiful on the outside, but because their foundations were deep and strong. Spiritually, the same is true: beauty without foundation will collapse.
Point 2 – God Welcomes the Nations into His City (vv. 4–6)
The most shocking part of Psalm 87 is verse 4: “I will count Egypt and Babylon among those who know me… Philistia, Tyre, Ethiopia — they have all become citizens of Jerusalem!”
Historically, these were enemies of Israel. Yet God declares they will be counted as His people. This points us directly to the Gospel — to the truth that salvation is for all nations.
In Hebrew, the phrase “know me” is ????? (yada) — meaning more than intellectual awareness; it’s deep, covenant relationship.
Paul picks up this theme in Ephesians 2:13–14 (NLT): “But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ. For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people…”
Tim Keller said: “The Gospel is not that we can draw near to God if we try hard enough, but that God has drawn near to us in Jesus Christ, breaking down every wall.”
If God welcomes people from Egypt, Babylon, Philistia — then He can welcome your neighbour, your co-worker, even the person you think could never change. We must be a church that mirrors God’s radical welcome.
Think of the London Marathon. People from over 190 nations run together. Different languages, cultures, and skin colours — yet all moving towards the same finish line. That’s a glimpse of the redeemed from every nation in Revelation 7:9.
Point 3 – Our True Citizenship Is in the New Jerusalem (vv. 5–7)
Verse 6 is astonishing: “When the Lord registers the nations, he will say, ‘They have all become citizens of Jerusalem.’”
This is the heavenly register — what Revelation 20:15 calls the Book of Life. The only way to be listed there is to belong to Jesus.
The Greek word for “citizenship” in Philippians 3:20 is p???te?µa (politeuma) — meaning “commonwealth” or “community with rights.” Paul says:
“We are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Saviour.” (Philippians 3:20, NLT)
R.T. Kendall once said: “The most important thing about you is not your job, your title, or your nationality — it’s whether your name is written in Heaven.”
Live like citizens of Heaven now. Your passport may say “United Kingdom,” but your ultimate allegiance is to the Kingdom of God. That means our ethics, priorities, and mission are shaped by Jesus, not by culture.
The Gospel Connection:
Psalm 87’s vision can only come true because of Jesus Christ. On the cross, He died for all nations (John 3:16). He rose again to offer eternal life to all who repent and trust in Him.
We were outsiders, enemies even (Romans 5:10), but through His blood we are welcomed in. Citizenship in God’s Kingdom is not earned by works, church membership, or heritage — it is a free gift received by faith.
Call to Action:
If you’re not yet in Christ — repent and believe the Gospel. Turn from your sin and trust Jesus as Lord and Saviour.
If you are in Christ — live as a citizen of Heaven. Let your life display the beauty of God’s Kingdom so others long to join.
Be an ambassador — carry the good news to people you might think God could never reach.
Invitation to Salvation:
Friend, if you stood before the gates of Heaven today, would your name be in the Lamb’s Book of Life?
You can be sure.
Acknowledge your sin. Believe in Jesus’ death and resurrection. Confess Him as Lord. Receive Him today — and your citizenship in Heaven will be eternally secure.
Benediction:
Go this week rejoicing in your heavenly citizenship. Let your life reflect the welcome of the God who brings people from every nation into His Kingdom. And remember — the source of your life springs not from earthly success, but from the City of God, founded by the Lord, secured by the blood of Jesus, and destined for glory.
