Why is it good and pleasant for God's people to be united (Psalm 133:1)?

Keeping these things in mind, let us consider Psalm 133. It says, "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!" To whom is it good and pleasant? Surely to all those who love what is of God. But not to them only; the Psalm shows us that it is good and pleasant to God Himself. That when He looks down on this world, filled as it is with hatred and strife, and in which there roll waves of blood-lust, there is something that is good and pleasant to Him in the midst of it, and that is unity among brethren. Let us not introduce any of our "buts" into the passage, but let us take it as it stands, and consider it as the word of God to us, then the beauty and power of it will not fail to affect us.

But who are these "brethren"? How wide is the sweep of that good word? We who love the Lord Jesus in sincerity present in this hall are included in it, surely, but it goes out wider. Let us stand in thought and listen to Him, saying, as He did to Mary, "Go to My brethren." We are in such danger of that withering sectarianism that talks about our brethren, and that thinks along narrow lines and in limited circles, that we need constantly to turn back to His words, and to let the love with which they are vibrant thrill and enlarge our souls. He speaks of "My brethren," and when we understand the meaning of that word, and who they are of whom the Lord thus speaks, let us know that God says that it is good and pleasant to Him when they dwell together in unity.

To whom is it good and pleasant? To the brethren themselves surely, and to all who can admire what is comely, but most of all to the Father of them all. A true father is sorely grieved if his children quarrel, and is never happier than when they gather affectionate and united at the family hearth. God is a father and He has children, and it is good and pleasant to Him when they dwell together in unity. Indeed when they do it is evidence of His love flawing into their hearts and flowing out again to those who are begotten of Him, and by this dwelling together they show that they are His children and that His own nature is strong and vigorous in them.

So was it after Pentecost. In Acts 2, when, according to promise, the Holy Ghost came down to dwell with and in believers, God's new habitation was formed; and immediately after we read that the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of One soul (Acts 4:32), a unity which could only have been produced by, and displayed in, the power of that Spirit which they had received; a unity, too, which involved, as they were afterwards to learn, oneness with Christ, as their glorified Head, as well as with one another. Indeed, it is only the sense of union with Christ that could lead to brethren dwelling together in unity. But it is the fact, rather, which here we are invited to contemplate, and the acceptability of the fact to God Himself; for it is the Holy Spirit who calls our attention to this "good and "pleasant" spectacle.

The very symbol used in the next verse does but intensify the divine estimate of the manifested unity of the saints: "It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments as the dew of Hermon, [and as the dew] that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the Lord commanded the blessing, even life for evermore." (vv. 2, 3.) The reference in this emblematical language is doubtless to the anointing oil which was poured upon Aaron's head on the day of his consecration (Exodus 29:7), and which, flowing down to the lowermost borders of his priestly robe, filled the scene with its fragrance. The composition of, and the directions concerning, this "precious ointment" are given in Exodus 30; but the point to be observed here is, that precious as were the odour and fragrance of this ointment at the consecration of Aaron, so precious and fragrant before God are His people when dwelling together in unity.

Dew is constantly used in Scripture as an emblem of blessing and refreshment descending from heaven. Thus Moses says, "My speech shall distil as the dew"; and in Hosea we read, "I will be as the dew unto Israel." (Hosea 14.) In addition, therefore, to the sweet fragrance of dwelling together in unity, produced by the mighty and unhindered action of the Holy Ghost come down from our exalted and glorified Head, there is a further thought of God's favour descending upon His people like the dew, which, resting upon them, brings reviving and refreshment to them all.

But then His blessing is not enjoyed by each saint as a solitary unit. We do not each eat our morsel alone. We rather share it in common. Hence in Psalm 133 we get a further step, that of unity, which is a good and pleasant thing. Practical unity is only possible under the guidance of the Spirit, "like the precious ointment upon the head." The unity that counts is the unity that flows in the grace of the Spirit from the great Head of the church above, as the precious ointment poured on Aaron's head flowed down until it touched and imparted its fragrance to the bottom hem of his garment. Or, to change the figure, it is like "the dew of Hermon that descended on the mountains of Zion" (N. Trans.). The mountains of Zion were but little compared with Hermon's lofty head; yet the dew that was Hermon's descended upon them and there was the blessing, even eternal life.

“UNITY”—Twice only is the word found in our New Testament; in Ephesians 4:3, and 13; and but once in the Old Testament. There it is significantly used in the last Song of Degrees but one; just before the Lord is blessed in the sanctuary, and His blessing flows out of Zion (Ps. 134). Mark the Spirit’s words: “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity (Ps. 133). It is like the precious ointment which is not only upon the Head, but which reaches to all connected with Him, whilst the fragrant perfume of it pervades all around. It is also like the dew of Hermon’s height: descending, distilling, and refreshing Zion. No wonder we read, “There the Lord commands the blessing—even eternal life!” It is not surprising that this is the only place eternal life is mentioned in the O.T. except Daniel 12:2.

“Behold how good and how pleasant it is for BRETHREN TO DWELL TOGETHER IN UNITY.”

Since the days of Solomon, Israel and Judah have been separated. By David they were outwardly united. Under David's Son they shall be one in heart, and united for ever. (Isa. 11:13; Ezek. 37:22.) The first sense of the happiness of this union forms the subject of Psalm 133. "Behold how good and how pleasant for brethren to dwell together in unity! Like the good oil upon the head; that runs down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard, which descends to the skirts of his garments. Like the dew of Hermon which descends on the mountains of Zion." Smoothness and refreshment pervade all. From the highest to the lowest, throughout the whole nation, from the centre or head to the most distant part, the blessing is felt. And the centre is Zion. "For there the Lord has commanded the blessing, life for evermore."

As the result of the message that He was risen, the disciples gathered together. The blessedness of brethren dwelling together in unity is likened by the Psalmist to that holy anointing oil which came upon the head of Aaron, running down to his beard, and descending to the skirts of his garments; and the Spirit of God connects with that the blessedness of eternal life. This life is known and enjoyed in the midst of those who have come under the power of the attractiveness of the risen Christ who is today in the Father's presence.

The first of these fresh desires is that believers "all may be one." Throughout the ages believers have been called from different nations, with diverse tongues; but, however divided in nationality, in social position, in worldly means, or in intellectual attainments, the Lord prays that they may be "one in us." This is a unity in their common interest in Christ and in communion with the Father and the Son. The expression of a unity amongst those who otherwise were sharply divided would be an arresting witness to the world of the power of the Name of JESUS. In Pentecostal days there was for a brief time an answer to the Lord's request. The world saw with amazement that "the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul." From a people, thus united in their common interest in Christ there went out a witness to the world marked by "great power" and "great grace" (Acts 2:32-33).