Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 87:7
As well the singers as the players on instruments [shall be there]: all my springs [are] in thee.
7. Conclusion. The Psalm ends as abruptly as it began, with a verse which is enigmatic in its brevity. It is best explained as an outline picture of the universal rejoicing with which the citizens of Zion greet their mother.
And singing as well as dancing (shall they chant,)
‘All my fountains are in thee.’
The rendering dancing is preferable to playing on the flute (cp. A.V., R.V. marg.). For dancing as an expression of religious rejoicing see Psa 30:11; Psa 149:3; Psa 150:4; Exo 15:20 ; 2Sa 6:16.
The second line is their anthem. It may even be a fragment of some well-known hymn. My fountains is to be understood metaphorically, as ‘fountains of salvation’ in Isa 12:3. Cp. Psa 36:9 f.; Psa 84:6; Eze 47:1; Joe 3:18; Zec 14:8. It is possible, but less satisfactory, to take the verse as the Psalmist’s apostrophe to Zion:
Both they that sing and they that dance,
All my fountains are in thee:
“meaning that every source of pleasure, music, singing, &c. was to be found in Zion” (Bp Perowne). So Milton in his paraphrase:
Both they who sing and they who dance
With sacred songs are there;
In thee fresh brooks and soft streams glance,
And all my fountains clear.
The obscurity of the verse must however be acknowledged. Cheyne thinks that it may be “a fragment of a description of a joyous procession.” Cp. Psa 68:25. Is it possible that it is not, strictly speaking, part of the Psalm, but a liturgical direction to sing the anthem “All my fountains are in thee” at the end of the Psalm, as an expression of the joy of Zion’s citizens?
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
As well the singers as the players on instruments shall be there – literally, The singers as the players on instruments. The image is that of a musical procession, where the singers go before, followed by those who play on various instruments of music. The idea seems to be that when the number of the true friends of God shall be made up, or shall all be enrolled, there will be a triumphal procession; or, they are seen by the psalmist, moving before God as in a triumphal procession. Compare the notes at Isa 35:10. Perhaps the reference is to heaven – the true Zion; to the assembling of all who shall have been born in Zion, and who shall have become citizens of the true Zion, the Jerusalem above.
All my springs are in thee – The word rendered springs means properly a place of fountains (see the notes at Psa 84:6), and also a fountain, Gen 7:11; Gen 8:2. It thus becomes an emblem of happiness; of delight; of pleasure; and the ideal here is that the highest happiness of the psalmist was found in what is here referred to by the word thee. That word may refer either to God or to Zion; but as the subject of the psalm is Zion, it is most natural to suppose that the reference is to that. Thus it accords with the sentiment so often found in the Psalms, where the writer expresses his love for Zion; his pleasure in its solemnities; his desire to abide there as his permanent home. Compare Psa 23:6; Psa 84:2-4, Psa 84:10. The idea has been beautifully expressed by Dr. Dwight, in his version of Psa 137:6 :
I love thy church, O God;
Her walls before thee stand,
Dear as the apple of thine eye,
And graven on thy hand.
If eer my heart forget
Her welfare or her woe,
Let every joy this heart forsake,
And every grief oerflow.
Beyond my highest joy
I prize her heavenly ways.
Her sweet communion, solemn vows,
Her hymns of love and praise.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Psa 87:7
As well the singers as the players on instruments shall be there.
