Psalm 87 views Zion as
founded of God, a city which has foundations. Men had
cities, and boasted of them; but God had a city He
founded in the holy mountains. Even here it was not
Joseph or the richness of nature; God was its riches, its
place the holy mountains, what was consecrated to
Himself. In the power of the Spirit the godly is not
ashamed of it (glorious things are spoken of it), nay,
not in the presence of all the earth's seats of boasting.
Egypt and Babylon in vain vaunted themselves; Philistia,
Tyre, and Ethiopia, who had all had their day. The godly
could talk of them without fear of comparison. It was
accounted the birthplace of the man of God; the
birthplace of the beloved ones of Jehovah. The Highest
established her. When Jehovah made the registry of the
people, He reckoned this man as born there. Joy and the
celebration of His praise was found there, and all the
fresh springs of Jehovah. I have little doubt that
"this man" refers to Christ. Zion boasts of her
heroes. The word translated "man" (v. 5),
refers to great men, not the poor and miserable. They are
the children of the once desolate (compare Isaiah 49: 21,
22).
Psalm 87 Bible Commentary
John Darby’s Synopsis