START WITH SCRIPTURE:
Psalm 133
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OBSERVE:
Psalm 133 describes brotherly unity as a great blessing.
This Psalm is described as A Song of Ascents. These were Psalms that were sung by pilgrims as they approached Jerusalem during the three great festivals of the Hebrew liturgical year.
Attributed to King David, this psalm is also regarded as a Wisdom Psalm. In the Hebrew Bible, Wisdom literature includes the Book of Proverbs, Job, Ecclesiastes, part of Daniel, and several of the Psalms. Wisdom literature is devoted to advice about how a wise person can live well and succeed in harmony with God’s laws and wisdom.
The metaphors that are used to illustrate this unity may seem both beautiful and perplexing to us. The precious oil poured out on Aaron’s head down his beard, and over his collar suggests a sense of abundance. But is this reference to Aaron made because the High Priest in Israel is a symbol of the glue that holds the community together? Is the religious ritual of the priestly role a bonding agent that creates this sense of unity?
It may be useful to note that not only is the precious oil considered useful in biblical culture for healing and cleansing, it is also used in anointing men for the roles of prophet, priest and king.
The other metaphor the Psalmist uses evokes a sense of refreshment — the dew of Mt. Hermon. Mt. Hermon is between modern Syria and Israel, and is the highest mountain in the region, at over 9,232 feet. It would be cool, especially for someone climbing to such heights in a hot, dry climate. For the dew to fall on Mt. Zion, in the central Judean highlands, suggests a refreshing blessing.
More significantly, though, the Psalmist maintains the sense of unity — Mt. Hermon, the northernmost point of Israel is identified with the geographical, religious and political center of Israel at Mt. Zion (aka Jerusalem).
The blessing that is bestowed is life forevermore.
David is the king of two kingdoms — Israel in the north and Judah in the south. Mt. Hermon may represent the Northern Kingdom, and Mt. Zion may represent Judah. No doubt David is celebrating the beauty of unity as a means of unifying these two kingdoms.
APPLY:
Unity and harmony are indeed great blessings; but they are exceedingly rare in our polarized culture and world. Not only are we divided by race, culture, and politics, but Christians are also divided by doctrinal differences; and even within denominations we find serious divisions today.
On those rare occasions when we do find cause for unity, it indeed feels like abundance and refreshment.
We must find ways to focus on those things that unite us rather than divide us whenever possible. But even when we cannot agree, we must still ‘speak the truth in love’ (cf. Ephesians 4:15) without compromising our integrity.
RESPOND:
I grew up as an Air Force brat, the son of an Air Force Chaplain. I honestly didn’t realize that there were serious differences between Christian denominations until I became a serious Christian myself in my young adulthood.
I knew that there were “Protestants” and “Catholics” because we had two different chapel services. But I also knew that the same space was used for worship by both groups — the same altar, and even the same cross. Even more fascinating — on one side of the cross were the letters “IHS” (common on many Protestant crosses), and on the other side was the “Corpus Christi” (a representation of the body of Christ). So it struck me very early that though we worshiped at different times, we still worshiped the same Lord.
My prayer is that we will continue to find unity in Christ as Christians from every denomination.
Lord, may we be united in our worship of you as our Creator, Redeemer and Sanctifier — Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.
PHOTOS:
"Psalm 133" is in the public domain.
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