Music an epitome of life
Music does a great many things for us. It pleases the senses, it affords aesthetic delight, it calms perplexed feelings, it nerves the soldiers heart to battle, it soothes the babe upon its mothers breast, it thrills the maidens heart with love, it consoles the mourners grief and hallows it, it spurs the rapture of the dance, and moderates and sanctifies the march to the tomb. What man would but cannot, music seems to do for him. When his deed lags, she strengthens him; when his spirit falters, she inspires; when his voice is dumb, she speaks for him. In a word, music is capable of supplementing mans finitude, and opening for him the realm of his ideals and his aspirations. And this is the explanation of its power to do so much for us, and be so much to us, because in its own terms it has a capacity of expressing life. This is at once an explanation of its power and a statement of its inscrutable mystery, that it is fitted to be the common language of the universal sentiment of humanity. As good old Father Haydn said of it, My language is understood all over the world. So, in recognition of this capacity to portray human experience and to reflect human sentiment, I have chosen to consider music as an epitome of life. One essential of music is based on time, and consists in the relation of notes to each other measured by duration. The savage beating his tom-tom is the rudimentary musician. The human ear is earliest susceptible to the impression of rhythm. Yet so radically and perpetually essential is this feature that the most elaborate symphony is dependent on it equally with the primitive drum-beat. Lacking it, either one would be incoherent, would cease to be music, and would become simply noise. This is manifest, but now where shall we find in life the equivalent of this essential term? What is the pulse of the moral life, the heart-beat of conduct as rhythm is the heart-beat of song? What imparts measure and meaning and impulse to the otherwise unrelated activities, and sets them in order in intelligible succession? What, if not the exercise of will, the putting forth of purpose? Yes, purpose is to life what rhythm is to song. Beside time, the other evident essential of music is tune, in which also we may discern some suggestive parallel to life. The possibility of tune depends on that mysterious feature of music we call the scale or the octave. These eight tones of relative pitch that compose the octave, with their semitones of the chromatic scale, furnish the material out of which all music is composed. Melody, which is a sort of harmony, and harmony, which is in turn a sort of condensed melody, both equally flow from this mysterious relation that sounds bear to each other, and depend on it. Not a single note in music stands alone in its significance. We are not far, then, from recognizing what is signified concerning human life, in the fact that music rests on the relation of note to note, of part to part. The parallel truth is that no man liveth to himself. Selfishness excludes one from the harmony of being. As the notes in the scale are fitted by their mutual relations to portray ideal beauty, so are we constituted for each other, attaining the roundness, the completeness, the satisfaction of life, never in ourselves alone, but only as we stand related to each other in the significance of that scale of character that imparts the meaning to life, and in this large relation we all inevitably stand for discord or for harmony. A closing parallel may be drawn from the motive of music. Its material it takes from time and tune, its method is obedience, and its motive is love. Each individual musical entity gives itself to the use and being of the whole. How the symphony exemplifies this truth! Each note is woven as a mesh in the network of tone; each part contrasts and amplifies every other part; each instrument sets in other colour the utterance of its neighbour–the violins in clear intensity of utterance give forth the theme, and then they part, some to maintain it, others to adorn it; the flutes and clarionets and oboes touch it with a sylvan tone; the lower strings grant it the fervour of their passionate thought; the horns breathe calm and clear; the trumpets sound the voice of resolute affirmation, while the basses solidly support them all: so many voices, yet with one harmonious theme, it is the picture of a community of inspired souls with a common purpose. Therein the finite escapes from its bondage and restriction, and goes out into the Infinite. Hear the words of the Christ, having identical import: He that loseth his life shall find it. Let a man deny himself, and he shall have a part in My eternal kingdom. Let the finite humble itself, and it shall be exalted to share in the Infinite. A definition has been given of music, at once most philosophical and most poetical–a single line by Sidney Lanier:–
Music is love in search of a word.
Yea, this is its one abiding theme; not the mere feeling of affection and selfish preference, not of mawkish sensibility, the expression of which is musics bane and curse and disgrace, but love that comes from a humble consciousness of the worth of personal being, and that in the spirit of consecration and of self-bestowment devotes itself to that fulness of being of which its character enables it to supply a part. Music is love in search of a word. True life is love striving for perfect utterance in word and deed. (C. F. Carter.)
All my springs are in Thee.
Christ Jesus the fountain of grace
I. In Jesus Christ are the springs of pardoning mercy. This is the root of every other mercy.
II. A Christian acknowledges all his springs of sanctifying grace to be in Jesus Christ. As the streams of a fountain are directed into various channels to water every part of the garden in which it springs, so doth the grace of God, in Jesus Christ, gush forth from its unfathomable depth of mercy, into every sentiment of the heart and mind of a sincere believer. It rectifies the erring judgment–it corrects the perverted will–it sanctifies the affections, weaning them from the vanities of earth and the defilement of sin, and turning them to dwell with complacency and with delight upon the supreme realities of eternal things. It quickens every languishing grace, and unites all the parts of Christian character in one supreme desire to glorify God.
III. The springs of that peace and joy with which a Christian is filled in believing, are also found in the Son of God, as He is present with His Church. O if the sight of Joseph at Pharaohs right hand, in favour and honour with the King of Egypt, could send the patriarchs home to Canaan with such joyful news to their aged father, what a message of delight must faith carry to the soul when it comes after a visitation of mercy in those services in which it hath contemplated the glory of Christ, and its own interest in that glory! With joy, even with joy unspeakable and full of glory, may such a soul draw water out of the wells of salvation.
