Title: Spiritual Unity Scripture: Psalm 133
Type: Series/Expository Where: GNBC 11-22-20
Intro: What is spiritual unity? Are union and unity the same thing? I once heard an old preacher say the following: “You can tie two cats’ tails together and fling them over a clothes line. You may have union, but you do not have unity!” Scripture is the basis of unity! Jesus defined the oneness He wanted His followers to have as reflective of the unity He shares with the Father (John 17:20-21). Paul, emphasizes the importance of unity, saying that we are to “be diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Eph. 4:3). Unity is clearly defined as existing within a diligence to preserve the truth of “one body…one spirit…one hope…one Lord, one faith, one baptism…one God and Father of all…” (Eph. 4:4-6). The NT tells us in specific terms what’s involved in each of these. Attempting to be tied and bound to those who reject or attempt to change what Scripture says about these is not biblical unity. It amounts to tying together what’s incompatible and incongruous. King David outlines for us in Ps. 133 the importance of spiritual unity.
Prop: By dividing Ps. 133 into 3 parts we’ll see the value of Christian unity.
BG: 1. One of the shortest Psalms. Only 117 is shorter at 2 verses. 131&134 also 3 verses.
2. Psalm is attributed to King David.
3. Hard to preach expository message from such a short Psalm.
Prop: Let’s examine Ps. 133 in 3 parts so as to better appreciate the value of Christian unity.
I. The Passage: vv.1-3
A. First let’s Examine the Passage.
1. Notice how King David begins this Psalm.
a. “Behold”. David begins by drawing attention to this strange phenomenon…UNITY! Illust: This of a Barker at a circus, Carney at a fair, announcer at a beauty pageant- “Behold”. The unveiling of a piece of art or a new concept car. “Behold” The idea is we are to gave upon a wonder seldom seen, something that is worthy of admiration. It draws our attention because it is unique and beautiful.
b. What is this announcement that David wants his readers to ponder? Plans for the Temple? Conquest of another nation? Delegation from afar coming to praise the King? Another wife for the king? NO! It is a concept, the concept of Spiritual Unity. Illust: If there has ever been a time in our nation since the Civil War that we have been so very divided I don’t know when. That is understandable in the nation. But what I am speaking of is the Church. The Church & our church would do well to dwell on lyrics of David’s Psalm.
2. What is the setting of this passage?
a. Most commentators assume David was writing one of the joyful celebrations Israel enjoyed. Three times a year the nation celebrated major festivals that marked their calendar during the time of David: Pesach (Passover), Shavout (Pentecost/Weeks), and Sukkot (Tabernacles/Booths). During these celebrations the citizens of Israel would make a pilgrimage to the Tabernacle, and later the Temple in Jerusalem to worship. The City of David would be replete with joyful worshipers gathered together for the same purpose.
b. Illust: Coming together for a common purpose is a characteristic of the human condition. Illust: Lions, Kiwanis, Rotary are service orgs. VFW shared experience. Historical: Sons/Daughters of the American Revolution. Sports: Every college and professional team has a fan base.
B. David Demonstrates the Blessing of Spiritual Unity.
1. David describes the condition of Spiritual Unity with Two key words.
a. David uses two adjectives to declare how excellent this condition is: “good” and “pleasant”. This is a remarkable thing David describes. For something to be “good” is good, but for it to be “pleasant” is another. Now David does not attempt to quantify either the good or the pleasant so I won’t attempt to either. He simply wants the reader to ponder the truth. Illust: When I was a kid and went to my hometown theater, had a grand counter of concessions. One of the candies for sale: “Good and Plenty”. (1st intro in 1893!), depending on your experience looked like a generic antihistamine! What was the concept trying to communicate: Good/Plenty. Tasted good. Plenty for you. So the “good” was made better by the “plenty”. “Good” is made better by the “pleasant”.
b. Hopefully we have all experienced v.1. However, I also know that everyone who has been a Christian for very long has also experienced its corollary: “How bad and miserable it is when brothers are divided.” Is it possible for brothers and sisters to disagree and yet maintain unity? By God’s grace, yes we can!
