Dwelling in Unity

O. T. #1390 "Dwelling in Unity"
Feb. 19, 2019
Psalm 133
Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! Psalm 133:1

LET IT GLOW

Step 14: The Lord leads us to dwell together in unity.

With David as the author of this tiny chapter, song, of only 3 verses, it could have been composed after the civil war between he and Saul or after Absalom's rebellion. This is the consensus of Bro. Jerry Falwell.

So you know I had to break down this wonderful key first verse of recommendation for us in the Hebrew:
Good refers to beautiful; fine; loving; merry; pleasant; precious;
Pleasant means delightful; sweet;
Brethren is a brother or kindred;
Dwell is to sit down as judge in quiet; marry; remain; bring again to place, return, seat;
Unity means a unit; unitedly; together; alike.

Now, let's plug in those meanings for a deeper look:
Behold, how good (beautiful, precious) and pleasant (delightful, sweet) it is for brethren (kindred)
to dwell (remain, return) together in unity (a unit, alike) !

Here is they way I like to read this verse using those definitions, that perhaps David meant for verse 1 to mean:
How precious and sweet it is for Christian brethren and kin folks to remain and return together in unity, with like mindedness.

Keep in mind that whenever these Psalms of Ascent were sung as the Israelites traveled up to Jerusalem to worship God in the Temple, a step at a time and psalm at time.

Now listen, traveling with family or good folks, no matter how sweet they are and how much you love them, can eventually get on your nerves, right? We don't get to choose our blood relatives. No matter how good, bad, ugly, rich, or poor, we still have to love them in spite of our differences. Yep.
With that said, God chooses us and places us in the family of God. When Jesus saves us, we should become part of a specific church body where we can serve Him. Experiences have taught me that even though we love God and each other, there are gong to be differences and hurt feelings.

That is where forgiveness and love abound. We can only do it through the Holy Spirit indwelling us, not our living in the flesh. Keep on lovin' them, for Jesus keeps on lovin' us.

LET IT GROW

What is it like when a church or a family dwells in unity?

• It is like the fragrant anointing oil that was poured extravagantly and abundantly over Aaron's head, that ran down his beard and onto the border of his robe. Aaron was the first High Priest.
• Harmony is as refreshing as the dew from Mt. Hermon that falls on the mountains of Zion. (NLT)

The dew changed into rain as it came down the mountains, covering it like a blanket.

Unity is to blanket  the brotherhood of believers from north to south, east to west. (Falwell)

Read what John Calvin had to say about this verse:

God commands His blessing where peace is cultivated; by which is meant, that He testifies how much He is pleased with concord amongst men, by showering blessings upon them.

Isn't it a blessing when we are dwelling in unity? Peace with each other and love is shown as a result.

LET IT GO
     Teach and remind me to dwell in unity and harmony with my brethren, Jesus.