Imagine yourself on a road trip – a few hours of driving on the interstate with your family. Perhaps in this Fall season, you have finally agreed with all of your family members to drive up to the Adirondacks in New York to see the changing leaves – a kaleidoscope of miles of vibrant colors – where entire mountain ranges turn into shades of red, orange, and yellow and bear witness to the glory of God in creation. We would drive on the beautiful road. Then, stop by an apple orchard to carry our pull wagons and pick golden crisp or Fuji apples that we would enjoy throughout the harvest season.
However, if you asked me, “Dasol, what was your favorite part about this road trip?” It wouldn’t be the foliage or the apples, though I love both. I would say that my favorite part was – companionship – that the family got together amid our busy schedules to spend time together. The foliage and apples were an added bonus.
The importance of companionship and unity is one of the most essential human experiences contributing to its well-being. C. S. Lewis said in The Four Loves, “Friendship is one of those things – that has no survival value… rather, it is one of those things that gives value to survival.” Friendship is among the greatest joys and blessings of the journey of our lives. This concept is woven throughout Scripture as well. God created humanity and joined man and woman in a perfect union. God redeemed His people through Jesus and brought His people into fellowship in the church, the body of Jesus Christ. Even the Divine, as three persons in the Trinity, exist in harmony and fellowship between each person of the Godhead.
We live in this world as temporary residents. We are pilgrims journeying toward an eternal residence. During this process, companionship gives us the strength and joy to press forward. As we reflect on this Fall and Thanksgiving season, I would like us to think about the importance of companionship and unity.
One portion of Scripture where this is particularly clear is in a grouping of psalms known as the Psalms of Ascent or the Songs of Ascent. These are called songs because they were sung and prayed by pilgrims on their way to Jerusalem. During various Jewish festivals like the Passover, Pentecost, and the Fest of Booths, many Jews traveled to Jerusalem in celebration, reminding themselves of their heritage and the goodness of God. These are called songs of ascent because no matter where the Israelites headed to Jerusalem from, they always ascended towards Jerusalem due to its elevation compared to other places. These are called Songs of Ascent because they remind God’s people that they are pilgrims on their journey towards not just a physical Jerusalem but also a heavenly one.
However, the path to Jerusalem was dangerous. It was a steep, mountainous road with narrow, rocky descents and blind turns – making it the perfect place for robbers to set up an ambush. So, this path was also a treacherous place of blood and crime. Therefore, the Psalmist records the goodness and joy of people living in unity, possibly because he knows the difficulty of such a journey to Jerusalem. Nevertheless, the danger and discomfort were relieved by the experience of companions traveling together.
Perhaps our own pilgrimage, our journey to heaven, is a difficult one. As we journey, we endure pain and suffering for our faith. We face serious temptations from the enemy. The narrow gate through which Jesus called us to go is indeed marked by different challenges that test and purify our faith. However, the danger and discomfort that we face are relieved by the experience of companionship and being brought together in unity.
The Psalmist recognizes this reality and begins to sing the song of unity. He says in verse one, “Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!” In Hebrew, the “how” of verse one is repeated twice. The English translation simply says, “How good and pleasant,” but in Hebrew, it is, “How good and how pleasant!” The unity among God’s people such a remarkable blessing because it is both tremendously good and pleasant!
How good! Just as God created the heavens and earth and declared that it was good, how good are the unity among God’s people! Companionship in unity reflects God’s heart and His purposes in created order. When brothers and sisters dwell in unity, it is good.
How pleasant! How sweet do companionship and unity make life? So much more enjoyable and delightful than trying to do everything alone.
The unity of God’s people is good and pleasant. It is also:
Delightful and pleasing
Valuable and worthwhile
Life-giving and comforting
Imperative and divinely ordained
Irreplaceable and invaluable
How good and how pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity! And the psalmist invites all of us to join him and see for ourselves how good unity is!
But some might ask this question: “Okay, Dasol, I see that companionship and unity are good. But what makes it so good? What is it about unity that makes it so great? Why should I care about unity in my life, church, and communities?”
The answer is that unity is the fount, the point from which God’s blessings flow. When people are united as one, God promises that His blessings will flow from that union. Here’s what I mean: In verses two and three, the psalmist gives us two images – two images that describe the promises of blessing that flow from unity. Both images in verses two and three begin at a particular summit, a particular peak, and then cascade downwards. This means that God’s blessings flow from unity outwards into blessings for many.
To illustrate this point, the psalmist give uses two different liquids: oil and dew.
First, verse two says that when brothers dwell in unity, it is like a precious oil on the head running down.
It is like the precious oil on the head,
running down on the beard,
on the beard of Aaron,
running down on the collar of his robes!
The oil flows from the head, then runs down to Aaron’s beard and down to the collar of his robes. This refers to the fragrant oil used to consecrate a priest. The oil relates to the blessing of God’s presence, protection, and consecration for service. The oil was a precious commodity in ancient times – used as a healing ointment and the basis for perfumes and lotions. God is generous with His oil. The oil is so lavishly poured out on the head of Aaron that it naturally flows downward to his beard, then his collar, and eventually his feet. When brothers dwell in unity, God’s blessings abundantly flow!
Second, verse three says that brothers dwelling in unity is like the dew of Hermon.
It is like the dew of Hermon,
which falls on the mountains of Zion!
For there the Lord has commanded the blessing,
life forevermore.
If the oil describes God’s lavish blessings that flow out of unity, the dew describes God’s precious, life-giving blessings that flow from unity. The region of Israel depended on the rain for their crops. However, during dry seasons when there was no rain, people depended on the heavy flow of dew as their primary sources of water for their crops, vineyards, and even small animals. Mount Hermon is up high and receives its share of rain and show. Then, the melting snow and the dew flow into the valley and feed the Jordan River. As rain and water became scarce, the dew of Hermon gave life.
The oil and the dew signify the abundant blessings of God that flow as people come together in unity. Unity becomes the point from which God’s blessings flow. Unity becomes the channel through which others will also experience God’s abundant grace and mercy, like the oil of Aaron and the dew of Hermon. This unity is a blessing that God commands. That’s why we must come together in unity!
God’s blessings flow when people are united in worship and bringing God glory.
God’s blessings flow when two people achieve more than twice as much as either one
could accomplish.
God’s blessings flow when one struggles with sin and the other encourages him in love.
God’s blessings flow as companions and people comfort and protect each other during
trials and temptations.
God’s blessings flow as they serve God and the church as members of the body of Jesus
Christ.
Unity is the point from which God’s blessings flow; others can also experience its abundant, precious, life-giving power. The psalmist encourages us to live in unity and find value in the community to which God called us.
As the Apostle Paul says, “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. “ May we join one another in the places to which God has called us to live in unity. Work to preserve the unity and the strength of the body of Jesus Christ so that through our unity, the oil of Aaron and the dew of Hermon may abundantly blossom for the glory of God and our good. Wouldn’t you want to participate in God’s grand design for humanity, where people are graciously invited to come together in unity to be the starting point from which God’s rivers of mercy and grace flow?
Let us sing the song of unity with our brothers and sisters in our journey toward the Celestial City. May we join with Christian, who proclaimed this in his own journey to the Celestial City:
This hill though high, I covet ascent; the difficulty will not me offend. For I perceive the way of life lies here. Come, pluck up, heart; let us neither faint nor fear.
How good and how pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!
