As the church goes through time of growth, there is one thing that needs to be brought to remembrance, and that is unity. There may be other ideas that you can see that we need to discuss and bring to the forefront of our memory but today let us talk about unity.
Psalm 133:1-3 “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 the Lord commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.”
Unity is what the religious world needs today. As we scan the world around us and see all the different religious groups unity is but a fuzzy glance of this religious world. Yet Jesus prayed for unity and Paul preached unity. Why do we not have unity? Why is there division in the religious world? That is a topic of another article but let us talk about unity.
When we consider the above Psalm, the first word we read is “behold.” David wants to gather all the focus of our attention on what he is going to say. He uses this word for us to pause and gaze. He wants us to stop and consider this idea of unity. He has gotten the readers attention now these beautiful illustrations of unity.
Before we consider these two illustrations notice the phrase of, “how good and how pleasant.” If one not guided by the Holy Spirit to write these thing he might say, “how good and pleasant,” but that is not what is written. It says, “how good and how pleasant.” It is good, now what comes to mind when we think of good things. For you it might be one thing for another it might be something else, but we think of things that are good to us. Then notice the Psalmist says, “how pleasant.” What does that bring to your mind? Is that not a peaceful word? Does that word bring to mind a place of serenity? When those who are going through chemotherapy get to feeling bad they are told to go to this place of serenity and happiness. Here the Psalmist said this is what unity is like.
Next the Psalmist says that it is good for “brethren” to dwell together in unity. There is nothing worse than a family squabble but when all are united there is nothing better! The same is true of spiritual kin. How good and how pleasant it is when brethren of all kind dwell together with each other in unity. How powerful is that force against any that should come against it!
Notice next that the Psalmist uses two illustrations; one is that of the precious oil that was used to anoint Aaron and then the dew that falls on Mt. Hermon.
The precious oil that was used by Moses to anoint Aaron was very special. One can find out about this oil in Exodus 30:25-30. When reading that passage one will find that it is called Holy Ointment or Holy Anointing Oil. Also one will find that the tabernacle, the ark, the candlestick, the altar of incense, the altar of burnt offering and the laver were all anointed with this oil. One other thing is that they could not make this oil for ordinary use. It was to be used only is use to God. To use it otherwise was to be cut off from the people.
Now picture Aaron being anointed. It is poured on his head and then flows downward. It flows onto his beard, then his clothes that also has been set aside for use only is service to God. Unity is to be like that spreading, diffusing as it is allowed to flow. Do we allow unity to flow or are we stopping it from spreading in our lives and in the lives of others?
The next illustration is that of the dew on Mt. Hermon. Dew glistening off the mountain is a beautiful sight to behold. But dew has benefits galore. One it is refreshing. Can you think of the morning when dew is on the ground and how refreshing that is? Dew also is enlivening, full of life and cause plants to grow. When rain is not forth coming plants, small animal, and insects can live off of the dew that is around them. We can be enlivened by unity that spreads around us.
Unity is a beautiful when it surrounds us. Unity can work and it is a pleasant thing. The church needs to continue in her beautiful work.
Love, Keith
