The key to Gods Blessing

The Key to God’s Blessing

Psalm 133

 

Psalm 133 only has three short verses.  And Psalm 133 ends with this sentence.  “For there the Lord God has commanded the blessing of life forevermore.”  (Psalm 133:3b) We know that “Life forevermore” is a wonderful blessing from God. This verse seems to be saying that God will command this blessing “there”.  But where is “there”?   Let’s read the Psalm and see .  

 

The first verse of Psalm 133 reads: “Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!”  (Psalm 133:1) God’s vision for us is unity in our world.  And we would like that too.  If everyone would just agree with us, then we might be able to have unity some of the time.

 

I have some days when I get in a bad mood and become irritated with anyone who happens to get in my way.  I find that my natural self, my “default”, is selfish and critical.  I want God’s unity with my friends and family and in my world, however, I often mess up the unity I want.

 

But when I take time to pray and look to Jesus, He changes my default or my selfishness and gives me His vision and His love for others.  If I don’t keep coming back to Jesus for help, I can quickly slip back into my selfish self. I love being a Christian because it is so good to be able to run to Jesus and receive His deep love for others and His truths and freedoms!  Instead of being stuck with my little critical and selfish ways of looking at my world.    

 

God is calling us to live in a certain way – to do our best to live in unity and peace with others if   possible.  But we can’t obey God and live in unity on our own without Christ.  His Spirit will give us humility and love for others and everything else we need to do our part to live in unity - if we are willing. Others can mess it up, but with Christ we can do our part.

 

 Christ is the Light of the world (John 8:12) and He will cover us with His light, making us little lights shinning through the darkness of our world. Think of all the many people along your life’s way who have been lights to you, encouraging you and making your life better.  We are meant to be there for one another. “Behold how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity.” (Psalm 13:1)

The second and third verses of Psalm 133 gives us two pictures of Godly unity. – or when God’s people are together as a loving family. The first picture of Godly unity is like “oil”.  Scripture says: “It is like the precious oil on the head, running down on the beard.  On the beard of Aaron, running down on the collar of his robes! (Verse 2a)

 

 Aaron was a priest and his priestly duty was to come to God with prayers and sacrifices for the Jewish people.  And Scripture says that Jesus is our high priest who prays for us and gives Himself as our sacrifice to God.  Jesus prays for us and He prays for our unity with other brothers and sisters in Christ.  (John 17:20-26) He prays that we love and care for one another, and not tear each other apart. Godly unity on our part is like a sacred service to God: it is personally fulfilling. Also notice that this unity is flowing down from above “running down on the beard of Aaron” and “running down on the collar of his robes”. 

 

The second picture of Godly unity in verse 3a says that this unity is also like “dew”.  God’s people loving each other in unity as family is like refreshing “dew”.   This passage says: “It (Godly unity) is like the dew of Mount Hermon, which falls down from the mountains of Zion!”  (verse 3a) This Godly unity is like refreshing service to society, it is nationally fruitful.

 

 Notice that this unity or “dew” also is falling down from the mountains of God, a bit like the unity or “oil” that is running down on Priest Aaron’s beard. Do you catch the flow – “coming down upon” and “coming down from above.”  These blessings of peace, humility and love and unity are coming down from our heavenly Father for us, if we are open to receive them.

 

Psalm 133 closes with these words: “For there the Lord has commanded the blessing, life forevermore.”  (verse 3b) Perhaps this passage is saying that Godly unity unlocks God’s blessing.  “There” is when we are in unity with our fellow Christians. Scripture tells us that the very first Christians after Pentecost were united in everything they did together.  And Scripture also says that through Christ these early Christians performed many miracles and healings. Could it be that their love for one another and their unity as the body of Christ had something to do with the many who came to Christ through their preaching and the many who were healed through their prayers? Could this be the key to their blessings?

 

Experiences of unity here on earth are just a small taste of the complete spiritual unity we will enjoy in heaven forever.  God is calling us to do our best, with His help, to live in peace and love with our fellow brothers and sisters.  Do we need to do anything differently to obey this call?