THE GLORIOUS CHURCH

PSALM 87

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

(Ps. 87:3).

“It is evident that, so long as the children of this world are in prosperity, they are well satisfied with their condition, and mightily extol it, while they look upon the church with proud contempt; and even after having endured calamities, they are not so subdued by them as to renounce the foolish presumption by which they are intoxicated. Meanwhile, they recklessly despise all religion and the worship of God because, contenting themselves with pleasures, riches, and the splendor of honor, they fancy themselves to be happy without Him.” Calvin, who wrote this in his introduction to Psalm 87, lived in an age when the church was ridiculed from without and wracked with controversy from within.

Yet despite the opinions of men, the church of God is adorned with a beauty that far surpasses the colonnades of worldly power that captivate unbelievers. “The Lord loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob. Glorious things are spoken of you, O city of God!” (87:2). No matter how many afflictions trouble the church, no matter how weak it may appear when compared to the world’s strongholds, God has set His love upon His people; its beauty in Christ endures, and its place remains secure.

“The Church of God far excels all the kingdoms and polities of the world, inasmuch as she is watched over, and protected by Him … that, amidst the violent commotions and dreadful storms with which the whole world is often shaken, she may continue safe,” Calvin wrote, “and principally, that … she may at length, after the toil and struggle of a protracted warfare, be crowned with the triumphant laurels of her high calling. It is in truth a singular benefit of God … that amidst the great and various revolutions of the kingdoms of this world, He enlarges her continually from age to age, and preserves her from destruction; so that in the whole world there is nothing enduring but the church. As, however, it often happens, that whilst the wicked abound in riches, and have lavished upon them worldly possessions and authority, the afflicted church is tossed amidst many dangers … her happiness must be considered as consisting principally in this, that she has reserved for her an everlasting state in heaven.”

CORAM DEO

Psalms 31–33

Acts 21:17–40

Think for a minute about how you view the church. Do you have a high or low opinion of it? How is the church portrayed here and in Revelation 21? How is this picture of the church present even now? Think about these passages when the state of the church discourages you.

For further study: 2 Cor. 11:2 • Heb. 12:14–29 • Rev. 14

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