Read Psalm 133
A song of ascents. Of David.
1 How good and pleasant it is
when God’s people live together in unity!
2 It is like precious oil poured on the head,
running down on the beard,
running down on Aaron’s beard,
down on the collar of his robe.
3 It is as if the dew of Hermon
were falling on Mount Zion.
For there the Lord bestows his blessing,
even life forevermore.
Editor's Note
Psalms 120-134 are known as the “Psalms of Ascent” or “Pilgrim Songs.” Every year as the Jews traveled uphill towards the city of Jerusalem to participate in one of the three Jewish festivals, these are the songs they would sing. They became a staple of the pilgrimage to Jerusalem back then and now they serve as a helpful template for us as we worship today.
Go Deeper
Unity seems to be in short supply these days. But God tells us that that unity among believers is not only good and pleasant, but holy (even when unity is not easy to reach). Notice David is describing relationships among believers who are dwelling together. We all know close quarters can test relationships. So, he is talking about believers that will inevitably have to sort out some differences to keep unified. These are the exact situations where we are commanded to each do our personal best to live at peace with everyone (Romans 12:18).
When we strive for unity, what happens is an abundance of holy blessing. David describes it as oil running down the head, beard, and garment of Aaron. The Enduring Word commentary explains that it was common in these times to anoint one’s head when entering a home, both as a greeting and as a refreshment to the one receiving the oil. Aaron was the high priest and would have been anointed with holy oil so precious it was used only for consecrating his service to God. So, when David describes unity among God’s children as the precious oil that runs upon the head, beard, and garment of Aaron, he is describing a unity of holiness that is a rare and abundant blessing. This blessing is so abundant it is like oil that runs from the top of the head all the way to the ground. Unity is a never-ending source of refreshment—and well worth the work it might take to achieve.
Don’t be duped. Satan tries to trick us into thinking our differences should divide us. But division is not inevitable! Jesus prayed in John 17 we would be unified and learn to get along. David knew and described believers dwelling together as good – something that points others to God. We have to recognize and remember, as much as it depends on us, we must pursue unity in order to defeat Satan’s plan of division. As Charles Spurgeon said, “What a sacred thing must brotherly love be when it can be likened to an oil which must never be poured on any man but on the Lord’s high-priest alone.” Unity is sacred, holy, and meant to bless us and point others to Jesus. Unity is worth the work.
Questions
- As far as it depends on you, are you living in unity with all? Is there disunity in any of your relationships?
- What do you need to do today to pursue the unity David described in this chapter and Jesus prayed for in John 17?
- Spend time in prayer asking God for clear direction on how to move forward seeking unity, fighting against division, and living in a way that points the world to Him.
Watch This
Check out this short Instagram video on unity from JP.
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3 thoughts on “Psalm 133”
On the night before he was crucified, John 17 reveals Jesus prayed for unity. Five times he used the words “that they may be one”. He prayed for you and me as we would one day receive the gospel. V23 says “I in them and You in Me. May they be made completely one, so the world may know You have sent Me and have loved them as You have loved Me.” So how do we live in unity in our fractured world? First, we invest in knowing the truth of scripture, we receive truth and allow the Spirit to teach, challenge and guide us as we navigate life. We lay down our lives for others and pursue peace. I’m checking my heart today as I acknowledge my default will be to live self-absorbed, but really that’s not living at all! Last night I had the privilege of attending a concert of Kari Jobe & Cody Carnes. It was diverse group of people gathered, and so much more than a concert, as we worshipped our Savior as one. It was a glimpse of unity!
This chapter harkens back to Sunday’s sermon. I cannot think of any disunity in my personal relationships, but I know that it can crop up around political topics for me. I’m praying that God would soften my heart toward those who think and vote differently than I do and that He would show me how to love people better.
Have a great day everyone!!
God has given us each other! What a gift! We don’t have to do life on our own…. Not only do we have access to God at all times through the Holy Spirit, we have a community of brothers and sisters around us to tangibly show up and provide blessing for & who do the same for us! We get to point each other to Christ. We get to be pointed to Christ by others. That’s why it’s so important to fight for unity. We can’t fulfill God’s purpose for us if we are not seeking peace among fellow believers. And if we can’t seek peace among Christians, what hope is there for us to spread that among non-believers?! Praying today that I would be an encouragement to my community, as refreshing and sacred as anointing oil, and that God would use me to bless others and remind them of His love for Him.