Psalm 133

Psalm 133 is a gem of artistic beauty. In three verses it gives us a picture reflecting the harmony of a church that is united in love. Or it can apply to a group as small as a family or as large as a community. We consider it mainly as depicting a church that is worshiping and fellowshipping in unity. To some of us it is reminiscent of those old camp meetings days more than seventy years ago - great crowds gathering from all across the country - great singing, joyful testimony to victory, anointed preaching. It was like a foretaste of heaven!

And yet, the word "dwell" suggests a more permanent association. Our dwelling is not a place we visit, but the place where we live. The persons named here are brethren, or brothers, the sons of one Father: and the term is generic to include the sisters. An oft repeated quote from a Christian brother in Jamaica was, " We are all one man's children." We have this confirmed in Eph. 3:15, "of whom the whole family in heaven and earth are named." We have the picture of a church family regularly dwelling, associating and worshiping in a togetherness of unity!

This is the same picture that Paul shows us in I Cor. 12 where he illustrates the oneness of the human body, many parts of wide variety, yet one body. And this is what Jesus prays for in John 17. There He prays for the sanctification of His Church, "that they all may be one," even as He and the Father are one.

We refer back to the opening word of the Psalm: "Behold." It's like saying, "Hey! Look at this! How good this is - a church that lives and works in harmony!" And then the Psalmist gives this comment. It is both good and pleasant. We all know of things that are good for us, but not pleasant: and of things pleasant, but not good. Harmony rules out sour notes and discord; and unity forbids church wars and divisions.

The Psalmist names two things that are like this unity among brethren. The first is this: "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." The composition of this holy anointing oil is given in Exodus chapter thirty. The ingredients are: pure myrrh, sweet cinnamon, sweet calamus, cassia and olive oil. The amounts of each are specific. This holy anointing oil was for the exclusive use in anointing the priests and the instruments in the tabernacle. To make any like it or to use it for any other purpose was strictly prohibited by law. The oil was holy in that it was ordained of God and used only for sacred purposes. It reminds us of times of God's outpoured blessing upon his people who know the harmony of spiritual fellowship. The anointing oil flowed from above and was abundant in its supply. It announced its presence by its pleasing fragrance. There is nothing like it! It cannot be duplicated or counterfeited!

It is divine.The second comparison is represented as "the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion!" Mt. Hermon is almost 10,000 feet high. In summer time the place below the mount becomes quite warm. The warm air rises to meet the colder layer around the snow capped heights. Then God's automatic scientific law of nature take over, and in the silence of the night the dew settles in refreshing, fructifying abundance. It is not contrived nor crafted by the hand of man. There is no jagged lightning nor crashing thunder. It is just there!

There is just one final thing: "For there the Lord commanded the blessing, even life for evermore." There! Where? Upon the mountain of Zion? No. But upon that place, or that people who dwell together in unity! It is just naturally arranged in the divine order of things that whenever the condition of harmony exists, God says, "Put my blessing THERE! And Jesus gave this promise, "Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them."

This is not something worked up, but something that is prayed down! The spirit of God comes where He is welcomed and feels at home. As the old - Timers said, " This is just a little heaven to go to heaven in."

Special Prayer Request: The Tea Party has requested that Monday, March 15, 2010 be a Day of Prayer for our Nation.