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”.
C. In Church Unity Starts from above
In a Church the first people we should be in Unity with are the Leaders (in our case pastors and deacons). In Psalm 133 talks about the oils over the head of Aaron coming down to his beard and to the garments.
When leadership is opposed or not recognized the anointing stops. In Mark 6:4-5 Jesus affirmed that a prophet is without honor in his home town, and in view of that reality, He could not perform any miracles in Nazareth except for healing a few sick people.
Hebrews 13:17
Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.
Conclusion
Do you know what makes the difference between a spotlight and a laser beam?
How can a medium-powered laser burn through steel in a matter of seconds, while the most powerful spotlight can only make it warm?
Both may have the same electrical power requirements.
The difference is unity.
A laser can be simply described as a medium of excited molecules with mirrors at each end.
Some of the excited molecules naturally decay into a less excited state.
In the decay process they release a photon, a particle of light.
It is here that the unique process of the laser begins.
The photon moves along and “tickles” another molecule, inviting another photon to join him on his journey.
Then these two photons “tickle” two more molecules and invite two more photons to join the parade.
Soon there is a huge army of photons marching in step with each other.
It is this unity that gives the laser its power.
A spotlight may have just as many photons, but each is going its own independent way, occasionally interfering with other photons.
As a result, much of its power is wasted and cannot be focused to do any useful work.
However, the laser, because of its unity, is like an army marching in tight formation and is able to focus all its power on its objective.
Joke
“Blessed are the TROUBLEMAKERS (peacemakers), for they will be called sons of God” (Matthew 5:9).
First show a slide with the word TROUBLEMAKERS then replace with the right word PEACEMAKERS.
Christ loves peace. He loves peace makers and not trouble makers. If you’re a burden to your church instead of a blessing to your church then find another church. If you’re a burden to the Lord instead of a blessing then get things right. Tell him you’re sorry and ask him to forgive you.
What is “Peace”?
We must begin with a proper understanding of what is included in this key word.
The Greek word for “peace” (“eirene”) is a beautiful word, full of meaning. The word is a picture-word, calling to mind specific mental images when heard. The word means tranquility, and is used to describe a boat sailing on a calm sea. It means harmony and describes a song in which all notes and cords blend in perfect agreement. And it conveys the idea of an absence of strife, calling to mind two people walking hand-in-hand along the road.
The Hebrew equivalent is the word “shalom.” This word is also rich in meaning and was, for the Jew, the common word of greeting. It means all of what the above Greek word means, yet adds another aspect. Not only does shalom convey the negative — the absence of strife and evil — but also the positive, the presence of all good things. To wish shalom on another was in essence to say, “I wish for you not only the absence of all that may harm, but also the presence of everything that makes for a person’s good.”
As Christians we are called to work as a team
T- together as a unified group of believers
E- each one of us
A- achieves miraculous results
M- more than we could ever do on our own.
W- Wow what God can do with teamwork!
O- Over-comers are developed.
R- Revelations are unleashed to the team.
K-Kingdom growth occurs and people are lead from here to eternity.
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.
Next week: Where God commands the blessing - Part 2
Deuteronomy 28:8
The LORD will command the blessing on you in your barns and in all that you undertake. And he will bless you in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.
