Unity is a beautiful, sacred gift from God. Just as the pilgrims journeyed together to Jerusalem, we can celebrate the privilege of walking together as God’s people – brothers and sisters in Christ from every walk of life. Unity is not just a nice idea; it mirrors the oneness of the Trinity – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and is only possible as we are in Christ and experience the power of the Spirit. 

Unity among God’s people is a sacred gift; it reflects the heart of God and invites His abundant blessings. Psalm 133, a Song of Ascents, captures this truth with vivid imagery and profound implications for our lives. For festivals like Passover, thousands would make their way toward Jerusalem at one time. The roads would burst with people as they all made their way up toward Jerusalem. As pilgrims sang this psalm while journeying, they celebrated the joy of dwelling together in unity. Today, this same unity remains a beautiful, divine gift that mirrors God’s heart and points to our eternal hope. Let us explore Psalm 133 and consider how we can live together in God’s blessing.

The Delight of Unity (Psalm 133:1)

“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!” (Ps 133:1).

The psalmist begins with an exclamation of joy. Imagine for a moment pushing yourself away from the table after enjoying your very favorite meal – full and delighted as you proclaim, “My, that was just delicious. I loved it!” Now, put yourself along the road with all these pilgrims from every tribe of Israel as they made their way to the Holy City together to celebrate God by participation in a festival like Passover. They are full of joy.

Unity among God’s people is both good and pleasant. It is good because it aligns with God’s design for His people, as Jesus expressed in His final prayer before the cross in John 17. It is pleasant because it brings delight to our souls to live as God intended for us to live. When believers dwell together in harmony, they experience a beautiful foretaste of heaven. Together, as followers of Jesus Christ today, we share in this wonderful unity – not mere agreement or uniformity; it is a shared commitment to God’s purposes, rooted in love and grace.

Again, for a moment, consider the pilgrims traveling to Jerusalem. They came from different tribes, backgrounds, and experiences: yet, they journeyed together toward a common goal with a shared purpose – worshipping God. Their unity was a testimony to God’s faithfulness. Likewise, when we dwell together in unity, we reflect the heart of God and demonstrate the reality of Jesus Christ to a watching world. Unity is a gift to celebrate, for it brings joy to our hearts and glory to our God.

Before pressing on to the next verse, allow me to emphasize one other aspect of this verse, the word dwell. The psalmist recognizes that this unity is best enjoyed when we dwell together. Dwelling is different than simply existing or visiting or borrowing. Dwelling implies the space is yours, you enjoy all of it, and you feel at home. In this text, the psalmist implies that we dwell together – as brothers and sisters-in-Christ, we enjoy each other and our wonderful God through Jesus Christ.

The Blessings of Unity (Psalm 133:2-3)

The psalmist illustrates the beauty of unity with two powerful images: precious oil and the dew of Mount Hermon.

Like Precious Oil (v. 2)

“It is like the precious oil upon the head, running down on the beard, the beard of Aaron, running down on the edge of his garments” (Ps 133:2).

The anointing of Aaron as high priest was a sacred moment. Aaron was the first high priest. This had never been done before in the history of the Israelites. God had recently given the Law, including the special role for the Levites. In this beautiful moment of celebration, the people were coming together to see Aaron chosen as the first high priest. With this ceremony, he is set apart unto God – a high and holy calling. The people were all gathered and watching. They waited with baited breath to see this special moment of consecration. Their anticipation was high, and their hearts were sensitive to God’s work in the midst of them. Then, at the appointed time, the precious oil, carefully prepared according to God’s instructions, was poured over Aaron’s head, symbolizing God’s consecration and blessing. This oil did not merely rest on Aaron’s head; it flowed down, covering his beard and garments, signifying an overflowing blessing.

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