IV. The springs of hope that cheer and bless the pilgrimage of a Christian, are derived from the great Head of the Church. To Him are given exceeding great and precious promises; and a view of the unchangeable fidelity of his Father, in the covenant of love by Jesus Christ, fills him with a hope that maketh not ashamed.
V. The springs of eternal glory proceed from the Son of God. The righteousness, the holiness, which constitutes the character of true Christians, and the blessedness with which it will be recompensed, are all given by Christ to the Church. They who possess them are the seed which should prolong their days, or be happy for ever. In them He sees of the travail of His soul, and is satisfied. Here the gracious purpose of Jehovah prospers in His hands, perfectly and for ever. (R. P. Buddicom, M. A.)
A song of triumph
I. The Christian requires divers kinds of blessings, and these are all furnished for him. Not one rill of supply merely, but many springs.
1. We will speak first of that spring which may be called sanctification, which washes us from daily accumulating evil, and checks our own depravity–which makes us more holy, and more fit to become partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light.
2. Sustaining grace.
3. Wisdom to direct.
4. Strength and assistance in every time of need.
5. Joy and comfort.
II. Where are these springs to be found? In Jesus our Lord and our God. It is of the Fathers grace that the Spirit gives us from Jesus fulness, so that we can never faint or fail. The wisdom of this arrangement will be evident if we consider–
1. Our own folly.
2. Our weakness.
3. Our great ingratitude and forgetfulness of God.
4. Our tendency to pride.
5. We admire this plan because it exalts God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. It makes us to come often into their presence to acknowledge our need and to extol God as alone able to supply it. (J. A. Spurgeon.)
.
Psa 88:1-18
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 7. As well the singers, c.] Perhaps, this may mean no more than, The burden of the songs of all the singers and choristers shall be, “All my fountains (ancestors and posterity) are in thee” and consequently, entitled to all thy privileges and immunities. Instead of sharim, “singers,” many MSS. and early printed editions have, sarim, “princes.” Some for mayenai, “my fountains,” would read with several of the Versions, meoney, “habitations;” but no MS. yet discovered supports this reading.
It would be a very natural cause of exultation, when considering the great privileges of this royal city, to know that all his friends, family, and children, were citizens of this city, were entered in God’s register, and were entitled to his protection and favour. Applied to the Christian Church, the privileges are still higher: born of God, enrolled among the living in Jerusalem, having their hearts purified by faith, and being washed and made clean through the blood of the covenant, and sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise, such have a right to the inheritance among the saints in light. I need not add that springs, wells, fountains, and cisterns, and waters are used metaphorically in the sacred writings for children, posterity, fruitful women, people, c. see among others Pr 5:15-16; Ps 68:26; Isa 48:1; and Re 17:15. The old Psalter understands the whole as relating to Gospel times; and interprets it accordingly. Bishop Horne takes it in the same sense. The whole Psalm is obscure and difficult. I will venture a literal version of the whole, with a few explanatory interpolations, instead of notes, in order to cast a little more light upon it.
1. A Psalm to be sung by the posterity of Korah. A prophetic song.
2. “Jehovah loves his foundation, the city built by him on holy mountains. He loves the gates of Zion more than all the habitations of Jacob.”
3. “Honourable things are declared of thee, O city of God. Selah.”
4. “I will number Egypt and Babylon among my worshippers; behold Philistia and Tyre! They shall be born in the same place.” They shall be considered as born in the city of God.
5. “But of Zion it shall be said, This one, and that one,” persons of different nations, “was born in it, and the Most High shall establish it.”
6. “Jehovah shall reckon in the registers of the people, This one was born there.”
7. “The people shall sing, as in leading up a choir, All my fountains,” the springs of my happiness, “are in thee.”
I have nearly followed here the version of Mr. N. M. Berlin, who wonders that there should be any doubt concerning this translation of the last verse, when Symmachus and Aquila, who must have well known the sense of the Masoretic text, have translated: “And they shall sing, as in leading up a dance, All my fountains are in thee.” The translation cannot be far from the meaning.
ANALYSIS OF THE EIGHTY-SEVENTH PSALM
This Psalm contains marks of the beauty and perfection of the Church.
