“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron’s beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments; As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.”
Psalm 133:1-3
David wanted us to know that unity is something to be pursued. His short psalm reminds us, in the most beautiful poetic language imaginable, that unity among believers is not only good in a moral sense, it is downright enjoyable also. He goes on to compare our unity with the ointment applied to Aaron, the first High Priest. The ointment itself was made of diverse materials, unified to accomplish a single, noble purpose. This is a wonderful picture of the church, which is made of many members who are unified in their love and commitment to the Savior. The ointment ran from the priest’s head to his feet; its coverage was total and visible. This reminds us that our unity is a witness to the world that we are Christ’s disciples (John 13:34-35). David further states that unity among believers is like the dew of Hermon descending on the mountains of Zion. This is a strange statement because the dew of Hermon never descends on Zion; the distance between the two is far too great. The dew of Hermon will reach Zion only if God miraculously commands it to be so. What David is getting at is that genuine love and unity among believers is just as miraculous. In the present dispensation, we understand that the unity we enjoy with fellow believers has a supernatural source. Our unity is the necessary expression of our regenerated hearts. May we as a church family continue to pursue not only unity of the faith (1 Corinthians 1:10), but unity in our care and concern for one another. Let us esteem others better than ourselves, looking out not only for our own interests, but for the interests of others (Philippians 2:2-3). Jesus Christ is our great example that we are to follow (1 Peter 2:21-23). The Lord’s redemptive work not only reconciled us to God, it created an unbreakable bond between the redeemed of the Lord. The beloved disciple John states, “That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full” (1 John 1:3-4). As we contemplate so great a salvation, may our joy be full also and may our care and concern for one another be relentless, pure, and undiminished.
God bless!
Pastor John
English