Psalm 133 — Blessed In Unity — Aneel Aranha

How good and pleasant it is
when God’s people live together in unity!
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.
It is as if the dew of Hermon
were falling on Mount Zion.
For there the LORD bestows his blessing,
even life forevermore.

The psalmist sings: How good and pleasant it is when God's people live together in unity! Indeed! David uses two vivid images to describe the beauty and blessing of unity: precious oil poured on the head running down on the beard and the dew of Hermon falling on Mount Zion. Both images convey a sense of the abundance and overflow of blessing that comes with unity.

In a world filled with division and discord, this psalm invites us to reflect on unity in our own contexts. How do we contribute to the cultivation of unity in our communities? How do we navigate the tensions that invariably arise in community life in a way that preserves and promotes unity?

One of Jesus' final prayers before his Passion was a prayer for unity. He prays for his apostles, "that they may be one as we are one" (John 17:11). He then adds, "My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you" (John 17:20-21). He prays for unity among all believers.

This unity isn't just for our sake but is tied to the witness of the gospel in the world. Jesus says, "Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me" (John 17:23). Unity among believers, therefore, is not an end but a powerful testimony to the reality of Jesus and his message.

In his letters, Paul also frequently urges believers to be of one mind, to bear with one another in love, and to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (Ephesians 4:2-3). For Paul, this unity is not based on uniformity but is rooted in the reconciling work of Christ, who has broken down the dividing wall of hostility and has created one new humanity, thereby making peace (Ephesians 2:14-15).

I pray, too, that as we reflect on this psalm and the words of Jesus, we will be inspired to pursue the path of unity so that, like the psalmist, we can sing: How good and pleasant it is when God's people live together in unity. And then experience a wave of blessings poured out upon us!

God bless you.