1. Its foundation. The author is GOD, it is his foundation; not laid in the sand, but upon the mountains, not common, but holy mountains, Ps 87:1.
2. The Lord loveth his Church-this assembly, beyond all others: “The Lord loveth,” c., Ps 87:2.
3. All the prophets have spoken glorious things concerning it, and have considered it as the “city of God,” Ps 87:3.
4. One of the glorious things spoken of it was the conversion of the Gentiles to it. So here Egyptians, Babylonians, Tyrians, Ethiopians, c., are to be gathered into it by regeneration. They shall all be brought to know the true God and shall be classed in the multitude of those who know him, i.e., who offer him a pure and holy worship, Ps 87:4.
5. By having the word of God in this true Church, they shall be converted to God so that it may be said, “This and that man were born to God in it,” Ps 87:5.
6. All other cities shall decay and perish; but the Church of God, the city of the Great King, shall be established for ever, the gates of hell shall never prevail against it, Ps 87:5.
7. The converted Gentiles shall have equal privileges with the converted Jews; and in the Christian Church they shall all be enrolled without difference or precedence, Ps 87:6.
8. They shall enjoy a perpetual solemnity. They shall ever have cause to sing and rejoice, Ps 87:7.
9. The highest privilege is that in God’s Church he opens the fountains of living water; in his ordinances God dispenses every blessing; every sincere and upright soul rejoices in opportunities to wait on God in his ordinances. Such a one can sing, “All my springs are in thee.” All other fountains are muddy; this alone is as clear as crystal. Worldly springs yield no pure delight; all there are mixed and turbulent: all here are refreshing, satisfying, delightful.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
There shall be great rejoicing and praising God, both with vocal and instrumental music, for this glorious and stupendous work of the conversion of the Gentiles. He describes evangelical worship by legal phrases and customs, as the prophets frequently do.
In thee, i.e. in Zion, or the church. These words may be here added as the burden or matter of the song, which these singers are supposed to have sung; and that either,
1. In their own names, and in the name of all the Zionites or people of God. So the sense is, All our desires and delights are in thee, all the springs of mercy, grace, and glory flow to us only in and through thee; for springs or fountains are oft put for all precious or desirable things, as Psa 36:9; Isa 12:3; Hos 13:15. Or,
2. In Gods name, whose words were frequently sung by the singers in the Old Testament. And so the sense is, All the springs or fountains of good things, or of my blessings are in Zion, or in the church, out of which no true blessings are to be expected or found. And this sense seems best to suit with the phrase, my springs; partly because it seems more proper to call them Gods springs, who is the author and giver of them, than mens springs, who are only the receivers of them; and partly because this is more agreeable to the phrase and usage of Scripture, which every where ascribes and appropriates them to God.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
7. As in a great procession ofthose thus written up, or registered, seeking Zion (Isa 2:3;Jer 50:5), “the singers”and “players,” or pipers, shall precede.
all my springsSo eachshall say, “All my sources of spiritual joy are in Thee”(Psa 46:4; Psa 84:6).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
As well the singers as the players on the instruments shall be there,…. In Zion, in the church; signifying that there should be great spiritual joy there when the above things should be accomplished; great joy in the churches, because of the conversion of Jews and Gentiles; and great joy in the persons themselves, born again, and brought to Zion; in allusion to the vocal and instrumental music used in the temple service; see Isa 35:10
all my springs are in thee; which are either the words of the psalmist, or rather of the souls born in Zion; who, in their spiritual songs, will thus express themselves concerning the church, in which are the word and ordinances, compared to fountains of living water, and are springs of spiritual peace and refreshment to converted persons; see Joe 3:18, where also the Spirit and his graces are communicated by the ministry of the word and ordinances in the church, which are signified by wells and rivers of living water, Joh 4:14 and particularly here stands Christ, the fountain of gardens, and well of living waters, for the supply and comfort of saints, and his blood a fountain opened for cleansing and purification, So 4:15, yea, here flows the river of God’s love, the streams whereof make glad the city of God; and which, like the waters in Ezekiel’s vision, come from under the threshold of the sanctuary,
Ps 46:4 or the words may be considered as an address of the psalmist, or of the church, or of regenerate persons, unto Christ:
all my springs or fountains are in thee; the fulness of grace dwells in him, the springs of all joy, and peace, and comfort, are with him; the wells of salvation are in him, and both grace and glory are from him; he is the spring of all grace now, and the fountain of all happiness hereafter. Gussetius z has a very peculiar version of the whole text, which he renders thus
“all my fountains will be singing in thee, or of thee, as those that dance at the sound of the pipe:”
taking the allusion to be to the playing of fountains in gardens, and to the delightful sound the waters make; but the accents will not admit of such a sense.
