23. Understanding Psa_133:1; Psa_133:3 b
UnderstandingPsalms 133:1;Psalms 133:3b The precious ointment, its flow down over the high priest, and the dew of heaven on Hermon (lofty) and the mountains of Zion (sunny) give us practical instructions for proper conditions for His richest blessings to be poured out on His brethren to dwell together in true unity now and forever. Our Lord has made all who trust Him as Saviour brethren. We have come from many nationalities and cultures. But the word for brethren in verse 1 provides for wonderful unity in spite of such diverse backgrounds. We have come from the various backgrounds to our Saviour and Lord, and it is He who has made us one in Himself. As we focus on Him and His glory, we all will learn His ways and will be conformed to His likeness (2 Corinthians 3:18). The word dwell has the thought of sitting down quietly and remaining together. Thoughts in the word include being settled, abiding together as in a marriage. This implies a continuous and permanent relationship that begins here in this world and continues throughout eternity! The term "together in unity" implies being united (or joined) into one unit. In John 17:1-26 our Lord prayed for this unity to be maintained between (or among) His own. (God maintains this unity even though man has failed in displaying outward unity.) He was leaving His own in a world that had been and would continue to be at enmity to Him. He desired that we would be kept from this world and its ways. As His own would be separated from the world they would be hated. He prayed for us in this world and asked for us to be kept from the evil one and that we would be sanctified (set apart) by the truth (God’s Word). Individuals who follow the ways of this world will bring problems that affect the practical unity of God’s people. Leaders are especially charged to be faithful in this. See 2 Timothy 2:15; 2 Timothy 3:14; Titus 1:9; Titus 2:1-2; Titus 2:7-8. As we walk together in unity we will be well pleasing to our Lord and answer to His desire for us. We will then be a testimony to the world that we are His!
"Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!" May we even now be in the good of both the exclamation and the promise —
"for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore."
L A Stassel