2. Christian Unity is a Good thing to be Jealously Preserved.
a. We are all fallen people. Evil attitudes and ideas, words and actions can intrude into our fellowship w/o a moment’s notice. However, this should be easily identified and ejected if one has a true love for the saints. Christian unity in itself. It is good for our brothers and sister. It is good for recent converts. It is good for the lost. And it is pleasant for people w/redeemed natures to physically associate with one another. Illust: In Valladolid, Spain, where Christopher Columbus died in 1506, stands a monument commemorating the great discoverer. Perhaps the most interesting feature of the memorial is a statue of a lion destroying one of the Latin words that had been part of Spain’s motto for centuries. Before Columbus made his voyages, the Spaniards thought they had reached the outer limits of earth. Thus their motto was "Ne Plus Ultra," which means "No More Beyond." The word being torn away by the lion is "Ne" or "no," make it read "Plus Ultra." Columbus had proven that there was indeed "more beyond." In the same way, Christ proved the was “more beyond” and life and fellowship of believers is beyond.
b. Not all disagreements in the body are due to sin. Some, of course, are the fruit of the remaining power of sin within (James 4:1–4). These can only be overcome by godly exhortation, confession, and forgiveness. Some disagreements arise because there are matters in Scripture that are hard to understand (2 Peter 3:16). Disagreements here require patience, careful debate (Acts 15:7), and humble teachability if we are to preserve unity. Some of these differences may be beyond resolution, but in that case, in matters not essential, believers may remain united in the heart of the gospel while being charitable. Likewise, some disagreements arise from different perspectives, rooted in the finite limits of our points of view. Graciously realize our point of view isn’t always right!
C. Applic: Psalm 133 is short Psalm with an intentional, intensely focused theme: Spiritual Unity.
II. The Helpful Pictures vv. 2-3
A. David gives us Two Visual Illustrations of the Truth he desires to Communicate.
1. The 1st Illust: Oil on Aaron. (Leviticus 8:12 records this event.)
a. Here David gives his readers a glass thru which one may see his concept of the Spiritual unity of brothers. V.2 (Read). Aaron? Who? Aaron was Moses’ older brother, the first high priest of Israel. David says that spiritual unity is like the fragrant oil that anointed the 1st high priest at his ordination.
b. What was the purpose of this oil? Let me tell you the primary purpose was not “skin care”, ala Oil of Olay! Rather, it was “soul care” as the oil of consecration it was a holy thing. It was also a sacred thing, this unity we have pictured wasn’t poured out on any man, rather, it was poured out on God’s high priest alone! It was a diffusive thing. The oil was poured on Aaron’s head by Moses but it ran down his frame until the furthest hem of his garment was affected. Finally, it was a special thing. The oil was used to consecrate Aaron to specially serve Jehovah.
2. The 2nd Illust: The dew of Hermon.
a. Mt. Hermon stands in the far North of Israel in the land that was Manasseh’s heritage near the Syrian border. Today, it is the highest elevation in Syria. Hermon is one of the greatest geographic resources in the area. It’s height captures a great deal of precipitation in a very dry region. 3 seasons of the year Hermon is covered with snow and provides the runoff that becomes the Jordan River. The dew from the fog is legendary to the area.
B. How is our Unity in Christ Demonstrated by these Two Pictures?
1. Let’s see what we can apply to our lives from these two illustrations:
a. Unity like the Oil of Aaron’s Consecration.- Christian fellowship is a holy thing. It has been purchased by the blood of Christ. It is a diffusive thing. Brotherly love blesses everyone in its path. Christian unity is a special thing: It accomplishes a special purpose – It proves to the world that we are Christ’s disciples. John 13:35 “By this all men will know that you are my disciples if you love one another.” Let me say this, the last 9 months have caused many a Christian’s love to grow cold. The devil has given us an endless litany of issues which we can convince ourselves to be offended by. Reject that! Illust: Last Sunday was the 33rd anniversary of what was called the Remembrance Day (Veteran’s Day in US) bombing in Enniskillen, N. Ireland. IRA placed bombs at a memorial service. The carnage was horrible. A dozen died and over 60 maimed. One man, Gordon Wilson, held the hand of daughter Mary, a 20 yrs old nurse who was crushed by the rubble. His daughter died holding his hand. As the BBC gathered asked him what wanted to say to killers: I have lost my daughter, and we shall miss her. I will see her again in heaven. But I bear no ill will. I bear no grudge. Dirty sort of talk is not going to bring her back to life. I shall pray for those people [the IRA bombers] tonight and every night. May God forgive them.” The offenses you and I choose to carry are by comparison miniscule. Drop it. Preserve the unity of the body.
b. Unity like the Dew of Mt. Hermon. The dew refreshed all the land that surrounded the mountain and for miles downstream. Friend, our country, our state, our city is spiritually and emotionally dry. People are concerned. Can we not refresh one another with words of encouragement and affirmation? Drop the fear and alienation.