z Comment. Ebr. p. 845.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
The meaning of this verse is obscure, partly from its abrupt brevity, and partly from the ambiguity of one word. The word springs is, beyond all controversy, to be here taken metaphorically; but interpreters are not agreed as to the explanation of the metaphor. Some understand it as denoting hopes, some affections, and others thoughts. Did the idiom of the language admit, I would willingly subscribe to the opinion of those who translate it melodies or songs. But as this might be considered unsupported by the usage of the Hebrew term, I am rather inclined to adopt, as most suitable to the subject in hand, the opinion that lookings is the proper translation, the root of the word signifying an eye. It is as if the Psalmist had said, I will always be earnestly looking, as it were, with fixed eyes upon thee.
Let us now inquire what is meant by the other clause, The singers as the players upon instruments. This, it is true, is an abrupt form of expression; but the sense, about which there is a general agreement, is, that so great will be the ground for rejoicing, that the praises of God will resound in Zion continually, with the energy of the living voice, as well as with musical instruments. This, then, is a confirmation of what was spoken before concerning the glorious restoration of Zion; for by the greatness of the joy, and the manifold harmony and melody of praises, is portrayed the happiness which shall prevail in the midst of it. At the same time, we have here described the great design of all the gifts which God has conferred upon his Church with so liberal a hand; namely, that the faithful, by hymns and songs, should testify their remembrance of his benefits and gratefully acknowledge them. (503) The Hebrew word חוללים , cholelim, which we have rendered the players upon instruments, is translated by some, those who dance to the sound of instruments. (504) But this is a matter of no great importance, it being enough to consider the meaning, in short, as this, that there will be a continual concert of God’s praises in the Church, where he unfolds the treasures of his grace, and that the faithful will be heard singing successively and in response. Moreover, the prophet shows his singular love to the Church, and the singular care and zeal which he exercised about her, to encourage and stir up all the godly, by his example, to cultivate and manifest the same zeal, agreeably to what is stated in another psalm,
“
If I forget thee, O Jerusalem! let my right hand forget her cunning. If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth; if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy.” (Psa 137:5)
All our affections are then settled on the Church, when, gathered in from the vague and vain objects by which they are distracted, and regarding with indifference the honors, pleasures, riches, and pageantries of the world, they find enough to engage and satisfy them in the spiritual glory of Christ’s kingdom, and in that alone.
(503) Cresswell connects the second clause of this verse with the first, in this manner: — “Singers also, and players upon the pipe, shall chant, ‘All my wells are in thee;’” i. e. , says he, “all my sources of refreshment, of hope, and of salvation, are in thee, O Zion!” He adds, “The phrase, wells of salvation, occurs in Isa 12:3, the Hebrew word being the same as that which, in our two English versions of the Psalms, is translated springs and fountains. ” Walford connects the two clauses in the same manner, “They sing with musical instruments, ‘All my springs are in thee.’” “The persons who are here said to sing,” he observes, “accompanied by musical instruments, are the people spoken of in verse 6. They are described as uniting in a joyful song of praise and thanksgiving; and the burden of their song is, ‘All my springs are in thee.’ Springs or fountains are a constant image for the blessings which are productive of refreshment and happiness. These new-born converts are, therefore, represented as joining the universal Church, and offering ascriptions of praise to God, who is the overflowing source of all the streams of good, which refresh and bless the people.”
(504) “ Afin que les fideles en chantant Pseaumes et Cantiques monstrent la souvenance qu’ils ont des benefices receus, et luy en facent recognoissance.” — Fr.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(7) The literal sense of this most obscure verse is
And singers as trumpeters
All my springs in Thee,
which we may paraphrase, keeping in the same line with the rest of the psalm, For such an one (celebrating his birthday, Gen. 40:20, Mat. 14:6) the singers and musicians will sing (to Zion), All my offspring is in Thee. Not only is it a boast to have been born in Zion, but in the genuine Hebrew spirit the boast is continued into the future generations, and the Hebrew of the Hebrews exults in addressing the sacred city as the cradle of his family.
