God Promises Blessing in Unity

Psalms 133:1-3 A song of ascents. Of David. How good and pleasant it is when brothers 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 upon the collar of his robes. 3 It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. For there the LORD bestows his blessing, even life forevermore.
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Psalm 134:1-3 Praise the LORD all you servants of the LORD who minister by night in the house of the LORD. 2 Lift up your hands in the sanctuary and praise the LORD. 3 May the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth, bless you from Zion.
 
HOW good it is to be joined with others in a common purpose. Few experiences in life are equal to deep true bonds that can exist between husband and wife, parents and children, God and his church. Unified teams win championships. Unified companies succeed above others. A unified country can withstand many assaults even from larger foes.
   This God-ordained unity is the celebration of Psalms 133 and 134. As many other songs of ascent – songs of worship – these were written when the Jews returned from exile in Babylon. For the first time in three generations, God’s people were able to worship as one people under God’s covenant promises. Abundant joy marked the unified worship of a renewed relationship with the One God. In his grace, as Go had brought Israel out of Egypt, God once again brought his people from a foreign nation to worship him.
   This abundant joy is expressed in the illustration of oil over Aaron’s beard. In Exodus 30 God gave a formula for a specific oil for anointing his sacred objects and sacrifices. This oil, too, was to anoint the high priest Aaron and his sons. Exodus 30:30 “Anoint Aaron and his sons and consecrate them so they may serve me as priests.” This anointing was not a simple touch of a small amount of oil. The vey precisely made perfume was generously poured over Aaron to run down his beard and onto his clothes. The oil expressed God’s power and authority to his representatives on earth. The oil also represented God’s lavish promises that marked Israel to be his people. Israel was the most unique of all nations. With a specific purpose and formula of covenants, God birthed a new nation to live in unity with the God “who formed you.” (Deuteronomy 32:6)
   God emphasized his priests needed to be unified with him. They were his intermediaries, his representatives to convey God’s blessings to Israel. As oil poured over Aaron, God’s unique blessing poured over his priests. How good and sweet it is when God’s chosen leaders are unified with God’s Word.
   God has now lavished his grace upon all Christians. He has poured his knowledge and wisdom into our hearts. Our response is to be a kingdom of priests to convey God’s saving will to the world. 1 Peter 2:5 You also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. Jesus has poured out his blood over your soul to anoint you with his salvation. May his love pour over you into the world as the sweet aroma of his salvation marks your abundant life in Christ.