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Psalms 87 · Grade 5

Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken

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Read and Think

The title of Psalm 87 calls it a Psalm by the sons of Korah, a Song. Its seven verses carry a vision that reaches far beyond Israel. It opens with Zion, founded by God on the holy mountains. Yahweh loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob. Glorious things are spoken about you, city of God. These words later inspired the hymn Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken.

The surprise comes in verse 4. God names nations that were Israel's oppressors or rivals: Rahab, often understood as a poetic name for Egypt, Babylon, Philistia, Tyre and Ethiopia. I will record Rahab and Babylon among those who acknowledge me. Of each one, God says, This one was born there. Foreigners are not merely visitors; they are enrolled as native-born citizens of Zion.

God keeps the register himself: Yahweh will count, when he writes up the peoples, This one was born there. Many Christians see this as pointing toward the gospel bringing people of every nation into God's family, as in the New Testament book of Galatians (4:26), which calls the Jerusalem above our mother. The psalm closes with festive music: All my springs are in you.

Show What You Know

  1. What hymn did verse 3 later inspire?

  2. Why is verse 4 surprising?

  3. What does it mean to be enrolled as native-born?

  4. How do many Christians read this psalm?

Crossword

52341

Across

  1. I will ____ Rahab and Babylon among those who acknowledge me.
  2. Of ____ it will be said.

Down

  1. All my ____ are in you.
  2. His foundation is in the holy ____.
  3. This one and that one was ____ in her.

Think About It

  1. How should this psalm shape how we treat people from other nations?

  2. What does it mean to you that God writes your name?

Memory Verse

“Yahweh will count, when he writes up the peoples, “This one was born there.” Selah.”

Psalms 87:6 (WEB)

Copy It

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for welcoming people from every nation. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

  • How can you make friends with someone from another country?
  • How can we welcome people from other lands?
  • What is one way you could live out this chapter this week?

Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org. © 2026 The Daily Rooted. Free to print and copy for church and home use; not for resale. Original line art.