For this figurative application of the word springs to posterity, comp. Psa. 68:26; Isa. 48:1; Pro. 5:16.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
7. As well the singers as the players on instruments shall be there The words “shall be there” are not in the text, and they destroy the sense. The Hebrew is exceedingly abrupt and elliptical, but the sense may be thus given: And the singers, as well as the fluters, [shall say, as the burden of their song,] All my springs are in thee, that is, in Zion. The image before the poet was that of multitudes of converts, from all nations, coming to Zion in joyful procession, with bands of singers and pipers, making Zion the theme of their song. “The Korahite author,” writes Bishop Alexander, “himself a chief singer in the sanctuary, does not grudge the admission of foreign nations into the sacred choir, but with generous and largehearted sympathy rejoices in the prospect.” Thus, also, Bishop Mant:
“With joy shall sing the choral train,
The minstrels breathe the answering strain;
‘O Zion, Zion fair, I see The fountains of my bliss in thee.’”
“And if such be indeed the incomparable excellence of the Church, and such the benefit of her communion, as they have been set forth in the foregoing verses, what anthem better deserves to be performed by all her choirs?” Horne. Isa 2:3; Isa 12:3; Joh 4:22.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Psa 87:7. As well the singers, &c. The literal version of the Hebrew is, They shall sing like those who lead up the dance: all my springs are in thee: i.e. “They shall sing very joyfully, and the burden of the song they should sing in praise of Sion should be this; All my springs or fountains are in thee; All my kindred shall sing and rejoice in thy safety,” as Jarchi explains it. And I would observe, that the original word mangianai, which we render springs, is used in a figurative sense to denote any one’s posterity. Thus Pro 5:16. Let thy fountains be dispersed abroad; i.e. “Thy posterity be exceeding numerous:” and thus in the place before us, the inhabitants of Jerusalem should triumph and sing, “All my springs or fountains; all my friends, my family, my children, are in thee; are thy citizens, and enjoy the glorious privileges thou art favoured with.” Thus there is a harmony and connection between all the parts of this ode, which I think is very intelligible, and is very poetical.
REFLECTIONS.The Psalmist begins, as if he had been musing on the glories of God’s Zion, and then instantly bursts forth in describing them.
1. His foundation is in the holy mountains; the Lord hath laid the foundations of his church on Christ, the rock of ages; it is supported by his promises, and stands firm in the beauty of holiness.
2. He delights in the work of his own hands. The Lord loveth the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob; though all are dear to him, yet not alike dear; in Zion he hath chosen to fix his peculiar abode. Note; God is present in every family of his worshipping people, and accepts their service; but his especial delight is in the great congregation, where all his people appear together before him.
3. Glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God. Jerusalem was a beautiful place, the joy of the whole earth, adorned with stately palaces, and most adorned with God’s magnificent temple; but even this has no glory in comparison with that church of the faithful and glorified Redeemer (which so far excelleth,) the spouse of Christ, the purchase of his blood; where all are kings and priests unto God: the walls salvation, the gates praise; the building eternal; and which duration, so far from ruining, must improve.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
This is the just and unavoidable conclusion of all that went before. There can be no source, no spring, no fountain, but in Jesus. Everything of life, and light, and salvation, grace here, glory hereafter; all are in Christ: not only from Christ, but in Christ. A God incarnate must be the only possible source of blessedness, both now and forever. Oh! what a thought, to comfort the soul under all barrenness, deadness, and languishing frames whatever.
REFLECTIONS
MY soul! what sayest thou to this blessed Psalm, as to thy personal experience of the glorious things contained in it? Most plain and evident it is, that the foundation upon which the temple, as a type of Christ, is founded, is Christ Jesus. Other foundation can no man lay, than that is laid, Jesus Christ. But, my soul, art thou founded in him? and are all thy fresh springs in Him? See the foundation of everything out of Christ! Look into houses, families, churches: if Christ be not the rock, on which every individual is built, how shall it be said of any, when Jehovah counts, and writes up the people, that this Man, even Jesus, was born in that soul? How shall that promise of Jesus be fulfilled: Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God; and he shall go no more out; and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God: and I will write upon him my new name! – And, my soul, see to it, as an evidence of these precious glorious things, that all thy resources, all thy happiness, grace, righteousness, joy, glory, be all in Jesus, and flowing from him alone, in all thy refreshments.
