Where God Commands The Blessing - Part 1 Series

Psalm 133

1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!

2 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;

3 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.

Introduction

Jewish pilgrims sang this psalm as they journeyed to Jerusalem, they did not sing solo or travel alone. They came to the feasts and holy days from many different walks of life, regions, and tribes. No matter how hard the pilgrimage conditions were, the fellowship of God’s people made the journey refreshing. We too are pilgrims; we have a destination, our heavenly home, and we are traveling together. It’s foolish to try to be a believer in isolation. The moment we become Christians, we become part of a body of believers, the Body of Christ.

1 Corinthians 12:12 “For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.” We’re one body.

We are a community rooted in relationship. This doesn’t mean that we’re always one big happy family: “To dwell above with saints we love, oh that will be glory! To dwell below with saints we know…that’s a different story.”

A. Christians should live in a place of blessing

First thing we need to understand from Psalm 133 is that God’s blessings are commanded and are conditional.

Blessings are commanded

God commands His angels to protect you and to bring down his blessings. Psalm 91:11 “For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways”

"The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them." (Psalm 34:7)

Blessings are conditional to unity

Psalm 133 tells us that God will send the commanded blessing if we dwell (live, abide) in unity with other brothers and sisters.

Luke 11:17 “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and a house divided against a house falleth.” There’s one thing God is not a part of and that’s division. The Bible said that God is not the author of confusion. But the devil is. We get in one mind and one accord and we’ll see some souls saved. Not only at this church but everywhere.

1 Corinthians 1:13 “Is Christ divided?” I have news for you, he’s not. Because a divided house will fall. God values unity so much that Jesus prayed in John 17

John 17:20-23

20My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message,

21that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.

22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one:

23 I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me."

B. How can we have Unity?

Psalm 133 tells us that blessing comes from above.

First he says it is like overflowing oil, running down from the head to the beard to the collar of the priestly robes. David uses a similar analogy when he speaks in Ps. 23 about how the Lord anoints our head with oil and our cup overflows.

Second shows dew is a symbol of blessing. When Isaac blessed his son Jacob, he stated, “May God give you of heaven’s dew” (Genesis 27:28), meaning the resource of prosperity. In contrast, Isaac told Esau that his “dwelling will be away from the dew of heaven” (vs 39). Moses prayed that his teachings would “descend like dew” (Deut 32:2).

Mt. Hermon is the highest point in Palestine. It generally snowcapped and is a part of the source of the Jordan River. The language is poetic because the abundant dew and rain that falls on Hermon doesn’t reach Zion – Jerusalem -, but what a beautiful picture for this Psalm - The hot city of Jerusalem being blessed by the nourishing water of Hermon.

What dew and oil have in common is that they are both flowing down. David focuses on the source and direction of these blessings. They come down from above upon God’s people. “Unity” is a gift of grace, and “Life forevermore” is the ultimate blessing, salvation. When we live together in harmony as God’s people, we get a foretaste of eternal life. We are part of a “forever family”.