The Beauty of Unity: Psalm 133
“1) Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brothers to dwell together in unity! 2) It is like the precious oil upon the head, Coming down upon the beard, Even Aaron’s beard, Coming down upon the edge of his robes. 3) It is like the dew of Hermon Coming down upon the mountains of Zion; For there the Lord commanded the blessing—life forever.” Psalms 133:1-3
Unity is important. With this reference back to Aaron, this Psalm relates back to the children of Israel in the wilderness for forty years. During that time they built the tabernacle and had to pack it and move it every time they switched locations.
From the daily gathering of manna, gathering fire wood, building and keeping the service of the tabernacle, the singers and levites doing their jobs while maintaining a mobile camp; it was a logistical nightmare. That doesn’t even take into account the midwives, new births, child care, education system and tending of flocks. Are you getting the picture?
No wonder the writer of this Psalm said; “How good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity.” Every tribe, every family and every family member had a role to fill for the whole system to work. Survival depended on unity.
Verse two mentions the oil coming down upon the beard of Aaron. As the days turned into weeks, months and years, the whole camp turned into a fine oiled machine. Unity, cooperation and law and order were essential.
In some ways, after the initial power struggles and rebellions were resolved, they became the best years for unity and cooperation between the tribes of Israel. During the final ten years and a new generation taking the helm, it became the best of times for Israel.
So what does this Psalm have to do with you and me? That’s a valid question.
Well, the church has a lot to learn from the experiment of Israel in the wilderness. In a sense Paul says the same thing about a healthy church in Ephesians 4:1-16. It’s all there from the need for unity, effective leadership and every member doing their job for the whole body work, function and grow.
Though Psalm 133 is only three verses long, it contains the keys to any effective church or ministry. Unity is essential for any healthy and growing organism!
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global
Sent from my iPhone
“1) Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brothers to dwell together in unity! 2) It is like the precious oil upon the head, Coming down upon the beard, Even Aaron’s beard, Coming down upon the edge of his robes. 3) It is like the dew of Hermon Coming down upon the mountains of Zion; For there the Lord commanded the blessing—life forever.” Psalms 133:1-3
Unity is important. With this reference back to Aaron, this Psalm relates back to the children of Israel in the wilderness for forty years. During that time they built the tabernacle and had to pack it and move it every time they switched locations.
From the daily gathering of manna, gathering fire wood, building and keeping the service of the tabernacle, the singers and levites doing their jobs while maintaining a mobile camp; it was a logistical nightmare. That doesn’t even take into account the midwives, new births, child care, education system and tending of flocks. Are you getting the picture?
No wonder the writer of this Psalm said; “How good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity.” Every tribe, every family and every family member had a role to fill for the whole system to work. Survival depended on unity.
Verse two mentions the oil coming down upon the beard of Aaron. As the days turned into weeks, months and years, the whole camp turned into a fine oiled machine. Unity, cooperation and law and order were essential.
In some ways, after the initial power struggles and rebellions were resolved, they became the best years for unity and cooperation between the tribes of Israel. During the final ten years and a new generation taking the helm, it became the best of times for Israel.
So what does this Psalm have to do with you and me? That’s a valid question.
Well, the church has a lot to learn from the experiment of Israel in the wilderness. In a sense Paul says the same thing about a healthy church in Ephesians 4:1-16. It’s all there from the need for unity, effective leadership and every member doing their job for the whole body work, function and grow.
Though Psalm 133 is only three verses long, it contains the keys to any effective church or ministry. Unity is essential for any healthy and growing organism!
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global
Sent from my iPhone
