There are two readings for today.

SCRIPTURE: Psalm 87
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
Glorious things are said of you, city of God: ‘I will record Rahab (Egypt) and Babylon among those who acknowledge me— Philistia too, and Tyre, along with Cush (Upper Nile region) — and will say, ‘This one was born in Zion.’ [Psalm 87:3-4]
This is a remarkable saying; in a time when nations set themselves against each other, and refused to acknowledge their common humanity, this psalm expresses a familial unity between the nations.
This one was born in Zion means he/she is my brother/sister.
It says that they belong, that they are equal, they are included in the book of life – God accepts them too!
God did not choose the children of Abraham because they were better, or He loved them more; rather He chose them to bless the nations, to help everyone find their way into God’s family.

He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves, and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. And as he taught them, he said, “Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations’? But you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’ [Mark 11:15-17]
The temple was designed to be a place where all nations could drawn near to God, where Egyptians and Babylonians and Philistines too would be welcomed as brothers and sisters in God’s family.
This is what makes God’s community (symbolized in the Psalm by the city of Jerusalem) as glorious and wonderful.
All nations and races will gather and sing together, and the fountains of God’s blessing will overflow there.
As they make music they will sing, ‘All my fountains are in you.’ [Psalm 87:7]
This explains Jesus’ anger, when God’s people turned the place of God’s blessing into a place of selfishness and greed, a place that separated people from God and His blessing.

In whatever way God’s community today is guilty of this, the Lord is still angry.
Every person has the right to be accepted as a child of God, whatever their race or background – “This one was born in Zion.”
Although I understand when christians gather in racial groups (dutch or chinese of korean or hispanic churches) – they can support each other with their unique cultural and racial experience of life – these churches are very dangerous.
God’s family is bigger than any one race, and we actually rob the church of its wealth and blessing when we separate like this.
God’s family is a blended family, and we need to strive to reflect that rich blend in our community life.

PRAYER:
Lord, forgive us for separating what You intended to be together. May we experience the blessing of worship with brothers and sisters from all parts of the world; may we together sing ‘All our fountains are in You.’