Behold, how good and pleasant it is
when brothers dwell in unity!
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!
It is like the dew of Hermon,
which falls on the mountains of Zion!
For there the LORD has commanded the blessing,
life forevermore.
(Psalm 133 ESV)
Exhortation:
This Psalm is one of the Song of Ascents – which were songs sung by God’s people as they traveled together on their pilgrimage to Jerusalem. During that time, they would have enjoyed fellowship with people from many different walks of life, regions and tribes as streamed in together to worship the Lord at the temple in Jerusalem.
The Psalmist, David, is saying that it is a REALLY, REALLY GOOD THING when people live together in unity. And to make the point, David likens this unity to two things:
First, he likens it to the anointing with oil of Aaron, was priest over Israel.
Now, that may not immediately sound appealing to have someone pour oil over your head. But this is not just any oil. It’s anointing oil. It’s symbolic of God’s rich blessings. And this blessing is from above. Notice the refrain “DOWN” – three times he says it. “Running down on the beard” “running down” “down upon the collar.” This is David’s way of emphasizing that this rich unity – this spiritual fellowship – among the people is not built from the ground up, rather it is a blessing coming down from God.[1]
History is replete with examples of the kind of cut-throating, backstabbing dysfunction that humanity is capable of. But this is not from God. God’s kingdom is one of peace. And we—the church—are outposts of that coming kingdom.
The second comparison David makes is a little obscure if you are unfamiliar with the climate or geography of ancient Israel.
Mount Hermon was known for its lush greenery, even in the summer months and for the dew that sustained its vegetation. In contrast, Mount Zion in Jerusalem was very dry and arid during the summer months.[2]
So, to translate David’s simile, it would be something like—how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell together in unity. It is refreshing like the rains of the pacific northwest falling on Fort Worth in the middle of August. Brothers and sisters in Christ, rejoice in God’s work among us! Rejoice in the blessing of the unity of faith that is “good and pleasant” among us! Give thanks to God for His church—this church! Give thanks to him for your brothers and sisters gathered here. Give thanks of God’s rich supply of living waters which have satisfied our spiritual thirst. Give thanks for the eternal life we possess together as redeemed sons and daughters in God’s family! Let’s praise him together in song
[1] James Montgomery Boice, An Expositional Commentary: Psalms, Volume 3, (Grand Rapids, Baker Books, 2003), 1159.
[2] Willem A. Vangemeren, The Expositor’s Bible Commentary–Revised, Vol 5: Psalms, (Zondervan), 937