IN PRAISE OF UNITY

PSALMS 133:1

A. "BEHOLD, HOW GOOD AND HOW PLEASANT IT IS FOR BRETHREN TO SWELL TOGETHER IN UNITY"
  1. This Psalm was doubtless inspired by some of the great festivals:
    1. When the tribes of Israel assembled at Jerusalem to worship - I Kings 8:1-3
    2. These festivals were joyous occasions, celebrated with songs and dances and all manner of happy excitement
  2. This Psalm was sung or repeated by the people on high and solemn occasions:
    1. To express the blessedness of unity in Israel; which was, of course, the unity of faith
    2. But the sentiment so beautifully expressed in this Psalm bears our prayerful consideration at this time too B. LET US NOTE VERY PRAYERFULLY
  3. The vision of unity:
    1. It is, indeed, a good and pleasant thing when brethren dwell together in unity
    2. It is in full accord with the divine ideal for humanity
    3. Prayed the Son of man, "That they all may be one; as Thou, Father, are in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be one in Us" John 17:21
    4. Writes Paul, "Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ that there be no division among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment" - I Cor. 1:10
  4. Such unity is based upon the /bible concept of:
    1. One body - the church
    2. One Spirit - the Holy Spirit
    3. One Lord - Jesus Christ our Saviour
    4. One faith - the faith that rests on the teaching of the Bible - Rom. 10:14-17; 2 Tim. 3:15-17
    5. One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all and in you all - Eph. 4:1-6
  5. The Spirit of unity:
    1. It is clear that the unity spoken of in our opening text is spiritual in nature - I Cor. 10:3; Rom. 8:6
    2. True unity is not a matter of organization, important as that is; true unity is spontaneous, the effect of peace and harmony like the oil running down on Aaron's beard
    3. It is like the dew of Hermon that comes down upon the hills of Zion. Hermon is a mountain in northern Palestine, covered with snow - a cool and refreshing sight to behold C. THE BLESSING OF UNITY
  6. It's source:
    1. It is not inherent in sinful men; Examples: Cain and Abel, the sons of Adam were not of the same mind and spirit. Cain differed with Abel and slew him - Gen. 4:8; the sons of Abraham - Isaac and Ishmael were not of the same mind and spirit - Gal. 4:22-29
    2. God and God alone is the source of true and abiding unity - John 17:21-23
    3. The similitude of the anointing oil and the dew of Hemon suggested this - Ps. 133:1-3
    4. The holy oil is the symbol of the outpouring of God's Holy Spirit - Acts 2:14-17
    5. While the dew of Hermon, falling silently from heaven is the secret of Divine influence coming down upon the earth
  7. Note, dear brethren, the difference in the lives of the disciples:
    1. Before the day of Pentecost there was strife among them; no unity - they were motivated by self-seeking - Luke 22:24-26
    2. But when the dew of heaven - the Spirit of God was poured out - they were of one mind; there was unity - Acts 2:44-47
    3. Such unity has it's source in God and in Him alone
    4. It is the presence and the influence of the Holy Spirit in the hearts and lives of God's people that creates peace and harmony among the brethren
  8. How good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity:
    1. It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard - Ex. 30:25-30; Lev. 8:12
    2. As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion - Deut. 3:8-9; Josh. 13:11
    3. "For there the Lord commanded the blessing, even life forevermore" - Ps. 42:8; Deut. 28:6; Ps. 16:11


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