2. Why are we to be united in the body of Christ?
a. Gal. 3:28 – “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” What was Paul saying here? He certainly wasn’t arguing in favor of Critical Race Theory. He wasn’t arguing for Marxist/Socialism. He wasn’t arguing for theological egalitarianism. He wasn’t being sexually progressive and arguing for non-binary gender fluidity. Rather, he was attacking a heresy being taught by false teachers that a Gentile convert could not be justified unless he became a circumcised proselyte of Judaism. What he is saying that bears repeating in our divisive age is: “When one comes to faith in Christ alone for salvation whether that person is Jew of Gentile, slave or free, male or female, that person is an heir of the Kingdom!
b. Illust: My dear brothers and sisters we have become unified into one new body because of the eternally finished work of the 2nd Person of the Trinity in a plan that was conceived of before the dawn of time. Don’t you dare attempt to divide asunder what Christ has joined together because of eternally meaningless distinctions and divisions: Mask on. Mask off. Picture of Donkey. Picture of Elephant. White woman. Black woman. Cubs/White Sox. If any of those things cause you to despise your brother or your sister you are in sin. Repent. If you value those things over the finished work of Christ, REPENT! Guard and prioritize your relationship with the people of God.
C. Applic: IN Psalm 133 David paints two important pictures to illustrate the blessing of Spiritual unity. What are you and I doing to promote that in our own congregation?
III. The Guiding Principle.
A. Strive for Christian Unity.
1. Maintaining Unity in the Body of Christ is a Goal we should strive to Maintain.
a. Romans 12:18 “If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.” This doesn’t mean we cannot critically evaluate our culture. It doesn’t mean you cannot have differing opinions. There are in fact some things quite right to divide over. Illust: Years ago asked to participate in a 4th of July worship service for City of Coralville. Several churches that frankly speaking are not Biblical. Besides, at least two cults had been invited. Not only could I not attend, I certainly could not take a leadership role in the service. Why? Truth of God’s Word more valuable than a “Kumbaya, come together” experience.
b. Illust: Think of a guitar. Individually, if in tune you may pluck any one note and should sound fine. However, once start putting down more than one finger better be very careful about placement. Sound can either be a harmonious chord or a dischordant harm to the ears! What makes the difference? The correct placement of fingers on the correct fret and string in relation to the placement of the other strings. Illust: It is very easy to live the Christian life alone. Why? Because always right. Much more difficult to live in harmony with other believers. Yet is essential. Why? Cause can’t always do and say what you want to. Rather, have to find the right placement, relationship, and balance to others. I John 4:20 “If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen. Do you and I need to reexamine our profession of faith?
2. Do not forget our Lord taught this principle and prayed it for His Church.
a. John 17:20-21 – “"I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me.”
b. Illust: Bible believing churches should speak with one voice. It is shameful seeing Christian leaders of so many opinions going so many directions. It is Satan who sows the tares of divisions. In the Garden, Satan first divided man from God and then he divided them from one another. Beware of exchanging Biblical Truth for a candidate or campaign slogan. How dare they spread such questioning confusion in the body of Christ.
B. To Apply This Principle of Christian Unity we Must Practice the “One Another Passages of Scripture.
1. Instead of Ourselves, allow our focus to fall on others.
a. There are 59 “One Another” passages in the NT. (Put on a slide.) Most of these are positive and some are in the negative. Look at the emphasis put on “Loving one another”. Must have a relationship with people to do so. But other are very practical. (Don’t offer to do #2 with me!) (Highlight several.)
b. May I ask of you, the body of Christ at GNBC to do something. Take a one week break from ALL social media. Zuckerberg doesn’t need the money and I don’t need the headache! If you find it impossible to remove self from FB or IG or MeWe then would you please pledge to only put up positive, Christ honoring pictures, comments, etc. for this week?
2. Realize the unbelievable difference we can make if we are committed to this principle.
a. We have a Savior that can sympathize with our weakness and minister to us the exact mercy and grace we need. He understands being alone. In the hour of his greatest need, his family and friends left him. He knows depression. He said, “I’m weary unto death.” He knows being betrayed. He knows being hungry. He knows being tired. He knows being tempted by the devil, and yet, he is without sin. Surely, we each have great encouragement in Christ. This commonality is a motivation for us to be unified.
b. Illust: If we hold this principle of spiritual unity there is no telling what the Lord can do through us! Last spring, leading up to his 100th birthday, Capt. Tom Moore had a goal of raising 1000 Pounds for the beleaguered National Health Service of UK. Moore set out to do 100 laps of his 82 foot loop in his back garden. Moore reached his goal in 24 hrs. In stead of raising 1000 Pounds, 1.5 million British people were inspired to give and the old WWII captain raised a whopping $40 million (US). During a time of pandemic and isolation, fear, and depression, a 100 yrs old man brought a nation together. Don’t we have a higher purpose in Christ?
c. Applic: Let’s see what a difference each of us can make for the Lord and for His fellowship this week.
