Psalm 133: Blessed Unity

A song of ascents. Of David.

1 How good and pleasant it is
when God's people live together in unity!

2 It is like precious oil poured on the head,
running down on the beard,
running down on Aaron's beard,
down on the collar of his robe.

3 It is as if the dew of Hermon
were falling on Mount Zion.
For there the LORD bestows his blessing,
even life forevermore.

(TNIV)

In the Jesus community unity is among what is essential. We see in this psalm that it is good and pleasant. That it is like the olive oil used in anointing Aaron to the priesthood that ran down on his beard and collar. And like the dew of Hermon falling on the mountains of Zion. In other words, it is good, and a blessing.

For where this unity exists and is maintained among God's people, that is where God's blessing can be found. This unity is a part of what it means to be a follower of Jesus. It is a unity with the Trinity, the Triune God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. And a unity with all who, like us, are in union with God. Thus, it is sacred in and of itself.

This psalm tells us that God blesses his people who live together in unity.
There's the rub. It's anything but easy to really be seeking to live in that harmony that comes by seeking unity together in our Christian gatherings and communities.

It can simply be a unity that is coerced and exclusive. Cults have that unity. And I'm afraid there are churches that do, as well. Or it can be a unity that is voluntary and inclusive of any who would become a part of it. The unity Jesus calls us to. Or it can be in "no man's land", just not a part of what a gathering or "community" (in this case, a poor one) is all about.

All too often Christians seem eager to divide and throw stones at those who are not in their camp. I see it on blogs. Some blogs that sadly, seem devoted to nothing more than doing that. Calvinists throwing stones at emergents. Some throwing stones at seemingly almost everyone.

As God's people we must eschew all of that and be different! Let's make this unity that is blessed by God a priority. Especially where we can see that it needs "shored up", in the difficult places. At home? At work. As church. That we may see others join us in this blessed unity.

Do you see this unity as important? What does it look like? What gets in the way of it? How can we as God's people better live together in this blessed unity?