Oh! ye elder brethren, the Jews; ye that are the descendants of Zion, behold Him, concerning whom Jehovah hath recorded, a Person and a Person shall be born in her! May this almighty Redeemer hasten the time of his arising in Zion, to turn away ungodliness from Jacob! And ye, no less, the Gentiles yet to be called in, behold ye! Philistia and Tyre! ye, people of Ethiopia! see the register of Jehovah, This man was born. Lord! hasten the hour when Ethiopia, and Seba, and the multitude of the isles, shall stretch forth their hands unto our God. Amen.
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Psa 87:7 As well the singers as the players on instruments [shall be there]: all my springs [are] in thee.
Ver. 7. As well the singers as the players, &c. ] There shall be an exuberancy of joy in the Holy Ghost, the only comfortable soul ravishing music, far beyond that of the material temple.
All my springs are in thee
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
the singers = they that shout.
the players on instruments = they that dance, as in bringing up the Ark. See note on the subscription.
shall be there. Supply Ellipsis : “[shall say of Zion]”.
springs = fountains: i.e. fountains of delight.
A Song, &c. Repeated from the title. Compare Psalm 45 for a similar repetition.
to the chief Musician. See App-64.
upon Mahalath Leannoth = relating to the shoutings with dancings in bringing up the Ark to Zion (2Sa 6:12-15; and 1Ch 15:25-29). As in Jdg 21:21, Jdg 21:23 (compare Revised Version), and see App-65.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Psa 87:7
Psa 87:7
“They that sing as well as they that dance shall say,
All my fountains are in thee.”
“All my fountains are in thee” (Psa 87:7). “These words mean that all my springs, all of my sources of life, and of joy, and of happiness are in God. Apparently these are the words of the psalmist.
Not only the glorious success of God’s kingdom is prophesied here; but the time of the true exaltation of Zion will come, and will be accomplished, “By the gathering of the Gentiles into Zion.
E.M. Zerr:
Psa 87:7. Singers and players were different persons yet both were to be reckoned in the number. No one man has all of the talents or does all of the service to God. Springs means sources of good things. David declared that Zion was the source of all his favorsr
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
As well: Psa 68:24, Psa 68:25, 1Ch 15:16-29, 1Ch 23:5, 1Ch 25:1-6, Rev 14:1-3
all my: Psa 46:4, Isa 12:3, Joh 1:16, Joh 4:10, Joh 4:14, Joh 7:37-39, Jam 1:17, Rev 21:6, Rev 22:1, Rev 22:17
Reciprocal: 2Ch 7:6 – the Levites 2Ch 29:26 – the instruments
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Psa 87:7. As well the singers, &c., shall be there That is, in the church, and among the people of God. Indeed Gods people have the greatest, nay, the only cause of rejoicing, being his children, and heirs, and joint heirs with Christ. As to all others, the divine injunction is, Be afflicted, and mourn and weep: let your laughter be turned into mourning, and your joy into heaviness. But the psalmist seems here to intimate, that when the prediction, contained in the preceding verses, should be fulfilled, and the Gentiles should be converted, and added to the church, there should be great rejoicing and praising of God, both with vocal and instrumental music, for that glorious event. He describes evangelical worship by legal phrases and customs, as the prophets frequently do. All my springs are in thee In Zion, or the church. All graces, comforts, privileges, and blessings, are to be found in thee, O church of God, and are only to be expected in and through the word preached, and the ordinances administered there. These words are thought by many commentators to be here added as the burden of the song which the forementioned singers are supposed to sing, either in their own names, or in the name of the people of God. And so the sense is, all our desires and delights are in thee, O Zion. All the springs of mercy, grace, and glory, flow to us only in and through thee.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
87:7 As well the singers as the players on instruments [shall be there]: all my {g} springs [are] in thee.
(g) The prophet sets his whole affections and comfort in the church.
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
3. The joy in Zion 87:7
Zion will be a place of joy and singing in the future. All those who rejoice will trace the source of their joy to this city because it is the habitation of God. All joy comes ultimately from God, and all joy will come from Zion because God dwells in Zion.
This psalm points prophetically to the time when all the redeemed will gather to Zion. This will take place in the Millennium when Jesus Christ makes it the world capital of His earthly kingdom. Then all nations will stream to it as the center of the earth (Isa 2:2; Mic 4:1). However, one day a new Jerusalem will replace the present city (Revelation 21). It will be the home of the Lamb and His faithful followers throughout eternity.